Cultural Landscapes in Google Earth
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zuoyewest_lake.docx
Location: West Lake (Hangzhou, China)
Latitude and Longitude: 30°14'29.03" N 120°09'26.37" E
West Lake in Hangzhou is a freshwater lake in the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China. It is surrounded by hills on three sides (marked by three triangles) and the fourth side by the city of Hangzhou (marked by a circle). This unique natural landscape was first recorded in West Lake Sight-Seeing Record in 1781, “West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Streams wander down the hills into the pond. There’re hundreds of springs underneath. Accumulated water forms the lake”. It has been a tourist attraction since Tang dynasty in AD. 618. Through the history of China, West Lake has influenced a lot of painters and poets because of its historic relics and natural beauty. It is also the most important sources of inspiration for the designers of Chinese garden (Yang and Wang, 1982). According to the records of Chinese literatures, Dream in West Lake, The Enchiridion of Lake and Mountain, Legend of the White Snake are all set in West Lake.
The designation of West Lake area was influenced by the population of Buddhism in Tang and Song dynasties. In West Lake Landscape, its islands, temples and pagodas represent the harmony between human and nature (marked by arrows). Some Buddhist ideas from India such as “nature as paintings” and “Buddhist peacefulness” are represented by these islands, bridges and temples as well (Unesco, 2011).
West Lake is not only well known by its lake but also the impact on the design of gardens. The harmony and beauty of the Lake are shown by the artificial structures. The unique landscape inspires people to “project feelings onto the landscape” (Unesco, 2011).
West Lake has an impact on Far Eastern landscape designs. Its features are imitated by orther gardens such as Koishikawa Korakuen Garden in Tokyo (Unesco, 2011).
According to Concentric Zone Model, West Lake area belongs to the Commuter’s zone. It is located beyond the build-up area of the city. Based on the historic records, most upper class and emperors lived here during their vacation. The city of Hangzhou can be considered as the zone of working class and zone of better residence. A large percentage of people from middle-class live here.
The landscape of Zhejiang Province is a river dominated delta. The rich natural resources and convenient transportation are the most important components for Hangzhou being one of the most prosperous city in China through the history. The city of Hangzhou especially West Lake is a paradise for high-class people and scholars. Not only in ancient China but also modern China, countless people travel from other area or countries to West Lake. Based on the Central Place Theory, the higher order of the goods and services, the larger range of goods and services will attract people who travelling for the longer distance (Briney, 2017). The city of Hangzhou includes West Lake has an evenly distributed population and most consumers have the same shopping behavior and income level. The high price of commodities and housing represent that the local people in Hangzhou have similar purchasing power, demand for goods and services (Briney, 2017).
Overall, West Lake is a very important cultural landscape which influenced the economy, development and even politics of Hangzhou.
Cite
Hongxun Yang and Huimin Wang, 1982. The classical gardens of China: history and design techniques. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. p. 111. ISBN 0-442-23209-8.
"Ancient Chinese cultural landscape, the West Lake of Hangzhou, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
Amanda Briney, 2017. What Do You Know about Christaller's Central Place Theory of Urban Geography? ThoughtCo. N.p., n.d. Web.
