Su Shi

Su Shi (苏轼), art name Dongpo, has served for two terms in Hangzhou. He has not only left behind many meaningful poems and the “delicious” allusion about Dongpo Pork, but was also diligent in the official work, caring for the people, and made many achievements. That’s why Hangzhou people feel very cordial to this "old governor".


【Su Causeway】


In the fifth year of the Yuanyou Period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1090), when Su Shi was appointed as the governor of Hangzhou, he dredged the West Lake and used the excavated silt and plants to build a north-south causeway, which became the prototype of Su Causeway in the future. The names of the six bridges on the causeway, Yingbo (Ripple Wave), Suolan (Locking the Waves), Wangshan (Viewing the Mountains), Yadi (Pressing the Causeway), Dongpu (East Lakeside), and Kuahong (Crossing Rainbow) are also said to come from him. “Spring Dawn at Su Causeway” later became the first among the "Ten Scenes of West Lake" in the Southern Song Dynasty.


【Three Pools Mirroring the Moon】


Su Shi also assigned the cleared lake surface to people to plant water chestnuts. In order to prevent the water chestnut planting households from encroaching on the lake, he set up three pagodas in the center of the lake as a boundary, which gradually evolved into one of the famous "Ten Scenes of West Lake", Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.


【Cliff Inscription on Damai Ridge】


The inscription was written by Su Shi when he was governor of Hangzhou. It records that he and his friends made a trip to Tianzhu, and passed through Damai Ridge together. It is the only authentic surviving original inscription of Su Shi in Hangzhou.


Address: East foot of Damai Ridge, Santaishan Road, Xihu District (西湖区三台山路大麦岭东麓)


【Su Dongpo Memorial Hall】


The memorial hall features zigzag paths that open to stunning views. Inside it, a stone statue of Su Dongpo stands to the left of the entrance to Su Causeway. Its head raised to the sky and its clothes flapped in the wind. The memorial hall features an exhibition hall in the main building that presents Su Dongpo's life story, and literary and artistic achievements, a stele corridor where his calligraphy works and inscriptions are displayed, and an exquisite Fengyuexuan tea room.


Hours: 8:30-16:30

Address: 2-1 Nanshan Road, Xihu District (next to Yingbo Bridge on the Su Causeway)  (西湖区南山路2-1号苏堤映波桥旁)


【Dongpo Pavilion】


In 1996, a huge stone statue of a civil official was unearthed at the construction site of an extension to the former Huiyin Korean Temple site. It is a stone statue of Su Dongpo, and the only ancient stone statue of Su Dongpo found in the country so far, according to the identification of the relics experts. Later, a dedicated pavilion was built for future generations to commemorate Su Dongpo.


Address: Huajia Villa, Santaishan Road, Xihu District (西湖区三台山路花家山庄)