Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake

最美不过路上的风景

5.0/5

Outstanding

The best time to view the Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake is around the Mid-Autumn Festival, on a full moon night, when the moonlight reflected on the lake is most breathtaking. In autumn (October-November), the overall climate is pleasant, the lake is calm as a mirror, and the moonlight and water reflect each other, creating the spectacular sight of "a vast expanse of autumn lake in one color." The Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake was listed as one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake during the Southern Song Dynasty, but it did not have a fixed location. In the 38th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the current location was designated and the name was inscribed, establishing its present layout. The scenic area completely preserves the Qing Dynasty layout of "one courtyard, one building, one stele, and one pavilion": **Imperial Writing Building:** The core building, with a double-eaved hip roof, displaying a plaque inscribed by the Kangxi Emperor. A viewing platform extends from the building onto the lake. **Imperial Stele Pavilion:** Contains a stone stele inscribed with "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake" by the Kangxi Emperor (recarved in 1980 according to the original design), a four-cornered pavilion in the Qing Dynasty style. **Moon Wave Pavilion:** An open pavilion facing the water on the west side, with a balustrade between the pillars, offering a distant view of the three islands in the center of the lake. Water Courtyard Space: Built around the lake, with winding bridges connecting the various buildings, and planted with red lotus, osmanthus, and other plants, offering beautiful scenery in all four seasons.