Slender West Lake Scenic Area is located in Hanjiang District, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, renowned for its unique "slender" lake shape and classical garden landscapes that integrate the essence of northern and southern gardens. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 1.03 square kilometers, with a water area of about 0.49 square kilometers. The characteristic of Slender West Lake lies in its winding lake surface, with pavilions, terraces, towers, flowers, trees, and rocks scattered in an orderly manner on both banks. It not only showcases the exquisiteness and elegance of southern gardens but also possesses the grandeur and majesty of northern gardens. The scenic area is home to many historical buildings, such as the Fishing Platform, Five-Pavilion Bridge, and White Pagoda. These buildings are not only beautifully shaped but also carry rich historical and cultural connotations, collectively forming a beautiful picture of "willows and flowers on both banks all relying on water, pavilions and terraces all the way to the mountains".
History and Culture
The history of Slender West Lake can be traced back to the Sui and Tang dynasties. At that time, it was still a natural river and lake. With the development of Yangzhou City, it gradually became a place for literati and scholars to visit and enjoy. During the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, driven by the imperial southern tours, large-scale garden construction began around Slender West Lake, forming a grand scene of "willows and flowers on both banks all relying on water, pavilions and terraces all the way to the mountains", and becoming an outstanding representative of Yangzhou garden culture.
The garden construction of Slender West Lake integrates the gracefulness of Jiangnan gardens and the grandeur of northern imperial gardens, reflecting the superb level of ancient garden art. Many buildings in the scenic area are closely related to historical celebrities. For example, Emperor Qianlong visited Slender West Lake many times, leaving many interesting stories; literati such as Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi also wrote poems and painted here, adding a profound cultural heritage to Slender West Lake. In addition, Slender West Lake is also an important witness to Yangzhou's salt merchant culture. In those days, salt merchants built gardens here to show their financial strength and taste, which also promoted the development of local garden art.
Main Attractions
Five-Pavilion Bridge
Five-Pavilion Bridge is the landmark building of Slender West Lake. It was built in the 22nd year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1757) and got its name because there are five pavilions on the bridge. The bridge is 57.99 meters long and 6.16 meters wide, with 15 arch holes under it. The holes are connected. On the night of the full moon, each of the 15 holes reflects a bright moon, forming the wonder of "the moon on the 15th is as round as on the 16th", which can be called a masterpiece in the history of Chinese bridge construction. Five-Pavilion Bridge integrates the beauty of southern gardens and the solidity of northern architecture, and is one of the symbols of Slender West Lake.
White Pagoda
The White Pagoda is located on the north side of Five-Pavilion Bridge. It was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, with a height of about 27.5 meters and a brick and stone structure. Its shape is modeled after the White Pagoda in Beihai, Beijing, but it also incorporates Yangzhou's local architectural style, appearing small and exquisite. The White Pagoda is composed of three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. The body of the pagoda is white, and the finial is golden, which is particularly eye-catching against the green trees. It echoes with Five-Pavilion Bridge from a distance, forming a classic landscape of Slender West Lake.
Fishing Platform
The Fishing Platform was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a circular pavilion-style building located to the west of Little Golden Hill in Slender West Lake. The unique feature of the Fishing Platform is that there is a circular door on each of its three sides. Through these three doors, people can see Five-Pavilion Bridge, White Pagoda, and Chunbo Tower respectively. Each door frames a scene, cleverly incorporating distant scenery into it, which can be called a model of the "framed scenery" technique in garden art. Standing inside the Fishing Platform, visitors can enjoy three classic attractions at the same time and feel the exquisite conception of ancient gardeners.
Little Golden Hill
Little Golden Hill is a small island in Slender West Lake, with an altitude of about 38 meters and an area of about 16,000 square meters. The island is covered with lush trees and scattered buildings, mainly including the Qin Room, Moon Viewing Pavilion, and Chu Taiwan. Although Little Golden Hill is named "hill", it is actually artificially piled up. It was built to make up for the lack of mountains in Slender West Lake and make the garden landscape more layered. Climbing to the top of Little Golden Hill, you can overlook the whole view of Slender West Lake, with the lake and mountain scenery fully in sight.
Twenty-Four Bridge
Twenty-Four Bridge is another famous attraction in Slender West Lake. Its name comes from the poem by Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty: "On a moonlit night at Twenty-Four Bridge, where is the beauty teaching to play the flute". The existing Twenty-Four Bridge is a single-arch bridge, 24 meters long, 2.4 meters wide, with 24 balustrade posts and 24 steps, which echoes the description in the poem. Both ends of the bridge are connected with winding corridors, and the water under the bridge gurgles, with beautiful scenery, making it a good place for tourists to take photos as a souvenir.
Food
Yangzhou Fried Rice
Yangzhou Fried Rice is a classic food in Yangzhou, which is said to have originated in the Sui Dynasty. It is made by stir-frying rice as the main ingredient with eggs, ham, shrimp, green beans and other ingredients. The finished product has distinct grains, golden color, a fragrant smell, and a rich taste. Authentic Yangzhou Fried Rice can be tasted in many restaurants around Slender West Lake Scenic Area.
Sanding Baozi (Three-Dice Steamed Stuffed Buns)
Sanding Baozi is a traditional famous snack in Yangzhou. It uses flour as the skin and diced chicken, diced pork, and diced bamboo shoots as the filling. The skin of the bun is soft and elastic, and the filling is delicious and tasty, with a moderate saltiness. It has a long history and is said to have been well-known as early as the Qing Dynasty. In the teahouses near Slender West Lake, ordering a portion of Sanding Baozi with a cup of tea is a very pleasant enjoyment.
Da Zhu Gan Si (Braised Shredded Tofu with Chicken Soup)
Da Zhu Gan Si is a famous dish in Yangzhou. It is made by cutting dried tofu into uniform shreds and boiling them with chicken shreds, shrimp, ham shreds, bamboo shoot shreds and other ingredients in chicken soup. This dish has a tender taste, a rich soup, and is rich in nutrition, with a strong local flavor. In some time-honored restaurants around Slender West Lake, Da Zhu Gan Si is one of the must-order dishes.
Shi Zi Tou (Lion's Head Meatballs)
Shi Zi Tou is a traditional meatball in Yangzhou, named because its shape is similar to a lion's head. It uses pork as the main raw material, with seasonings such as green onions, ginger, eggs, and starch, and is made by frying and then stewing. Shi Zi Tou has a soft taste, a mellow flavor, and is fatty but not greasy. In restaurants near Slender West Lake Scenic Area, braised Shi Zi Tou and stewed Shi Zi Tou are both popular dishes among tourists.
Tickets
The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "瘦西湖" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are adjusted according to the season. In the peak season (March 1 - May 31, September 1 - November 30), the opening hours are 7:00 - 18:00; in the off-season (December 1 - February 28 of the next year, June 1 - August 31), the opening hours are 7:30 - 17:30. The scenic area will stop admitting visitors some time before closing. It is recommended that tourists arrange their time reasonably and arrive at the scenic area in advance.
Tour Route
The tour route of Slender West Lake Scenic Area can be chosen according to tourists' time and interests. Here is a classic tour route: enter the park from the South Gate, first enjoy the beautiful scenery near the South Gate, then go to the Fishing Platform to watch the "framed scenery" wonder; then go to Five-Pavilion Bridge to appreciate the charm of this landmark building; then go to the White Pagoda to feel its unique architectural style; then climb Little Golden Hill to overlook the whole view of Slender West Lake; then walk along the lake to enjoy the scenery along the way and reach Twenty-Four Bridge; finally exit the park from the West Gate. This route is about 3 - 4 kilometers long, and the tour time is about 3 - 4 hours, which allows you to enjoy the main attractions of Slender West Lake.
Transportation
- Bus: There are many bus routes in Yangzhou that can reach Slender West Lake Scenic Area, such as Route 4, 5, 6, 17, 23, 27, 62, 99, and the tourist special line. You can get off at the "Slender West Lake" stop.
- Taxi: The starting fare of Yangzhou taxis is 10 yuan (within 3 kilometers). After exceeding 3 kilometers, it is 2.4 yuan per kilometer. It is about 10 kilometers from Yangzhou Railway Station to Slender West Lake Scenic Area, and the taxi fare is about 30 yuan; it is about 8 kilometers from Yangzhou West Bus Station to Slender West Lake Scenic Area, and the taxi fare is about 25 yuan.
- Self-driving: There are several parking lots around Slender West Lake Scenic Area, such as Slender West Lake Parking Lot and Hongqiaofang Parking Lot. The parking fee is about 5 - 10 yuan per hour. Tourists can drive by themselves and find a suitable parking lot according to the navigation prompts.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Five-Pavilion Bridge: The landmark building of Slender West Lake, 57.99 meters long and 6.16 meters wide. The 15 arch holes form a wonder on the full moon, and it is a symbol of Slender West Lake.
- White Pagoda: About 27.5 meters high, modeled after the White Pagoda in Beihai, Beijing, incorporating Yangzhou's local style, echoing with Five-Pavilion Bridge from a distance, forming a classic landscape.
- Fishing Platform: A circular pavilion-style building with three doorways framing Five-Pavilion Bridge, White Pagoda, and Chunbo Tower respectively, embodying the exquisiteness of "framed scenery" art, and it is a good place for taking photos.
- Twenty-Four Bridge: 24 meters long, 2.4 meters wide, with 24 balustrade posts and 24 steps, echoing with Du Mu's poems. The corridors at both ends of the bridge are winding, with beautiful scenery.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 3 - 4 hours on the tour. You can choose to enter the park after it opens in the morning. At this time, there are fewer tourists, and you can better enjoy the beauty of the scenic area.
- The scenic area is relatively large, and walking is the main way to visit. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
- Spring (March - April) and autumn (September - October) are the best seasons to visit Slender West Lake. At this time, the climate is pleasant, the scenery is beautiful, and flowers are in full bloom.
- You can taste Yangzhou's characteristic food in the teahouses or restaurants in the scenic area, such as Sanding Baozi and Da Zhu Gan Si, to experience the local food culture.
- If you want to have a deep understanding of the history and culture of Slender West Lake, you can rent the scenic area's audio guide equipment or hire a guide.
Matters Needing Attention
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Tourists must abide by the regulations of the scenic area and protect the environment.
- Take good care of personal belongings, especially in scenic spots and time periods with many tourists.
- Some roads in the scenic area are relatively slippery, especially on rainy days. Tourists must pay attention to safety and walk carefully.
- Abide by the opening hours of the scenic area, and avoid staying after closing to prevent affecting the tour experience and safety.
- Please buy tickets through regular channels, and avoid buying tickets from scalpers to prevent being cheated.