【简介】西湖东靠杭州市区，其余三面环山，面积约6.39平方千米，南北长约3.2千米，东西宽约2.8千米，绕湖一周近15千米。西湖平均水深2.27米，水体容量约为1429万立方米。湖中被孤山、白堤、苏堤、杨公堤分隔，按面积大小分别为外西湖、西里湖(又称“后西湖”或“后湖”)、北里湖(又称“里西湖”)、小南湖(又称“南湖”)及岳湖等五片水面，其中外西湖面积最大。孤山是西湖中最大的天然岛屿，苏堤、白堤越过湖面，小瀛洲、湖心亭、阮公墩三个人工小岛鼎立于外西湖湖心，雷峰塔与保俶塔隔湖相映，由此形成了“一山、二塔、三岛、三堤、五湖”的基本格局。

The famous west lake is like a brilliant pearl embedded in the beautiful and fertile shores of the east china sea near the mouth of the hangzhou bay. the lake covers an area of 5.6 square kilometers. the view of the west lake is simply enchanting, which offers many attractions for tourists at home and abroad.

tiger-running spring

the legend goes that two tights ran there and made a hole where a spring gushed out. the longjing tea and the tiger-running spring water are always reputed as the "two wonders of the west lake".

the lingyin monastery

the lingyin monastery, or the monastery of soul’s retreat, is a famous historical site of the west lake. here exists the lingyin monastery, a famous ancient temple in china, in front of which there are feilai peak, cold spring, longhong cave and precious rock cave arts and queer and varied natural caves and gullies.

spring dawn at su causeway

it’s a 2.8 km. long boulevard cutting across the south-north scenic area, and lined with trees and flowering plants. when spring comes with crimson peach blossoms and green willows; the scenery is all the more charming. strolling along the boulevard, one feels as if the west lake were wakening in dawn mist. young willows were ethereal, spring breeze so caressing, and birds were chirping in unison.

the moon reflected in three pools

"there are islands in the lake and three are lake on the islands." the three stone towers were first built in yuanyou 4th year (1089) of the song dynasty, with the wonderful scenery of "one moon in the sky having three reflection in the lake", it is one of the wonderful scenes of the west lake.

notes:

1. west lake 西湖

2. tiger-running spring 虎跑泉

3. the lingyin monastery 灵隐寺

4. spring dawn at su causeway 苏堤春晓

5. the moon reflected in three pools 三潭印月