This is the UNESCO site Slender Westlake 瘦西湖 which was my first stop for my one day trip in Yangzhou. 清代钱塘诗人汪沆： “垂杨不断接残芜，雁齿虹桥俨画图。也是销金一锅子，故应唤作瘦西湖。” That’s how the Slender Westlake got its name.

Unlike Westlake in Hangzhou, Slender Westlake was made up of a collection of gardens (private mansions) of rich Yangzhou merchants. This was also where Emperor Qianlong came three times when he visited the south.

Fishing Pagoda 釣魚台

钓鱼台 Fishing Platform. Built for Qianlong to fish. Again officials trying to suck up to the emperor asked divers to stand by in the lake. Every time Qianlong threw in the tackle, he would catch a fish.

White Pagoda and Blue Sky 白塔晴雲

One of the 24 views of Slender West Lake as described by Qianlong, the white pagoda was a much slender version (pun intended) of the one in Beijing.

This is a replica of the Buddha Tower in Beijing Beihai. Qianlong was visiting Yangzhou and commented that this resembled Beihai but unfortunately was missing the white pagoda. So an official that was in charge of salt revenue wanted to impress him. He built a smaller scale version using salt in one day and lucky for him, it was misty when the emperor went to the garden. He was suitably impressed because he could not really see the details. After Qianlong went back, the official in fear that the emperor would find out that he pulled a fast one on him decided to build it in actual masonry.

Qianlong’s calligraphy and poem about Lotus Temple 莲性寺. It is also known as 法海寺 Fa Hai Temple after the monk from the Legend of the White Snake.

Five Pagoda Bridge 五亭橋

莲花桥 also know as 五亭桥. It was built in 1757 specially for Qianlong to walk across to the Lotus Temple on the other side of the canal.

24 Bridges 二十四橋

二十四橋明月夜 玉人何處教吹簫 a poem by Tang dyansty poet Du Mu 杜牧. He was an official in Yangzhou, he wrote that on a full moon lit night, he was wondering where the sound of the flute came from.

This was the 24 bridge mentioned in the poem. It is made up of 24 steps and measured 24 meters and had 24 pillars. The original bridge was destroyed due to old age. The current one was a modern remake.

落帆栈道 was an ancient bridge that remained to this day. It was a high vintage point to look the view of the 24 bridge lake.

Taken from 众人熙熙，如登春台 《老子》this platform was called 熙春台 and was built to celebrate Qianlong’s birthday.

Stone Wall and Waterfalls 石壁流淙

石壁流淙园在清代原是扬州盐商徐赞侯别墅。1765年乾隆赐名水竹居，有御诗：“柳堤系桂艭，散步俗尘降。水色清依榻，竹声凉入窗。幽偏诚独擅，揽结喜无双。凭底静诸虑，试听石壁淙”。水竹居后废。2007年扬州市政府修复并开放石壁流淙。石壁流淙园内，叠石为山，形如峻峭的石壁，导引多股泉水，从几处石壁顶部，奔腾下泄如瀑布，注入湖中：“淙者众水攒冲，喷若风雷，四面从流也”[9]。园内有长廊长堤，六角亭，还有水竹居、阆风堂、叢碧山房、清妍室等建筑。新建水竹居以乾隆詩中的兩句“水色清依榻，竹声凉入窗”作對聯。过水廊不远有一院落，院中静香书斋，面对池塘，左右一副对联写道：“飞塔云霄半，书斋竹林中”。

Ancient man made waterfall. In 1750s this was cutting edge technology.

Willows on the banks 長堤春柳

長隄春柳在长堤上，原为徽州盐商吴尊德别墅，现仅存一方亭

Northern Gardens 北園

I always admire the elders of China. They are active and have a very fruitful retirement.