Famous for dainty landscape of lakes and mountains as well as a mass of places of historic interests, the West Lake is the landmark of Hangzhou City and renowned as one of the most scenic wonders of China. On June 24, 2011, the West Lake was listed as a World Heritage Site by  the UNESCO.

West Lake is surrounded by mountains on its three sides with the fourth side bordering the urban district. 3.3 kilometers long from south to north and 2.8 kilometers wide from east to west, the lake covers an area of 14,290,000 square meters, with an average depth of 2.27 meters. There are ten famous scenic spots on the West Lake known as "Ten Scenes of West Lake", they are: Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring, Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer, Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn, Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter, Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset, Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Orioles Singing in the Willows, Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill.

Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring: It is the first to be mentioned in the Ten Scenes of West Lake. In spring, this evergreen long causeway full of romantic peach blossoms is really exuberant.
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer: Over 100 species of lotus are planted in the pool and small bridges are built to connect the whole area. This provide a close observation to the blooming lotus in summer.
Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn: Connecting the Bai Causeway, this area is a long and narrow garden along the lake and is considered to be the best site of poetic illusions, particularly with the moonlight in autumn.
Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter: The bridge is located at the end of the Bai Causeway, which is famous for its wintertime panoramas, especially after snowfall.
Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset: As a symbol scenic spot of West Lake, together with the Baochu Pagoda in the opposite in the north, Leifeng Pagoda offers a unique charming view under the setting sun.
Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds: The two highest peaks of the southern hills and northern hills around the West Lake make up a wonderland view with the top hidden in the clouds.
Orioles Singing in the Willows: Located in the northeast bank of West Lake, it is a large park with various species of plants and flowers, especially the rich willows and the resting on singing orioles.
Fish Viewing at Flower Pond: The best place to see thousands of goldfish swimming in pools. This is a garden designed in a typical southern-style.
Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon: If you have the Chinese currency of 1RMB, pull it out and compare it to the picture above, the picture is the Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon. This famous spot is one of the best places to admire the full moon on a mid-autumn eve.
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill: The name of this scene comes from the bells from Jingci Temple located at the foot of Nanping Hill. Usually it rings around 16:00.

Notable for its picturesque scenery and rich culture, West Lake is actually a best place for leisure in Hangzhou.