The East Lake is situated six kilometers (3.7 miles) to the east of the historic Shaoxing City. With a wonderful combination of a hill, grottoes, stone bridges, it might pass for a miniature landscape. On a par with the West Lake in Hangzhou and the South Lake in Jiaxing, it is one of the three famous lakes in Zhejiang Province. Although it is quite small, its delicacy and elegance rank it among the best resorts in Shaoxing.
East Lake is largely an artificial lake, though it was not expressly created as such. It got to be a lake by the quarrying of the bluestone (a bluish-grey sandstone) that makes up the area's bedrock, especially the lower slopes of the surrounding mountains. The quarrying of the bluestone began already during the Han (BCE 206 - CE 220) Dynasty, but accelerated especially during the Sui (CE 581-617) Dynasty, when construction on the Great Wall was significantly expanded.
It is great fun to sit in a boat - called an aquatic taxi in this area, and to glide silently along the cliffs and grottoes. These taxis tend to be small and exquisitely finished - a work of art in themselves. The cliffs look ominous in their ever-changing colors and hues, as one glides along. The grottoes vary in size and prominence. The entrance of the 'Taogong Grotto' allows only one boat at a time to pass. Visitors, however, can see the sky in the relatively ample interior. The 'Peach Grotto' together with its inverted image in the water resembles a big peach. Arriving at the top of the hill, one can savor a cup of tea and enjoy a splendid view of the ancient town as well.
Admission Fee: CNY 40
Opening Time: From 8:00AM to 5:00PM.
How to get there: From the heart of Shaoxing, you can take any of buses nos. 1, 107, 117, 137, 157 or 207.