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Explore the region
About Xiling Seal Art Society
Its buildings and inscriptions connect the landscape of West Lake with seal carving, calligraphy and the study of old writing. The small scale rewards close looking: carved characters and seal-related displays carry much of the interest. The Hongxue Path also recalls Li Shutong’s gift of his seal collection, marked by the site of the “Yin Cang” stone inscription.
The society, with antecedents dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, was founded in 1904 by the seal carvers Ding Ren (丁仁), Wang Ti (王禔), Ye Ming (叶铭), Li Liangyu (厉良玉) and Wu Yin (吴隐), with the seal-carving master Wu Changshuo (吴昌硕) as its first president. In 1978 it was authorized by the state publishing administration to establish the Xiling Seal Society Press (西泠印社出版社).
The society preserves the Eastern Han dynasty Stele of the Three Elders (三老讳字忌日碑), together with a number of well-known stone carvings and cliff inscriptions. Its seal-carving craftsmanship (金石篆刻技艺) is listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage (国家级非物质文化遗产). The site was named a Zhejiang provincial cultural relic protection unit (浙江省文物保护单位) on 11 March 1963 and was later named a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) on 25 June 2001.
What to look for
- The society’s traditional garden buildings and seal-carving displays.
- The Hongxue Path’s Yin Cang inscription, associated with Li Shutong’s donated seals.
Location & getting there
Getting to Xiling Seal Art Society
Use No 31 Gushan Road on the western side of Gushan as the arrival point. The society’s grounds rise up the hill from the lake road, so expect paths and changes of level.
Combine your visit
A suggested sequence linking the specific features of this visit.
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Gushan Road entrance
Enter through the society’s lake-side architectural frontage.
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Garden and seal displays
Examine the relationship between calligraphy, carved seals and the garden setting.
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Hongxue Path
Look for the inscribed memorial to Li Shutong’s seal collection.
This order is editorial. Confirm access and any transfers between stops; it does not establish a walking route, same-day connection or common admission ticket.
Find Xiling Seal Art Society
西泠印社 · 西湖区
The pin marks the area, not the entrance.
More places nearby
Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.
Solitary Hill and Zhongshan Park 孤山及中山公园
Less than 1 km awayGushan, or Solitary Hill, is West Lake’s natural island, connected to the shore by bridges and Bai Causeway. Zhongshan Park and the surrounding paths offer trees, slopes and close lake views, while cultural buildings give the…
View guide →Zhejiang Provincial Museum 浙江省博物馆
Less than 1 km awayZhejiang Provincial Museum has two distinct visitor settings. The Gushan branch beside West Lake includes Wenlan Pavilion, a historic library complex with courtyards and a water garden. The much larger Zhijiang branch presents…
View guide →Spring Dawn at Su Causeway 苏堤春晓
Less than 1 km awaySu Causeway crosses the western part of West Lake on a long line of trees and six bridges. It was formed during Su Shi’s lake-dredging work in 1089, turning excavated material into a useful north–south connection. The bridges…
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.
- en.wikipedia.org ↗
- www.ehangzhou.gov.cn ↗
- www.ezhejiang.gov.cn ↗
- Xiling Seal Engravers' Society ↗
- Chinese Wikipedia: 西泠印社 (revision 93925738, 2026-08-17) ↗
- English Wikipedia: Xiling Seal Engravers' Society (revision 1361568701, 2026-06-28) ↗
Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikipedia contributors, “Xiling Seal Engravers' Society” · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1361568701.
Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "西泠印社", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 93925738.
Background paragraphs condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "Xiling Seal Engravers' Society", English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1361568701.