Gushan Scenic Area

Gushan Scenic Area

Gushan is located on the water in the northern part of West Lake. It is the only naturally formed island on West Lake and the largest island in the lake. Rising 38 meters above the water, the island covers an area of over 300 acres. The great Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi once referred to it as “a fairy palace standing in the middle of the water.”

The beauty of Gushan lies in the harmony between the lake and the mountain; its charm lies in its rich cultural heritage. Development of Gushan began as early as the Southern Song Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Lizong of Song, the Four Saints Temple and the Western Great Unity Palace were built here. In the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, it was turned into an imperial retreat, and later during the Yongzheng era, it was reconstructed into the Shengyin Temple. The only remaining one of China’s seven major ancient libraries, the Zhalan Pavilion, is located on Gushan. Historical figures such as Su Xiaoxiao, Su Dongpo, Ouyang Xiu, Lin Hejing, Qiu Jin, Yu Quyuan, and Wu Changshuo have all been associated with Gushan, making it a true “cultural mountain.”

This area is best explored on foot. As you stroll through, you will be constantly enveloped by a rich cultural atmosphere. Depending on your own cultural sensibilities, you may at times sense restraint, at others perceive aloofness, or come to understand perseverance...