The Eight Views of Longjing

The Eight Views of Longjing

Longhong Stream is one of the four major mother streams of West Lake. It meanders down from beside Longjing Temple, flows through the scenic area, and eventually empties into West Lake. Legend has it that when Emperor Qianlong visited this area during his southern tour, he once lingered by the pavilion by the stream. Gazing at the pool of water, he was deeply moved and remarked, “This spring will never run dry.” Indeed, the water in the Long Pool has never dried up. The poetry stele corridor houses 32 poems from Qianlong’s Four Visits to Longjing, compiled as the "Eight Odes of Longjing", some of which were written in the emperor’s own hand. The over 100-meter-long wooden stele corridor is divided into four sections, with the "Eight Odes of Longjing" carved onto the bluish-gray bricks of the corridor. Fangyuan Hermitage was once the residence of the Northern Song Dynasty monk Biancai. The reconstructed hermitage retains an old-world charm, with its roof covered by thick palm-fiber thatch. The nearby stone wall is inscribed with calligraphy by Mi Fu and Qin Guan’s "Record of Longjing". The “Eight Views of Longjing” are located in the valley to the northeast of Longjing Temple, bordered by Longjing Road to the northwest, connected to the western part of West Lake to the north, and extending to the foot of South Peak to the southeast. The eight views refer to “Fenghuang Ridge, Guoxi Pavilion, Dixin Pond, A Slice of Cloud, Fangyuan Hermitage, Longhong Stream, Shen Yun Rock, and Cuifeng Pavilion”. Emperor Qianlong visited Longjing four times, composing poems about the eight views on each occasion, which contributed to their fame. Transportation: Accessible by bus route 27.

Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Longjing Village: Longjing Village is located southwest of the West Lake Scenic Area, surrounded by mountains on all sides, sloping from north to south. The village has a permanent population of around 800 people and nearly 800 acres of high-altitude tea plantations. To the northwest of the village, North Peak, Lion Peak, and Tianzhu Peak form a natural barrier, shielding the area from cold northern winds. To the south lies Jiuxi Valley, a deep and wide ravine that leads directly to the Qiantang River. The warm southeast winds of spring and summer easily enter the valley, and the well-ventilated geographical conditions provide ideal growing conditions for Longjing tea. The Longjing tea produced here ranks first among the “Lion, Dragon, Cloud, and Tiger” varieties. Legend has it that Emperor Qianlong… More details about Longjing Village ++