West Lake (Xihu) is the reason most visitors come to Hangzhou — and it doesn't disappoint. This UNESCO World Heritage site covers 6.5 square kilometers, surrounded by hills on three sides and the city on the fourth. For over a thousand years, poets, painters, and emperors have tried to capture its beauty. The Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo compared it to Xi Shi, one of ancient China's legendary beauties: "Radiant in adornment or natural in simplicity, she is always lovely."
The lake is best experienced by boat — traditional wooden vessels depart from several docks around the shore. The classic route takes you past the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (the scene on the 1 RMB note), around the island of Mid-Lake Pavilion, and along Su Causeway with its six bridges and weeping willows. Early morning is magical: mist rising from the water, locals practicing tai chi on the shore, the pagodas emerging slowly from the haze.
Walking or cycling around the lake (approximately 12 km) reveals the Ten Scenes of West Lake, a canonical list refined over centuries. The most famous include Spring Dawn at Su Causeway, Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard, Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow, and Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. Each scene is tied to a specific season or time of day — the lake rewards return visits.