Natural Wonder · Hangzhou, China
West Lake, Hangzhou
West Lake, also known as Xihu and by other names, is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China.
Photo: Takashishin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Hangzhou, China |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural Wonder |
| Length | Length: 3.2 km |
| Coordinates | 30.2469° N, 120.1442° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What West Lake, Hangzhou is known for
West Lake, also known as Xihu and by other names, is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China.
About West Lake, Hangzhou
West Lake, also known as Xihu and by other names, is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. Situated to the west of Hangzhou's former walled city, the lake has a surface area of 6.39 km2 (2.47 sq mi), stretching 3.2 km (2.0 mi) from north to south and 2.8 km (1.7 mi) from east to west. In the lake are four causeways, three artificial islands, and Gushan, the only natural island.
History
About 4,400 to 2,500 years ago, as sea levels fell, the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou plain began to emerge, while West Lake was merely a shallow bay. Over time, the Qiantang River gradually deposited sand and rocks outside this bay. About 2,000 years ago, a lagoon was formed.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Hangzhou |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) |
| Distance from the airport | 17.2 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) · Hangzhou, China · 17.0 miles away
- Yiwu Airport (YIW) · Yiwu/Jinhua, China · 62.9 miles away
- Ningbo Lishe International Airport (NGB) · Ningbo, China · 84.0 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in China
More natural wonders
Frequently asked questions
What is West Lake, Hangzhou?
West Lake, also known as Xihu and by other names, is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China.
Where is West Lake, Hangzhou located?
West Lake, Hangzhou is in Hangzhou, China. Its coordinates are 30.2469° N, 120.1442° E.
How do I get to West Lake, Hangzhou?
The nearest town is Hangzhou, and the nearest airport is Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH), about 17.2 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of West Lake, Hangzhou?
About 4,400 to 2,500 years ago, as sea levels fell, the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou plain began to emerge, while West Lake was merely a shallow bay. Over time, the Qiantang River gradually deposited sand and rocks outside this bay.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lake — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q502371 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.