Where nature is shaped by hand

Ever-changing beauty

At dawn one April morning, I woke to the alarm because according to the forecast, it was going to rain in the West Lake area.

When I arrived, the rain was yet to fall and the air was cool. The West Lake was veiled in an early morning haze of misty blue. A fish jumped out of the water, flipping as if to greet me.

I walked about 4 km to a site on the list of the Ten Views of West Lake — Broken Bridge with Thawing Snow — before my left foot began to hurt badly.

There was, of course, no snow. Nor was the bridge broken. I forgot to go to the Su Causeway, where it would have been the perfect time to appreciate Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring.

I checked the list, learning that to see all 10 views, one has to visit during all four seasons so as to see the willows wave, the lotus flowers, the autumn moon, and the thawing snow, as well as come at dawn, in the morning, at dusk, and in the evening to see the fair lake in different lighting.

But even strolling around the lake on a cool spring morning, joy filled my heart at the sight of such gorgeous views. I was metaphorically walking through a classical Chinese painting. If the West Lake is a masterpiece, I wanted to memorize every detail.

A middle-aged woman was walking along the Bai Causeway, playing a pop song on her tablet and singing along, bursting into laugher once in a while. It was strange, as most people enjoyed the views quietly, but even I wanted to join her in singing: "Let us journey through this worldly life together, live with abandon!"