Slender West Lake is a place I visited when I first came to Yangzhou, but my impression is not deep anymore. So this time visiting the old place is also new.

Take a bus to the south gate of Slender West Lake. Later, I learned that this choice was wrong!

Slender West Lake is actually a wide river course outside Yangzhou, formerly known as Baoyang Lake. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Qiantang poet Wang Hang wrote a song "Ode to Baoyang River":"The weeping poplars continue to pick up the remnants, and the geese 'teeth' and the red bridges are painted. It is also a pot of gold, so it should be called Slender West Lake." The name of "Slender West Lake" became widely spread.

The garden development of Slender West Lake comes from the prosperity of Yangzhou. Yangzhou's prosperity comes from the navigation of the Grand Canal. Canal water transportation that began to flourish during the Sui and Tang Dynasties made Yangzhou a transportation hub on the Grand Canal, and its commercial development reached unprecedented prosperity. Yangzhou has since become the richest metropolis in the world.

Since the navigation of the Grand Canal for thousands of years, I can't help but think of my evaluation of Emperor Sui Yang who dug the Grand Canal.

He has always been educated that Yang Guang killed his brother and coerced his father to conspire to seize the throne. After coming to power, he was arrogant and extravagant and abused the power of the people. He was a foolish and ignorant king.

In fact, history is always written by the victors. Compared with Li Shimin, another wise monarch of the Tang Dynasty: Li Shimin also killed Yang Guang's brother and coerced his father. Yang Guang also did Li Shimin's great cause of unifying China!

The real reason why Yang Guang dug the canal was to use troops in Koryo and open up water transportation in Jiangnan. It was this measure that laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Yang Guang also created the oldest talent selection system in Chinese history-the imperial examination. It was this system that changed the situation in which the official class only emerged from aristocratic families.

Going far away from the topic, back to Slender West Lake--

Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, gardens have been built one after another in the Slender West Lake area. The beautiful scenery of Yangzhou has attracted the presence of poets and poets such as Li Bai, Du Mu, Su Shi, Qin Guan and so on. Poems and poems praising the scenery of Slender West Lake emerge one after another, becoming an immortal chapter in history. My favorite is this "Bamboo Zhi Ci":

"The spring water in Hangou is as blue as oil, and the spring breeze is sufficient to stay everywhere.

The flute pipes of the twenty-four bridges are closed, and the bright moon still fills Yangzhou."

In the Qing Dynasty, Yangzhou was even more favored by the emperor. Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong made six southern patrols, visiting Yangzhou every time. This has created a grand occasion for the lakes and mountains where "all flowers and willows on both sides of the strait rely on the water, all the way to the mountains." At this time, Slender West Lake reached its peak. Many garden landscapes are products of this period.

With the decline of Yangzhou's salt industry after Jiaqing, especially the war of the Taiping Rebellion, Slender West Lake suffered serious damage. In modern times, although Yangzhou has gradually lost its status as a transportation hub, due to the status of Slender West Lake in Yangzhou. Garden construction is still making progress.

In the 1980s, with the development of the economy, the construction of Slender West Lake was also strengthened. Many deserted attractions have been gradually restored. The current waters of Slender West Lake are constantly dredged, the garden area is gradually expanding, and Slender West Lake has once again reached its peak.

Got off the bus, walked along the road, passing by the "Xiyuan Qushui".

There are couplets hanging on both sides of the gate: "The few defeat the many, and the Yao grass and Qi flowers flourish all year round; both small and large, the abbot Penglai can see it." It attracts tourists to go in and have a look.

I remember I entered Slender West Lake from here before. I went in and took a look, but it didn't seem to be the case. Maybe I remembered wrongly. Return it back and continue along the road to the Great Hongqiao Bridge.

The Dahongqiao Bridge was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, it was a wooden board bridge called the "Red Bridge" or "Banqiao". In the first year of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Huizhou salt merchant Huang Lvmei invested in the reconstruction of a single-hole stone bridge. Because it looked like a rainbow lying on the waves, it was renamed "Hongqiao". What we see now is a reinforced concrete arch bridge rebuilt in 1973. The previous single-hole has been changed from a three-hole, so the shape of the bridge body has become more beautiful.

The Great Hongqiao Bridge is the "Hongqiao Range Rover" among the 24 scenic spots of Slender West Lake. Before entering the garden gate, we watched the scenery of Slender West Lake from the bridge. The scenery here is beautiful and pleasant. It is really worth visiting the old place again!

Arrived at the south gate of Slender West Lake. The couplets on both sides of the gate read: "Heaven and earth are inherently selfless. I will always keep the spring flowers and autumn moon. I am the master when I am free, and don't ask about the vegetation of Pingquan; the lakes and mountains are beautiful, and who embellishes the Jiege and Youting Pavilion? It is unique everywhere. It is really clear to draw pictures." This was written by Li Ding, a famous Yangzhou celebrity in the late Qing Dynasty, and written in calligraphy by his daughter Li Shenghe.

Looking at the guide map, I found that it is still far away from the central scenic spot. More than 20 years ago, we started from here and walked the entire journey. But now that he is nearly eighty years old, he does not have such good physical strength. So I chose to take a cruise ship to reach Xichun Terrace Scenic Area.

The cruise ship departs from the dock and travels north along the river. Willows on both sides of the Taiwan Strait hang low, blowing the water with the wind, and there are thousands of tenderness. It is precisely that "the most affectionate is the Yangzhou willow"!

This song South Garden Spring Willow describes it well:

"The Chilan Bridge on Chunshui in Chengkuma is full of clear waves and green sleeves.

I came alone and wanted to get drunk first, and good winds are the longest."

(Unfinished, to be continued)