01 Spring Dawn at Su Causeway Stretching from the foot of Nanping Hill in the south to the Qixia Mountain in the north, Su Causeway is nearly 3 kilometers long. It was constructed with the silt dredged up from the West Lake, a sensible decision made by Su Dong-Po, a governor of Hangzhou city and a great Northern Song Dynasty poet. Since then, the embankment has been called Su Causeway in memory of the poet. The long causeway connects the North and the South Mountains with six bridges, providing an ever-changing view to visitors who take a stroll along the Su Causeway.

02 Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds The eastern range of the Tianmu Mountain becomes the North Mountain and the South Mountain at the tip of the West Lake. Facing each other, their two peaks tower above the other peaks. On fine spring or autumn days, when the lush hills are veiled by a thin fog, the pagoda looming up through the mist seems almost to pierce the clouds.

03 Three Pools Mirroring the Moon The islet of Three Pools Mirroring Moon is also called Xiaoyingzhou (a place on the sea believed to be inhabited by immortal beings). Along with the Huxin Pavilion and the Ruangong Mound, these three beautiful sites are known as the 'Three Isles on the West Lake' and encompass a total land space of some seven hectares. A dyke was built to encircle the three isles and the lake. Inside, a crooked bridge links the south with the north while a claybank extends from the east to the west, forming a cross on the water. This landmark is considered to be a shining example of traditional Chinese water gardens.

04 Lotus in the Breeze in Quyuan Garden With the theme of Lotus in the summer, the 'Lotus in the Breeze in Quyuan Garden' ranks only second to the 'Spring Dawn at Su Causeway' on the list of Ten Scenes of the West Lake. Situated next to Hongchun Bridge on Lingyin Road and bordering the West Lake, the yard was originally a distillery in the Southern Song Dynasty. In summer when the lotus blooms, the scene is enough to intoxicate you.

05 Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake Next to the outer West Lake is where the western end of the Bai Causeway and the southern foot of the Solitary Island meet. The autumn nights at West Lake have long been considered both poetic and picturesque. There is a sophisticated pavilion overlooking the water, in front of which is a platform where you can sit and gaze at the bright autumn moon reflected on the vast, calm lake.

06 Evening Bell at Nanping Hill This is probably the earliest of the Ten Scenes. Situated on the southern bank of the West Lake, the 100-meter-high Nanping Hill is over 1,000 meters long. Odd stones and lush plants are scattered on the hill. On sunny days, the hill stands proudly against the blue sky and white clouds. And on foggy and rainy days, the hill looks much like an elegant lady dancing in the dim light.

07 Listening to the Orioles Singing in the Willows The garden sits on the southeastern corner of the West Lake with a total area of 21 hectares. It used to be the Jujing Garden (Scenes Gathering Garden), an Imperial Garden during the Southern Song Dynasty, and spread from the Qingbo Gate of Old Hangzhou in the south to the Yongjin Gate in the north with its eastern end at the city wall and the western end near West Lake. A group of pavilions and terraces, rockeries and fountains, ponds and bridges, fences and engraved windows as well as odd plants are meticulously arranged to enhance the charm of this tranquil garden.

08 Sunset Glow Over the Leifeng Hill Sunset Hill, also called the Leifeng Hill, is a branch of Nanping Hill, 48 meters above sea level. The King Qian Hong-shu of the Wuyue kingdom had a pagoda built here for his concubine Ms. Huang, which brought fame to the hill. The Tale of the White Snake adds more popularity. Other historic relics are the site of Leifeng Pagoda, Qingyun Rock and Baiyun Nunnery.

09 Fish Pool at Huagang To the west of the southern Su Causeway and on a peninsula between Inner West Lake and Small South Lake, the garden of 'Fish Pool at Huagang' covers an area of more than 20 hectares. It consists of five scenic sites, 'The Red Carp Pond', 'The Peony Yard', Huagang, a lawn and a grove.

10 Melting Snow at the Broken Bridge Built at the eastern end of Bai Causeway, Broken Bridge is the most famous of all the bridges in the West Lake. The Broken Bridge we see today is a stone arched bridge rebuilt as a replica of its original shape in 1921. It is 8.8 meters long and 8.6 meters wide with a 6.1-meter arch span. To the east of the bridge is a pavilion on which is an inscription by Emperor Kang Xi. With its black tiles, red railings and curved eaves, the pavilion and bridge resemble an impressive classical painting.