Slender West Lake （瘦西湖）

Slender West Lake [nipic.com]

Slender West Lake is a man-made lake where beautiful views and historic sites coexist. It is a fine example of a traditional Chinese lakeside garden, as well as a well-known scenic spot, located in the northwest of Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, covering a total area of 100 hectares.

With a length of 4 kilometers (2.49 miles) and a width of less than 100 meters, the lake got its name because of its long and narrow outline, just like a slender, gentle girl. Around the lake is a park which was formed during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Walking along the lake, one can see many elegant styles of architectures, and all of them possess different kinds of beauty. Numerous poems have been penned by famous poets about the lake.

There are 24 scenic attractions at and around the lake, among which, the most famous ones are the White Pagoda, the Five Pavilion Bridge, the Fishing Platform (Diaoyutai), the Xiaojin Hill, the Fuzhuang, and the 24 Bridge.

Admission: 90 yuan (US$14.24)/person