West Lake (Chinese: 西湖; Pinyin: Xī Hú) is a famous fresh water lake located in central Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province of eastern China. The lake is divided by three causeways called su di (苏堤) , di (白堤), and yanggong di (杨公堤). Note: There are 800 West Lakes in China (according to the Lonely Planet). However, the term "West Lake" or "Xi Hu" is generally used to refer to the one in Hangzhou. The Ten major attractions of West Lake, each marked by a stela with the name written in the calligraphy of the Emperor Qianlong Emperor, are: Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway (苏堤春晓) Listining Orioles Singing in the Willows (柳浪闻莺) View Fish in the Flower Harbour (花港观鱼) Lotus in the Breeze at the Winding Courtyard (曲苑风荷) Evening Bells at the Nanping Mountain (南屏晚钟) Autumn Moon over a Calm Lake (平湖秋月) Evening Sunshine over Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰夕照) Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月) Melting Snow on Broken Bridge (断桥残雪) Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds (双峰插云) - The "Jungfrau of West Lake" The West Lake is said to be the incarnation of Xi Shi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Hence, since ancient times, the West Lake was associated with a large number of romatic poets, profound philosophers, national heros and heroins. Eastern Jin Dynasty philosopher Ge Hong practiced Taoism in the Ge Mountain, and wrote his great philosophical work: Bao Pu Zhi (抱朴子). Tang Dynasty poet Luo Binwang reclused in Lingyin Temple Tang Dynasty poet-governor Bai Juyi built the first causeway, which the Bai Causeway. Song Dynasty poet-governor Su Dongpo, dredged the lake and built up the Su Causeway, made it into another beautiful landmark of West Lake. He also invented a special recipe for preparing pork: the Dongpo Pork. Dongpo Pork is on the menu of every restaurant in Hangzhou Song Dynasty national hero Yue Fei was buried near the West Lake Lotus in the Breeze at the Winding CourtyardThe great Ming Dynasty essayist Zhang Dai, wrote a number great essays about the West Lake in Reminiscence and Dream of Tao'an (陶庵梦忆), and a whole book: Search for West Lake in Dreams (西湖梦寻).