West Lake in Huizhou

West Lake in Huizhou

West Lake in Huizhou is a National Scenic Area and a National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction.

West Lake in Huizhou is an urban shallow-water lake located within Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, China. It is a National Key Scenic Area and a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction. Its landscape consists of the “Five Lakes, Six Bridges, and Eighteen Scenic Spots.” Historically, West Lake in Huizhou was grouped with West Lake in Hangzhou and West Lake in Yingzhou as one of China’s Three Great West Lakes.

China boasts countless scenic spots named “West Lake.” Aside from the world-renowned West Lake in Hangzhou, West Lake in Huizhou is also considered one of the finest among China’s West Lakes. With lush greenery, it inherits the unique natural landscape characteristics of Lingnan, presenting a more refreshing, straightforward, dignified, and elegant image compared to the misty, poetic impression of Hangzhou’s West Lake—hence the saying, “Hangzhou’s West Lake wears heavy makeup, while Huizhou’s dons light.”

The landscape of West Lake in Huizhou is composed of the “Five Lakes, Six Bridges, and Eight Scenic Spots.” The Five Lakes refer to the five lake areas that form West Lake: Ling Lake, Crocodile Lake, Ping Lake, Feng Lake, and South Lake. It takes at least half a day to explore all the lake areas.

Ping Lake is the largest of the five lakes, and most of West Lake’s main core attractions are concentrated here. The north side of the lake is surrounded by Pinghu Embankment. Along the embankment, you can visit Fengzhu Garden and Yuemiao Temple. Fengzhu Garden is especially lovely in summer when the lotus flowers are in full bloom. The Xiajiao East Road and Xiajiao Middle Road on the north side of Ping Lake are among the oldest districts in Huizhou. These tree-lined streets are where residents relax by the lake. It feels a bit like a park but is quite expansive, popular with visitors, and features a small hill related to Tao Yuanming. The stretch of road from Yuemiao Temple to Xiajiao is particularly beautiful.

Sizhou Pagoda

The most iconic structure in West Lake, Sizhou Pagoda, is located on the western side of Ping Lake. The “Jade Pagoda in Ripples,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of West Lake, refers to Sizhou Pagoda. When Su Dongpo resided in Huizhou, he vividly depicted the interplay of lake light and pagoda shadow in his famous poem “River Moon”: “At the first watch, the mountain gives birth to the moon; the jade pagoda lies in gentle ripples, just like viewing from outside the Jinmen Gate on West Lake.” The scene “Jade Pagoda in Ripples” has been passed down ever since.

Sizhou Pagoda

Solitary Hill lies on the western side of Ping Lake. The Su Dongpo Memorial Hall is built on the hill, which is also the “Solitary Hill Relics of Su” among the Eight Scenic Spots. At the foot of Solitary Hill, there is a zigzag bridge connecting to Diancui Islet, where the Liudan Pavilion stands. The pavilion, symbolizing the aspiration to leave a loyal heart for history, was built in memory of the Huizhou martyrs who died in the Xinhai Revolution. Together, they make up the “Loyal Heart over Diancui” scenic spot.

Baihuazhou (Hundred Flowers Islet)

To the north of Diancui Islet, a small bridge leads to Fanghua Islet and the Lotus Pavilion. In summer, this area often gathers many photography enthusiasts capturing the lotus pond scenery.

Baihuazhou (Hundred Flowers Islet)

There are five yacht docks within the scenic area, located near the East Gate, the Zigzag Bridge, and Fanghua Islet. You can rent boats to cruise the lake at these docks. The lake is large enough to offer both paddle boats and electric boats. Prices are approximately 30–40 RMB per hour for paddle boats and 60 RMB for half an hour for electric boats, but always check the official rates. If renting an electric boat, choose one with a full charge—sunset cruises are incredibly beautiful.

Yuemiao Temple

After exploring West Lake, you’ll find Huizhou’s pedestrian street right across from the main gate, which is also worth a visit.

Yuemiao Temple

Zhunti Temple

The landscape “Five Lakes, Six Bridges, and Eighteen Scenic Spots”

Zhunti Temple

Five Lakes: Ping Lake, Feng Lake, South Lake, Ling Lake, Crocodile Lake

Liudan Pavilion

Ping Lake: Located in the northern part of West Lake. To the north, it connects to the Dong River via Gongbei Bridge; to the south, the Sudi (Su Causeway) marks the boundary between Ping Lake and Feng Lake; to the west, it extends to Solitary Hill and Zhunti Pavilion; to the northwest, it reaches Taohua Stream; and to the east, it connects to the urban area.

Liudan Pavilion

Feng Lake: During the Northern Song Dynasty, it was a general term for West Lake in Huizhou. Later, Feng Lake refers to the water area south of Ping Lake and north of South Lake, along with the adjacent mountainous regions, after the formation of the Five Lakes.

Su Dongpo Memorial Hall

Crocodile Lake: Located northwest of Ping Lake, it stretches east to Yanxia Embankment, west to Xincun Guanbang Bridge, south to Fengshan, and north to Baihe Hanshu.

Su Dongpo Memorial Hall

South Lake: Since ancient times, this area has featured interlacing hills and islets, with deep, winding bays that resemble a crisscrossing water town, offering a beautiful environment. The current lake area extends north to Yuantong Bridge, south to the vicinity of the city’s No.1 Middle School, borders Changshou Road to the east, and connects to Fei’e Ridge to the west.

Diancui Islet

Ling Lake: Located north of Ping Lake, Ling Lake is fed by the Hengcha Stream, the largest water source of West Lake. The stream flows from Banjing and You Tang through the northwest of Youlong Mountain into Ling Lake. Boaters can paddle upstream along the winding waters to reach Dutian and Banjing.

Zigzag Bridge

Zigzag Bridge

Six Bridges: Xixin Bridge, Gongbei Bridge, Yanxia Bridge, Yingxian Bridge, Mingsheng Bridge, and Yuantong Bridge

Liuru Pavilion

Xixin Bridge: Located in the middle section of Sudi (Su Causeway), it is the first of the Six Bridges. The current bridge was rebuilt in 1983, constructed entirely of granite. It features an arched design with five unequal-sized arches, allowing pleasure boats to pass through and travel between Ping Lake and Feng Lake.

Zhao Yun’s Tomb

Gongbei Bridge: Commonly known as the Five-Eye Bridge, it is located north of Ping Lake and is the second of the Six Bridges. Built during the Song Dynasty when Chen Cheng, the prefect of Huizhou, enclosed the lake and constructed embankments, it has a history of over 900 years. It served both as a bridge on Huizhou’s millennium-old official road and as a flood discharge channel from West Lake to the Dong River. During the 1925 Northern Expedition, Whampoa Military Academy cadets crossed this bridge to attack the northern gate of Huizhou. A memorial stele for the martyrs of the Whampoa Army’s Eastern Expedition now stands at the bridgehead.

Jingxian Shrine

Yanxia Bridge: One of the Six Bridges of West Lake, it is situated in the northern section of Yanxia Dam, connecting Ping Lake and Ehu Lake. Historical records indicate that the bridge was first built in the Ming Dynasty’s Bingyin year (1626) and underwent multiple subsequent renovations. In modern times, local benefactor Zhang Youren expanded the bridge abutment to six feet wide, though the bridge itself was not modified. It was rebuilt in the 1980s using intricately carved bluestone, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.

Gushan (Solitary Hill)

Yingxian Bridge: Located northwest of Ping Lake, it was first built during the Song Dynasty and is the fourth of the Six Bridges. This bridge connects Ping Lake to Xiajiao in the urban area.

Xiuzhu Corridor

Mingsheng Bridge: Also known as Huangtang Bridge, it is situated within Chen Gongdi (Chen’s Embankment) and is the fifth of the famous Six Bridges of West Lake. Originally built alongside the embankment during the Northern Song Dynasty under Prefect Chen, it was initially a stone-gated wooden bridge, later replaced with a stone bridge in the Ming Dynasty, and modified in the Republic of China era to raise the arches for boat passage. After the founding of the People’s Republic, it underwent two government renovations. Today, the upper level accommodates vehicles, while the lower level allows boat traffic.

Beijiu Pavilion

Yuantong Bridge: The sixth and final of West Lake’s famous Six Bridges, it was first built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty by Huizhou Prefect Gan Gongliang. It serves as the boundary between Nan Lake and Feng Lake. The bridge has been through multiple cycles of destruction and reconstruction over the dynasties. After the establishment of the People’s Republic, it was renovated in 1969 and 1983. Today, in addition to the original historic bridge, a new bridge has been constructed on the eastern side of the lake, forming a pair of bridges known as the Yuantong Twin Bridges.

Fengzhu Garden

Fengzhu Garden

Eighteen Scenic Spots: Fei’e Lansheng (Fei’e Ridge View), Fengshan Haqi (Majestic Spirit of Feng Mountain), Shuiliian Feipu (Waterfall Curtain), Pinghu Qiuyue (Autumn Moon over Ping Lake), Yuta Weilan (Ripples of the Jade Pagoda), Hongmian Chunzui (Cotton Trees Drunk in Spring), Xixin Bishu (Summer Retreat at Xixin), Huazhou HuaYu (Rain Chat at Flower Islet), Huagang Guanyu (Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor), Fanghua Qiuyan (Autumn Splendor of Blossoms), Sudi Wanyue (Moon Viewing on Su Causeway), Lianli Hongmian (Twin Cotton Trees), Gushan Sujī (Traces of Su Dongpo on Solitary Hill), Nanyuan Lüxu (Green Willows of Southern Garden), Yanxia Liucang (Willow Waves in Mist), Liudan Diancui (Diancui Islet of Loyalist’s Blood), Xiangling Yunfei (Clouds Soaring over Elephant Ridge), Helu Xiangwu (Auspicious Dance of Cranes and Egrets)

Fengzhu Garden

Fengyu Pavilion

National Park Lake

Liuyun Pavilion

Rating: AAAA

Fenghu Academy

Recommended Visiting Time: 0.5 day

Fenghu Academy

Phone: 0752-2121326

Official website: http://www.hzxihu.net/

Opening hours:

Open all day

Ticket information:

Free admission.

Further reading:

·Fourth batch of National Key Scenic Spots

·34th batch of National 5A-level Tourist Attractions (October 2018)