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September 16, 2015

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Autumn adding charm to lakeside views

By Wu Huixin | September 16, 2015, Wednesday | Print Edition

PADDLING or just sitting on a raft and watching the lakeside scenery go by is an idyllic way to spend a weekend away from the city. The cooler weather also brings pretty scenes as leaves change color to vibrant shades of yellow and crimson, adding charm to lake views.

Hangzhou’s West Lake is already well known, which means it can get rather crowded as tourists swarm to the area to see it for themselves.

More tranquil outings are possible though since Hangzhou boasts other lakes. Shanghai Daily takes a look at them and selects four lakes where it’s possible to relax and enjoy some leisure time.

Jinsha Lake

Jinsha Lake is an artificial lake that aims to lower the city’s heat-island effect. It starts from Beiyuan Road and ends at Jinsha Avenue and covers an area of 36 hectares (360,000 square meters).

Formerly, the site was the bustling Jinsha Fair. To improve the city’s urban environment, the government knocked down a bunch of buildings to make way for the lake and some greenery.

The lake water is diverted from Qiantang River, which is filtered at a water treatment facility before it reaches Jinsha Lake.

Some of the lake front has soft golden sand that is transported from Weihai, Shandong Province. The lake has become a popular park among locals.

Baima Lake

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Baima Lake once covered an area of 200 hectares. But today it measures only 114 hectares due to silting. There are a dozen small islands in the lake.

Baima literally means white horse in Chinese and the lake was originally called Paima, which means arranging horses during war. That name dates to the Spring and Autumn Period when the Wu Kingdom fought the Yue Kingdom near the lake.

As the largest lake in Xiaoshan District, it is a popular park among locals. It has also become a symbol of the city’s prosperous cartoon industry as the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival is held annually at nearby Baima (white horse) Square.

Tianle Lake

Tianle Lake has been getting more exposure in recent years. This scenic resort offers a combination of water town scenery, lake views, farms and other entertainment.

It covers an area of 20 hectares and is divided into 11 function areas including a fishing port, villa and fairground.

Tianle Lake is also a popular place for barbecues. You can rent tables, chairs and cooking utensils, but bring your own food.

Meanwhile, the lake has an organic vegetable and fruit garden. Visitors can purchase freshly picked vegetables and fruit.

There’s also a camping zone. But for those who don’t want to rough it in a tent, there are 10 luxury villas along the lake.

Xiang Lake

Locals consider Xiang Lake as West Lake’s “sister.” It is noted for the Yue Kingdom City Relic and Kuahu Bridge Cultural Relic Site.

During the Spring and Autumn Period (BC 770-476), Hangzhou was on the border of the Wu and Yue kingdoms. To prevent a Wu invasion, the Yue imperial court built a large-scale military fort at the lake. A city wall remains from that period. It stretches for 1 kilometer and is considered the country’s best-preserved city wall.

The Kuahu Bridge Cultural Relic Site has helped archeologists learn more about the Neolithic Age. A canoe excavated from the site is considered the oldest ever found in the country.

Archeologists have also said the discovery of grains at the site indicate rice was harvested in the area 1,000 years earlier than previously believed.

Hangzhou


 

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