Slender West Lake 瘦西湖Shòu Xīhú

Why go to Slender West Lake

Slender West Lake is a long, narrow waterway at the north-west edge of Yangzhou's old city, strung with bridges, pavilions and garden islands. It grew from the moats of Tang and Song Yangzhou and was lined with gardens by Qing salt merchants and officials. Walk the banks or drift along by boat; it is the city's showpiece and a stop on the Grand Canal World Heritage listing.

The story

The lake reached its height when the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors made their southern tours and local merchants competed to impress them with new gardens and pavilions. The Five-Pavilion Bridge of 1757 and the White Pagoda are the best-known relics of that era, and the pagoda is said to have been modelled on the one in Beijing's Beihai Park.

What to see at Slender West Lake

• Xu Garden 徐园: A small walled garden of halls and a pond at the southern end of the lake, a quiet corner before the boat traffic and the crowds.
• Long Dyke Spring Willows 长堤春柳: A causeway of willows and peach trees along the water, famous in spring and the classic stroll at the start of the lake.
• Five-Pavilion Bridge 五亭桥: A 1757 bridge whose five pavilions sit on a base of 15 arches.
• White Pagoda 白塔: A white bottle-shaped stupa beside Lianxing Temple that rises behind the Five-Pavilion Bridge in the classic postcard view.
• Twenty-Four Bridge 二十四桥: A graceful arched bridge, named after a Tang poem about Yangzhou's moonlit nights, that has become one of the lake's most photographed spots.

How to visit Slender West Lake

Enter by the south gate and walk north: Xu Garden, then the Long Dyke, the Five-Pavilion Bridge and White Pagoda, and finally the Twenty-Four Bridge area. Allow two to three hours on foot, or take a boat for part of the way for a gentler pace. The north gate faces Daming Temple, and Ge Garden and Dongguan Street make a good afternoon in the old city.

How to get to Slender West Lake

Yangzhou East is the city's high-speed rail hub, under an hour from Nanjing by train, and the lake is a short taxi or bus ride from there or from the old city. Several gates serve the lake, and the north gate faces Daming Temple.

Where to stay

Stay in Yangzhou's old city near Dongguan Street for walkable lanes and easy taxis to the lake. The area around Yangzhou East station is more convenient for early trains.

What to eat

• Yangzhou fried rice 扬州炒饭: The city's famous dish, with fluffy rice, egg, ham and shrimp, found in restaurants all over town.
• Dried tofu shreds in broth 大煮干丝: Hair-thin strips of pressed tofu simmered in a rich stock, a Huaiyang classic often served at breakfast.
• Three-diced bun 三丁包子: A steamed bun filled with diced chicken, pork and bamboo shoot, eaten at Yangzhou's tea houses.

Tips for visiting Slender West Lake

• Go on a weekday morning if you can; the lake is crowded at weekends and public holidays.
• Bring your passport for entry; tickets are normally real-name, and the staffed ticket windows are the easiest route for foreign visitors.
• Spring, when willows and peach trees line the dyke, and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; midsummer is hot and humid.

Nearby

• Purple Mountain & Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum 南京钟山风景区 70 km
  A forested mountain on Nanjing's edge, crowned by a blue-roofed hilltop tomb
• Fuzimiao and the Qinhuai River 夫子庙—秦淮风光带 70 km
  Nanjing's lantern-lit Confucius Temple quarter, beside painted boats on the Qinhuai
• City Wall of Nanjing 南京城墙 70 km
  The Ming capital's brick ramparts, anchored by the vast fortress of Zhonghua Gate

Also within 30 km: Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou Memorial Hall 扬州八怪纪念馆 (under 10 km), Song Jiacheng Archaeological Park (Yangzhou City Ruins) 宋夹城 (under 10 km), Crane Mosque 仙鹤寺 (under 10 km), Yipu Garden 逸圃 (under 10 km), Ge Garden 个园 (under 10 km), Wang Xiaoyuan Residence 汪氏小苑 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Slender West Lake on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• Wikipedia (Chinese)