Sudi Chunxiao, meaning “Sudi Dam in spring”, is the top of the Ten Sights of the West Lake. Sudi Dam is a three-kilometer long dam that connects the southern and the northern scenic spots. The dam is 36 metres wide. In the Song Dynasty, Sushi, a very prominent Chinese poet, was appointed the governor of Hangzhou. He ordered to dredge the West Lake and build the dam with the lake sludge. Later people named the dam after Sushi in honour of his contribution to the local area.
The dam is lined with trees and flowers such as willows and peach trees. In spring the trees are full of green shoots and the flowers are in blossom, and it is very refreshing to walk along the dam. There are also six beautifully shaped single-arch bridges on the dam. To the south of Wangshan Bridge you can see a pavilion that holds the plaque with Kangxi Emperor’s writing “Sudi Chunxiao” on it. After 1949, the six bridges were strengthened and expanded. The railings are made of Qingtian stone engraved with ethnic patterns. Walking on the bridges, you will get the perfect views of the lake and the surrounding mountains from different angles. If you want to watch sunrise on the lake, Dongpu Bridge is the best place. And if you walk on Kuahong Bridge after it rains you may see a beautiful rainbow spanning the lake with the rest of the picture gilded with sunlight.
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