Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月) is the image on the reverse of the 1-yuan banknote — three small Song-dynasty stone pagodas (built 1089 by Su Dongpo during West Lake dredging) standing in the lake about 100 m off the south shore of Xiaoying Island, the lake's largest island. At full moon, candles inside the pagodas through five circular cutouts each create 'reflections of the moon' on the water — hence the name. The island itself is a man-made garden (Su Dongpo's silt-piles) with bridges, pavilions, lotus ponds, and one of West Lake's prettiest 'curvy bridge through nine bends' (九曲十八折). Access by boat only: from Mid-Lake Pavilion pier or Hubin pier, ¥55 round-trip including a 4-stop lake cruise. The island itself entry ¥20. Allow 1 hour on the island. Best at sunset.