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Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Explore the region
About Xiang Lake
The lake is a separate landscape from West Lake and should be planned as its own outing.
Waterside scenery is the main focus, with recreation attractions in the wider surrounding area. A lake visit can remain simple: choose a shore section and continue to a second waterside point that is actually served by the local paths. The scenic area is broader than the metro station bearing its name.
Xiang Lake developed from the West City Lake (西城湖), a former Qiantang River channel that began silting up in the Tang dynasty and had nearly vanished by the early Song. In 1112, the county magistrate Yang Shi (杨时) built an artificial reservoir on the site, returning 37,002 mu (亩) of farmland to water to irrigate 140,000 mu (亩) of paddy across nine townships. Its scenery, said to resemble the Xiao-Xiang region, gave the lake its name.
In the mid-Ming dynasty, Shaoxing prefecture diverted the Puyang River (浦阳江) for irrigation through three water-conservancy projects, reducing the lake's role, while unregulated embankments and land reclamation caused further silting. From the late Qing dynasty into the early Republic, the lake's fine clay supported a brick and tile industry that filled parts of the lake for kilns until production ended in 2007. By 1988 its water area had shrunk to about 1,460 mu (亩).
A tourist resort was established at Xiang Lake in 1995, and Hangzhou Paradise (杭州乐园) opened in 1999. In 2002 the Kuahuqiao site (跨湖桥遗址) became known for the excavation of what is described as the world's earliest dugout canoe. Phased redevelopment followed from 2003, completed in stages through 2016, when the lake's historic gourd-shaped outline was restored.
What to look for
- The Xiaoshan lake landscape offers a distinct southern-Hangzhou waterside setting.
- Different shore sections provide changing views across the water.
Location & getting there
Getting to Xiang Lake
Xianghu metro station is the named rail approach recorded near the scenic area. Check the onward connection to the shore entrance you choose.
- Confirm the selected entrance and current internal access before departure.
Combine your visit
A suggested sequence through the source-confirmed features.
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Selected lake-shore entrance
Examine Selected lake-shore entrance as a separate part of Xiang Lake.
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A second accessible waterside viewpoint
The Xiaoshan lake landscape offers a distinct southern-Hangzhou waterside setting.
The sequence is editorial. Check local access and connections between sectors; no walking time or same-ticket access is promised.
Find Xiang Lake
湘湖 · 萧山区
The pin marks the area, not the entrance.
More places nearby
Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.
Kuahuqiao site 跨湖桥遗址博物馆
Less than 1 km awayKuahuqiao’s site museum preserves an early dugout canoe in the place where it was excavated, bringing prehistoric wetland life into direct view. Pottery and tools of wood, bone and stone broaden the story beyond the boat. The…
View guide →Hangzhou Paradise Park 杭州乐园
4 km awayHangzhou Paradise groups thrill rides and family attractions into Mayan Tribe, Lost Jungle and Adventure Island. A suspended roller coaster and large swinging rides form the more intense side of the park, while the double-deck…
View guide →Xixing Ancient Town 西兴古镇
6 km awayXixing’s old streets grew around the eastern Zhejiang canal’s connection with the Qiantang River. Along Guanhe Road, dark-tiled houses, river-facing doors and stone steps show how goods once moved between boats and commercial…
View guide →Sources & visit information
The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.
Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikipedia contributors, “湘湖” · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 92151636.
Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "湘湖", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 92151636.