Slender pagoda
North-shore icon.
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A slender pagoda on top of Baoshi, «Precious Stone», Hill above the north shore of West Lake, one of the lake's landmarks; it faces the Leifeng Pagoda on the south shore, so the two seem to stand guard over the lake. It was first built in 963 with nine storeys, and its name is said to mean «protect Chu», after Qian Chu, the last king of Wuyue, whose minister built it to pray for his safe return from a journey to the Song capital. Its latest rebuilding, in 1933, left it seven storeys and 45 m tall, and its graceful, slim outline is its best-known feature. The climb up the hill is free along short stone paths from Beishan Road, and the top gives wide views over West Lake and the city, at their best at sunset.
North-shore icon.
Over the lake.
A short climb.
Baoshi Hill, north shore of West Lake, Hangzhou
By short stone paths from Beishan Road on the north shore; the climb is free and takes about twenty minutes, and sunset is the best time.
