The West Lake is a freshwater lake situated in the area of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China. The lake is surrounded by plethora of different temples, pagodas and gardens. The West Lake was a great inspiration for a lot of poets and painters throughout the history. Its beauty and historical antiquities has influenced many Chinese garden designers, and its impact can be observed in different classical Chinese gardens.
At first, the West Lake was nothing more than just an inlet, until, in the 9th century, there was built a dam at the Qiantong River, and the lake was created in the form that we can observe today. The West Lake is surrounded by hills on three sides and by the city of Hangzhou on the fourth. The lake is believed to be the perfect example of Chinese cultural landscape that embodies main principles and ideas of characteristic Chinese landscape aesthetics. The designs and features of the lake have been largely copied not only in China, but throughout the whole Asia. The improved landscapes of the West Lake are believed to be organized in the set of pictures that perfectly depict the merging of individual and nature. Even nowadays, The West Lake still conveys its cultural meaning, even though the major part of its components was laid at the time of the Song dynasty.
Nowadays, as the Hangzhou is developing and growing fast, hence changing thew original landscape, the West Lake is being majorly protected by national and provincial laws and regulations. The main point of the protection – is the preservation of the harmony of the marvelous original landscape and its major views. The West Lake should be kept in the condition that is the most alike to the original one, in order to preserve its cultural meaning and inspiring potential.
The West Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in China. It was created in the 9th century and has overcame certain metamorphosis since then. However, for all these years, it never failed to inspire and impress people.
Works Cited
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou. UNESCO World Heritage Centre 1992-2012. Web August 31, …