West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides and Hangzhou city on the fourth.
It is so named due to its location to the west of Hangzhou. The lake has a water surface of 5.6 square kilometres and a circumference of 15 kilometres. Each causeway has a number of arched bridges, large enough for small boats and ferries to go under. It was so named because of the three poles sticking out of the water. According to locals, during mid-autumn when the moon is at its brightest and fullest, it is reflected in the water between the poles.