HangzhouisfamoushistorialandculturalcityinChina,reputedasoneofthesevenmajorancientcapitalintheChinesehistory.Hangzhouisapicturesquecitywithmanybeautifulscenicspots.TheWestLakehasbeenChina'sbest-knowntouristspotsinceancientChina.

　　TheWestLakewasalagoonconvertedfromasmallbay.BecauseitislocatedinthewestofHangzhou,itiscalledtheWestLake.therearehillsaroundthelakeonthreesides,andthecityproperliesjustbythelakeononeside.

　　ThehistoryoftheWestLakemainlyisahistoryofthelakebeingsiltedanddredged.Itwasmadebynature.Butgreatchangestookplaceinitslonghistory.WestLakeinallpastdynastieswasnotonlyforsightseeingbut,moreimportantly,fordrinkingwaterandtheirrigationoffarmland.

　　"TheWestLakeoffersthebestsightsintheworld,whetherthetouristisfoolishofwise,Heenjoyshimselfinagreaterorlesserdegree,nobodycanpretendtobeaknow-all."