Hangzhou has long been regarded as one of China's most beautiful cities, famed for its myriad canals and waterways, verdant hills, fragrant Dragon Well tea fields and spectacular pagodas.

But the centerpiece of its legendary beauty is no doubt the West Lake - likened to a dazzling pearl fallen from the heavens that created an instant paradise on earth.

Su Dongpo, a famous Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) poet who was once the governor of Hangzhou, compared the lake to legendary ancient beauty Xi Zi, a sort of Chinese Helen of Troy, in a poem that has become a classic.

"The shimmering ripples delight the eye on sunny days,

The dim hills present a rare view in rainy haze.

West Lake compares to Xi Zi the beauty at her best:

She is gorgeous, richly clothed or plainly dressed."

The picturesque lake not only features in classic tales of love and woe, and in literary works, it is also associated with many historical figures as many of them have been laid to rest on its shores. All of this contributes to Hangzhou's cultural significance.

"In terms of scenic splendor or natural beauty, many lakes around the world rival the West Lake of Hangzhou. For a foreign visitor, the unique beauty of Hangzhou's West Lake may not be so clearly apparent as it is to the Chinese - the essence of West Lake lies not on the surface, but in the rippled reflections of legend, myth and enigma that have enthralled Chinese visitors for millennia," Monique Van Dijk and Alexandra Moss, authors of "China Through the Looking Glass: Hangzhou", observed in their book.

In addition to its connections with history, literature and poetry, West Lake has, since ancient times, been a natural setting for romance and leisure.

"On the lake itself is the endless procession of barges thronged by pleasure-seekers; their minds and thoughts intent upon nothing but bodily pleasures and the delights of society," Marco Polo, the famous 13th century Italian traveler, observed in his travelogue.

Today, bars, teahouses, restaurants and coffee shops line the lakeside streets, especially along West Lake's southeastern coast.

The best way to see the West Lake is by bike or boat, or by even taking a simple walk, with the West Lake Museum being probably the first stop on the sightseeing trip around the lake.

In addition to an introduction to the top scenic spots around the lake, the museum displays a series of cultural and historic portraitures representing Hangzhou.

In summer, visiting Quyuan Garden to marvel at the blossoming lotuses is also a must for tourists and local residents alike.

The garden, which was an official winery during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), is famous for its lotuses. Spread over nearly 70 acres, the garden has more than 200 species of the flower growing in five ponds, making it probably the largest lotus park in the country.

In midsummer, the air is scented with the delicate fragrance of lotus blossoms.

Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden is one of the top 10 scenes offered by the West Lake, the others being Spring Dawn at Su Causeway, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge, Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish at the Flower Pond, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill, and Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow.

The list was rendered official in 1699 by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) on his second tour to Hangzhou.

Due to the sweeping changes in both landscape and culture since then, a new list of top 10 scenes was formulated in 1985 after a public poll of West Lake aficionados.

But two decades are a rather long time span in today's fast-changing China, so a further new list of top 10 West Lake scenes is to be announced at the upcoming West Lake Expo in October.

(China Daily July 24, 2007)