杭州西湖风景名胜区是以秀丽清雅的湖光山色、璀璨丰蕴的文物古迹和文化艺术融为一体的国家级风景名胜区，她以秀美的西湖为中心，三面云山，中涵碧水，面积约60平方公里，其中湖面6.5平方公里。环湖四周，绿荫环抱，山色葱茏，画桥烟柳，云树笼纱。逶迤群山之间，林泉秀美，溪涧幽深。
100多处各具特色的公园景点中，有三秋桂子、六桥烟柳、九里云松、十里荷花，更有著名的“西湖十景”和“西湖新十景"以及近年来相继建成开放的多处新景点。西湖春夏秋冬各有景致，睛雨风雪别有情的西湖不仅独擅山水秀丽之美，林壑幽深之胜，更有丰富的文物古迹、优美动人的神话传说。
西湖四周古迹遍布，文物荟萃。拥有国家级重点文物保护单位１６处、省级２２处、市级２４处，有众多文物保护点和各类博物馆、纪念馆点缀其中，为之增色，是我国著名的历史文化游览胜地。
新世纪初，杭州市委、市政府实施了西湖综合保护工程，西湖环湖南线景区、杨公堤景区、湖滨新景区梅家坞茶文化村、北山街历史文化街区、龙井茶文化景区、灵隐景区、吴山景区等相继整治修复开放幅“一湖二塔三岛三堤”的西湖全景世纪之图已舒展卷轴，“东热、南旺、西幽、北雅、中靓”的西湖新面貌展现于世人面前。
PROFILE OF THE WEST LAKE NATIONAL PARK
The West Lake National Park in Hangzhou is a harmonious blend of the natural beauty in the elegant and graceful lake and hills, profound and splendid cultural relics and historic sites, and brilliant culture and arts. As the ceterpiece of the national park, the West Lake is cradled by hills in three directions.
Covering an area of about 60km clusive of 60km inclusive of 6.5km of waters, the national part boasts over 100 tourist attractions featured with such beautiful sceneries as Sweet－scented Osmanthus in Autumn, Six Bridges in Misty Willows, Pine Trees Extending Nine Li in Clouds, and Ten Li of Blooming Lotus Flowers, as well as the famous completed and open to the public in recent years.
The West Lake reveals varied charming sceneries in the four seasons, at dawn or dusk, in sunny or rainy days.
The west Lake is endowed with elegant hills and waters as well as dense woods with deep valleys. Besides,it is not only abundant in cultural relics and historical momuments but also in touching fairy tales and legends.
Around the West Lake, there are 16 key national momuments, 22 provincial momuments, 24 municipal monuments,as well as numerous heritage sites under preservation, museums and memorial halls of various types，which add to its brilliance．The national park is one of the well－known domestic tourist resorts with historic and cultural significance.
At the beginning of the new century，the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government of Hangzhou implemented the Unified Preservation Project of the West Lake.
Through rehabilitation and restoration, the Southern Itinerary Scenic Area，The Yang Gong Causeway Scenic Area, the newly－renovated Lakeside Scenic Area, the Meijiawu Tea Culture Village， the Cultural&Historic Street of Beishan Road, the Dragon Well Tea Culture Scenic Area, the Lingyin Scenic Area，and the Wu Hill Scenic Area have been open to the public successively.
Thus，a centennial panoramic scroll of the West Lake National Park with＂One Lake，Two Pagodas, Three Islets, Three Causeways＂ has been unfolded. The West Lake is taking on a new look with ＂Lively East， Popular South，Serene West，Refined North，and Beautiful Middle".
