West Lake

Since the mid-Ming era, renewed dredging projects rekindled public interest in West Lake. As Hangzhou developed as a publishing centre, the production of geographic texts stimulated tourism, which in turn further fuelled the publishing industry.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |date=2021-01-01 |title=REMEMBERING WEST LAKE: PLACE, MOBILITY, AND GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE IN MING CHINA |url=https://www.academia.edu/99040691 |journal=Ming Qing Studies}}</ref> In 1508, Hangzhou governor Yang Mengying led a major dredging effort, repairing the Su and Bai Causeways and creating the Yanggong Causeway in his memory. This restoration returned the lake's appearance to its Tang dynasty splendour. Further construction works in 1576, 1607-1611 and 1621 built the Mid-Lake Pavilion and the Lesser Yingzhou Islet.<ref name=":15">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Annex C.1 Chronology of the West Lake Cultural Landscape}}</ref> The period of time saw the publication of a series of books on local history and culture which depicted the West Lake, inspiring Japanese gardens such as the [[Kyū Shiba Rikyū Garden]].<ref name=":15" />[[File:清董邦達西湖十景 卷4.png|thumb|''Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake'' (mid-18th century)]]

Since the mid-Ming era, renewed dredging projects rekindled public interest in West Lake. As Hangzhou developed as a publishing centre, the production of geographic texts stimulated tourism, which in turn further fuelled the publishing industry.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Duan |first=Xiaolin |date=2021-01-01 |title=REMEMBERING WEST LAKE: PLACE, MOBILITY, AND GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE IN MING CHINA |url=https://www.academia.edu/99040691 |journal=Ming Qing Studies}}</ref> In 1508, Hangzhou governor Yang Mengying led a major dredging effort, repairing the Su and Bai Causeways and creating the Yanggong Causeway in his memory. This restoration returned the lake's appearance to its Tang dynasty splendour. Further construction works in 1576, 1607-1611 and 1621 built the Mid-Lake Pavilion and the Lesser Yingzhou Islet.<ref name=":15">{{harvnb|State Administration of Cultural Heritage|2011|loc=Annex C.1 Chronology of the West Lake Cultural Landscape}}</ref> The period of time saw the publication of a series of books on local history and culture which depicted the West Lake, inspiring Japanese gardens such as the [[Kyū Shiba Rikyū Garden]].<ref name=":15" />[[File:清董邦達西湖十景 卷4.png|thumb|''Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake'' (mid-18th century)]]

The [[Manchu people|Manchu]] conquered Hangzhou in 1645, which led to the construction of the Manchu city alongside the West Lake.<ref name=":3" /> During the [[High Qing era]] (1683–1799), emperors frequented southern China, to symbolise their control over China.<ref name=":3" /> Due to the visits by the Manchu emperors, the lake was fully dredged and renovated.<ref name=":10" /> In 1689, a temporary imperial palace was built on Gushan.<ref name=":10" /> In 1722, Zhejiang governor Li Wei was ordered to dredge the lake.<ref name=":3" /> In 1809, Ruan Gong Islet was built with silted soil, which was named after Ruan Yuan, then governor of Zhejiang.<ref name=":15" />

The [[Manchu people|Manchu]] conquered Hangzhou in 1645, which led to the construction of residences alongside the West Lake.<ref name=":3" /> During the [[High Qing era]] (1683–1799), emperors frequented southern China, to symbolise their control over China.<ref name=":3" /> Due to the visits by the Qing emperors, the lake was fully dredged and renovated.<ref name=":10" /> In 1689, a temporary imperial palace was built on Gushan.<ref name=":10" /> In 1722, Zhejiang governor Li Wei was ordered to dredge the lake.<ref name=":3" /> In 1809, Ruan Gong Islet was built with silted soil, which was named after Ruan Yuan, then governor of Zhejiang.<ref name=":15" />

The emperors revived and standardised the notion of the Ten Scenes of West Lake. The Kangxi Emperor inscribed titles for these scenes, which were later carved into stelae beneath ten pavilions. The Qianlong Emperor composed poems during his visits, which were then inscribed on the reverse side of Kangxi's stelae. He further inscribed the Eight Scenes of Dragon Well in the surrounding hills. In Beijing, imperial gardens, including the Garden of Delighted Spring and the [[Old Summer Palace]], were designed to imitate the landscape designs of West Lake.<ref name=":3" />

The emperors revived and standardised the notion of the Ten Scenes of West Lake. The Kangxi Emperor inscribed titles for these scenes, which were later carved into stelae beneath ten pavilions. The Qianlong Emperor composed poems during his visits, which were then inscribed on the reverse side of Kangxi's stelae. He further inscribed the Eight Scenes of Dragon Well in the surrounding hills. In Beijing, imperial gardens, including the Garden of Delighted Spring and the [[Old Summer Palace]], were designed to imitate the landscape designs of West Lake.<ref name=":3" />

After the [[Taiping Rebellion]] (1850–1864) destroyed the buildings beside the lake, the West Lake revived, as major Qing military leaders, magnates and ranking officials, such as [[Peng Yulin]] built their villas upon the lake, which later became their memorial temples and shrines that were later maintained by a dedicated division of local government.<ref name=":16">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Eugene Y. |date=2000 |title=Perceptions of Change, Changes in Perception—West Lake as Contested Site/Sight in the Wake of the 1911 Revolution |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41490830 |journal=Modern Chinese Literature and Culture |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=73–122 |jstor=41490830 |issn=1520-9857}}</ref> In 1864, the West Lake Dredging Bureau was established, to manage the dredging of the West Lake.<ref name=":10" />

After the [[Taiping Rebellion]] (1850–1864) destroyed various buildings beside the lake, the West Lake revived, as major Qing military leaders, magnates and ranking officials, such as [[Peng Yulin]] built their villas upon the lake, which later became their memorial temples and shrines that were later maintained by a dedicated division of local government.<ref name=":16">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Eugene Y. |date=2000 |title=Perceptions of Change, Changes in Perception—West Lake as Contested Site/Sight in the Wake of the 1911 Revolution |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41490830 |journal=Modern Chinese Literature and Culture |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=73–122 |jstor=41490830 |issn=1520-9857}}</ref> In 1864, the West Lake Dredging Bureau was established, to manage the dredging of the West Lake.<ref name=":10" />

===Modern era===

===Modern era===