18 Dec 2017 - Shanghai Day 4: Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (西湖三潭印月)

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月), is the largest island on the Outer West Lake in Hangzhou. Its name comes from the three deep pools ( the three deep areas in the lake ) south of the island where three magic stone pagodas stand.

This islet is one of the most important and famous spots in Hangzhou. Listed as one of the “Top Ten Scenic Spots of Hangzhou” by Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the site has been widely praised by the public and appears on the RMB 1 bill as a representative of scenic sites in China.

I love the following photo whereby I can hardly tell which is actual and which is reflection.  Try downloading it, then rotate it 180 degree and you will know what I mean.

This islet is an excellent combination of both natural landscape and artificial sites, for the whole isle was created by a reclamation presided by Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty in 1607.  The whole island resembles a traditional Chinese water and mountain painting – zigzag bridges, lily ponds, curved-eave pavilions and densely forested trees, a perfect place for a leisure afternoon stroll. The good thing about visiting this place during winter is that it is not packed with visitors.  During summer or China public holidays, this isle will be packed with hordes of domestic tourists and you will not be able to fully enjoy the beauty around.

This island is named after the three stone pagodas shown in the photos below.  These pagodas were originally built in 1089 Song Dynasty ( 960 – 1279 ). They stand on the three deep-water pools respectively in a triangle.  As the name of the island “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon” suggests, in Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival ( Moon Cake Day ), candles are lit inside the round holes of each pagoda (south of the island), creating the mixed splendor of candle light, moonlight and lake light on the three-pool area in the lake, hence the name of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.

We left the island before sunset.

Instead of returning to Hubin Qingyu (湖滨晴雨) where we boarded the dragon boat earlier, we took the boat ride to the dock near Zhongshan Park (中山公园) at the northern bank of West Lake.

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