概览
西湖位于杭州城西，水域约 6.4 平方公里，三面云山一面城。苏堤、白堤将湖面分为外湖、西里湖、北里湖等五片，小瀛洲、湖心亭、阮公墩三岛鼎立湖心。自南宋流传的「西湖十景」四时皆美，2011 年西湖文化景观列入世界文化遗产名录。西湖是杭州的城市名片，也是中国人共同的审美符号。[2]
历史沿革
西湖原为钱塘江入海处的潟湖，汉唐以来经历代疏浚成湖。唐长庆年间白居易任杭州刺史筑堤蓄水，北宋元祐年间苏轼疏浚西湖、堆筑苏堤，奠定今日格局。南宋定都临安，西湖成为「销金锅儿」，十景之名由此定型。2002 年起环湖公园陆续公版开放，开中国城市公版景区先河。[1]
看点
苏堤春晓、曲院风荷、平湖秋月、断桥残雪代表四季之景；三潭印月的三座石塔是一元人民币背面图案；雷峰夕照与保俶塔隔湖对望，「雷峰如老衲，保俶如美人」。环湖还有岳王庙、西泠印社、孤山、花港观鱼等名胜，可谓一步一景。郭庄、刘庄（西湖国宾馆）等环湖园林也各具精妙。[1]
参观贴士
环湖一圈约 15 公里，步行需一整天，可结合电瓶车、公交船或共享单车分段游览。经典一日游路线：断桥—白堤—孤山—苏堤—花港—雷峰塔。春季桃柳、夏日荷花、秋夜月影、冬雪断桥各擅胜场；节假日断桥一带人流极密，宜早出晚归错峰游湖。三公园的音乐喷泉场次以当日公告为准，公版观看。[1]
Overview
West of Hangzhou's city center, West Lake covers about 6.4 square kilometers, framed by hills on three sides and the city on the fourth. The Su and Bai causeways divide its waters, with three islets at its heart. The celebrated Ten Scenes, named in the Southern Song, change with the seasons; in 2011 the West Lake Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Born as a lagoon of the Qiantang River, the lake was dredged and embanked under governors Bai Juyi in the Tang and Su Shi in the Song, who raised the causeway that bears his name. The Ten Scenes — from Spring Dawn at Su Causeway to Broken Bridge in snow — fixed its poetic image; the three stone pagodas of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon grace China's one-yuan banknote. Since 2002 the lakeside parks have been free, pioneering open access in China. Yue Fei's temple, the Xiling Seal Art Society, and Solitary Hill ring the shore.
The full lake loop is about 15 kilometers — a full day on foot, or split by shuttle bus, public boat, or shared bike. A classic day runs Broken Bridge – Bai Causeway – Solitary Hill – Su Causeway – Flower Harbor – Leifeng Pagoda. Peak blossom season and holidays bring dense crowds; start early and finish late to dodge them.
