West Lake 
West Lake, 5.66sq.km/2.2sq.mi in area and with an average depth of 1.5m (5ft), lies west of the Old Town of Hangzhou and is surrounded by hills on three sides. It is divided into five sections by the Sudi and Baidi Causeways; these sections are known as Outer Lake (Wai Hu), the largest of all, North Inner Lake (Beili Hu), West Inner Lake (Xili Hu), South Lake (Xiaonan Hu) and Lake Yue (Yue Hu). There are also four islands in West Lake - Gushan, Xiaoyingzhou, Ruangongdun and Huxinting (Mid-Lake Pavilion).
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
Bay of Flowers (Huagang Park)
The Bay of Flowers (Huagang), or Huagang Park, on the south bank of West Lake, covers 20ha/50acres and is filled with flower beds, containing mainly peonies, and lawns. This was a popular excursion spot back in the times of the Song dynasty (1127-1279), and thousands of multi-colored fish can be seen at play in a small lake which was laid out at that time.
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Baidi Causeway
In the north of West Lake lies the 1km/.75mi long Baidi Causeway; it is also known as ''Mr Bai's Dike'' (Baigong Di), after Bai Juyi, a famous poet from the Tang period (618-907). It begins near Broken Bridge (Duanqiao) and ends on the Isle of the Hill of Solitude (Gushan).
Broken Bridge
Broken Bridge (Duanqiao) links the Baidi Causeway with the shore. It is particularly beautiful in winter when covered with snow. A well-known Chinese love story relates how on this bridge many hundreds of years ago the White Snake, in the shape of a beautiful woman, met the academic Xu Xian for the first time. They fell passionately in love, but a malicious monk forced them to part.
Little Paradise Island
7ha/17.5acres in area, Little Paradise Island (Xiaoyingzhou) was made in 1607 from mud dredged from the lake. It contains four ''mini-lakes'', linked by a zig-zag bridge, the Bridge of the Nine Arches (1727), and with lotus blossom and water lilies floating on their surface. The pavilions, terraces and plants combine to produce the magic atmosphere of West Lake.
Park of the Song of the Nightingale of the Willow Branch
The Park of the Song of the Nightingale of the Willow Branch (Liulang Wenying Gonyuan) is 17ha/42.5acres in size and covered with willow and cherry trees. Under the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) it was the Imperial Garden. In the middle stands a monument commemorating the peace treaty signed between Japan and China.
