Quyuan Fenghe (Breeze-ruffled Lotus over the Winding Courtyard)

Set along the northwestern shore of West Lake near the northern end of Su Causeway, Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Winding Courtyard is one of Hangzhou's classic Ten Scenes of West Lake. During the Southern Song dynasty, when Hangzhou was the imperial capital, an official brewery operated where the Jinsha stream emptied into the lake. Lotus blossoms grew densely in the adjacent shallows, and summer breezes carried a fragrant blend of fermenting wine and sweet lotus across the water. In the Qing dynasty, the Kangxi Emperor commemorated the site with an imperial stele, replacing the character for brewer's yeast with a homophone meaning a winding courtyard.

Today, the area is an expansive landscape park woven around interconnected pools, zigzag wooden boardwalks, arched stone bridges, and open pavilions. The waterways showcase dozens of lotus varieties, filling the water with broad green pads and pink and white blossoms that peak from June through August. Shaded footpaths lead through weeping willows, bamboo, and groves of dawn redwood trees, with walking paths running low over the water so visitors can admire the flowers up close.

Even outside the summer blooming season, the park offers a quiet, shaded retreat just steps away from the bustling causeway and Yue Fei Temple. Footpaths wind through calm inlets and waterside pavilions, providing an unhurried route along the lake's quieter northern edge.