Hangzhou Quyuanfenghe

Hangzhou Quyuanfenghe

Hangzhou Quyuanfenghe

Hangzhou West Lake’s Quyuanfenghe is located northwest of the Kuahong Bridge on the Su Causeway in the city center. Quyuanfenghe lies near Hongchun Bridge on Lingyin Road. Legend has it that during the Southern Song Dynasty, there was an official brewing workshop here. The pond connected to the Jinsha Stream within the workshop was planted with lotuses. Every summer, when the warm breeze blew, the fragrance of the lotuses and the aroma of wine wafted through the air, intoxicating all who passed by, and people called it “Quyuan He Feng.” In the 36th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1697), when Emperor Kangxi visited Hangzhou, the local government planted lotuses in Yuehu Lake. Emperor Kangxi personally inscribed the four characters “Qu Yuan Feng He” (Breeze-Ruffled Lotus at the Winding Courtyard) and had a pavilion and a stele erected. Although the site had been relocated, the scenic spot was restored. After 1980, it was gradually expanded and has now become Quyuanfenghe Park.

The park covers more than 420 acres, and “Quyuanfenghe” remains its main feature, centered around lotus blossoms. The entire park is divided into six scenic areas: Yuehu Lake, Zhusu Garden, Fenghe (Breeze and Lotus), Quyuan (Winding Courtyard), Lakeside Woodland, and others. The Fenghe area features lotus ponds planted with various cultivars such as red lotus, gold-splashed lotus, and white lotus. Beside the ponds are pavilions such as Yingxun Pavilion and Fengwei Pavilion. Admiring the lotuses from these structures fills the air with a rich fragrance, giving visitors the feeling of being surrounded by “myriad fragrant lotuses.”

When summer breezes blow, the vast lotus ponds become a captivating sight, with their fragrance refreshing the heart and soul. The park also features the “West Lake Woodland Resort,” which includes elevated birch cabins available for rent, along with hammocks, tents, and cooking utensils for rent, offering endless fun and enjoyment for picnics in the wild. Small bridges connect the ponds, making it convenient for visitors to stroll and admire the scenery. Here, you can enjoy the enchanting view described in the line “endless green lotus leaves reach up to touch the sky; pink lotus flowers glow red under the sun.”