East China

West Lake Travel Guide

Broken Bridge · Su Causeway · Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

West Lake is the most famous urban lake in China, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the city on one, covering an area of about 6.4 square kilometers. Its value does not lie in any single attraction, but in the overall scale and layers: the proportions of mountains, pagodas, embankments, and islands have been managed for a thousand years.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonMar–May / Sep–Nov

Suggested stayHalf a day to one day

Key highlightsBroken Bridge and Bai Causeway · Su Causeway · Three Pools Mirroring the Moon · Leifeng Pagoda · Lingyin Temple

Admission ticketLake tour is free, boat tickets and some attractions are charged separately

TrafficMetro Line 1 Longxiang Bridge / Ding'an Road Station

West Lake is located in the western part of Hangzhou city, divided into several water surfaces by Bai Causeway and Su Causeway, with Gushan, Xiaoyingzhou, and Hubin Pavilion scattered among them. The efforts of scholars throughout history in managing it are essentially a millennium-long landscape design: where there should be a pagoda, where there should be a causeway, where space should be left empty.

Main Highlights

Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge

Bai Causeway connects the city area with Gushan, lined with alternating peach and willow trees in spring. Broken Bridge is at the eastern end of Bai Causeway, made famous by the Legend of the White Snake. After snowfall, the "Broken Bridge with Remnant Snow" is the most renowned; on normal days, it is the most crowded place.

Su Causeway

When Su Dongpo dredged West Lake, he built it using dredged mud. It is about 2.8 kilometers long with six rising and falling bridges. Walking from Beishan Road entrance to Huagang Watching Fish is the most pleasant section, and there are fewer tourists than on Bai Causeway.

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and Hubin Pavilion

The back of a one-yuan note depicts the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. Taking a boat to Xiaoyingzhou to see the three stone pagodas is the most iconic West Lake photo. Hubin Pavilion is another small island and one of China's four famous pavilions.

Suggested Stay

Half day: Bai Causeway, Gushan, boat tour.
One day: add Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda, and Lingyin Temple.

Local Tips

During holidays, sections around the lake are heavily restricted, so go early.
Both cycling and walking around the lake are suitable; shared bicycles are convenient.
The mountain paths around Longjing and Hupao can avoid crowds.