Slender West Lake

In medieval and early modern China, the present Slender West Lake was described as a stretch of river variously known as Paoshan, Changchun, Baoyang, or Baozhang Creek. The area was popularly known as the Slender West Lake by the late 17th century, when the name was recorded in the treatise Yángzhōu Gǔchuī Cíxù (t 《揚州鼓吹詞序》, s 《扬州鼓吹词序》) compiled by Wu Qi (t 吳綺, s 吴绮, Wú Qǐ; 1619–1694).[lower-alpha 1] It was further popularized in the 1736 poem "On Baozhang Creek" (《咏保障河》, Yǒng Bǎozhàng Hé) written by the Hangzhou native Wang Hang (汪沆, Wāng Hàng, 1704–1784) during a visit to Yangzhou.[2] Wang had been the student of Li E, who had just completed his own work on the West Lake Records (《西湖志》, Xīhú Zhì) detailing the history of the area around Hangzhou's West Lake[3] and Wang's short ode praised the town as similarly prosperous and attractive.[lower-alpha 2]

Slender West Lake is located between Hanjiang and Guangling districts in the center of modern Yangzhou in central Jiangsu in eastern China. Originally part of the moats, canals, and streams around the older locations of Yangzhou, it lies above the northwestern corner of the city's Song, Ming, and Qing fortifications.[4] The lake proper runs from Baozhang Lake at the north to the remains of the Qing moat at the south. The Slender West Lake Scenic Area includes Baozhang Lake and some islands and additional waterways to the west.

The lake lies on the opposite side of the old city from the course of the Grand Canal to its east. It is nevertheless interconnected with it by streams along its entire length: by Baozhang Lake and the modern extent of the Han or Hangou Canal (t 邗溝, s 邗, Hángōu) on the north; by Cao or Caohe Creek (漕河, Cáo Hé) in the middle; and by Yudai Creek (t 玉帶河, s 玉, Yùdài Hé) or by Erdao Creek (二道河, Èrdào Hé), Lotus Pond Park, and Andun Creek (安墩河, Āndūn Hé) on the south.

Yangzhou under the Qing, Slender West Lake marked by its Bridge of 24s

Despite Yangzhou's centuries of prosperity as a major hub on the Grand Canal, the area around Slender West Lake was not particularly built up until the Qianlong Era of the Qing, the mid-1700s. The city had been greatly damaged with the rest of city by the Qing conquest and the Yangzhou Massacre in May 1645 and few earlier buildings survived throughout the city in any case.[1] Under the Qing, however, the great wealth of the area's canal officials and salt merchants was used to construct lavish private residences and gardens[5] along with nationally renowned restaurants and teahouses[6] and decoration intended to welcome Qing emperors and officials, particularly the Qianlong Emperor. Several major landmarks self-consciously emulate features of other locations.[7]

A long bank planted with weeping willows follows the lake. At its midpoint stands a square terrace with pavilions at each of the corners and one in the center. Around the lake is a park in which are found several attractions: Lotus Flower Pagoda (Lianhua SO, a white structure reminiscent of the White Pagoda (Baita) in Beijing's Beihai Park; Small Gold Mountain (Xiao Jin Shan); and the Fishing Platform (Diaoyutai), a favorite retreat of the Qianlong Emperor. The emperor was so gratified by his luck in fishing at this spot that he ordered additional stipends for the town. As it turns out, his success had been augmented by local swimmers who lurked in the lake busily attaching fish to his hook.

The present Bridge of 24s (Ershisi Qiao or Niansi Qiao) is not located in its original place and probably derives from confusion with the 24 bridges recorded in Yangzhou under the Tang, the confusion arising from the general lack of distinction between singular and plural forms in Chinese.[8]

Wang Hang's poem remains a point of pride for the city and the area remains a major tourist attraction. However, Zhu Ziqing found the comparison with Hangzhou ill taken; by comparison, he found the slenderness of the lake offputting despite enjoying Yangzhou's many canals.[9][10]

• List of Chinese gardens
• Geyuan, a nearby traditional estate