Bai Juyi's two poems 白居易
"Writing on the spring lake" 春題湖上
The lake turns a painting in spring,
Untidily hills surround the peaceful water,
Pine trees stand in array on the hills, forming a thousand emerald screens,
The moon touches the center of ripples, a pure pearl;
Green rugs are embroidered in the margin with first rice,
Blue silk belts grow in length into new vines,
I cannot just leave Hangzhou,
Half of the reasons keep me lingering are all about this lake.

Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹 (西湖志, 569)
"Remembering Hangzhou's West Lake" 憶杭州西湖
In my distant memory West Lake is always superior to Mirror Lake,
Spring waves extended thousands of acre-green, spreading like mat,
The sublimity of our emperor is by no means second to Emperor Xuan's,
Would he bestow his grace upon [me], an insane old man like Mr. He?

Gao Deyang's poems 高得暘
"Ten Scenes of Qiantang" 錢塘十景 (Abridged)
The Moon in West Lake Night西湖夜月
Speaking of scenes of West Lake known to the world, together
We agree that autumn stands out when the moon makes it most remarkable:
Cool waves patting the shores, creating glitter of thousand acres,
In the sky full of fresh air is one jade cup…
Autumn Tides of Qiantang River 浙江秋濤
Autumn is everywhere in the sky of Hangzhou in mid-eighth month,
The tides, thousands meters in height, are riding the west winds,
Clouds stir dragons and urge thunders to fight,
Water beats huge birds and fish, the sea is emptied…
Isolated Hill After Snow孤山霽雪
On the hill summit, white and purely white, lay six flowers,
On the water surface, blue and dark blue, stands one single tuft,
Emerald phoenix with circular clouds orients toward the palace gates,
Jade dragon holding the sun emerges from the ice bottle…
White Clouds in the Two Peaks 兩峰白雲
Above West Lake are two remarkable peaks,
High, piercing into the ultimate emptiness, cloudy and vaporous,
The grand covers are gradually mixed with the blue vagueness,
Occasionally, the pagodas come to sight in jade green…
Sunrise on the East Sea 東海朝暾
A long river connecting to the gate of the sea,
That which in the east with its own light moving is the sun, taking a morning bath.
A copper plate steeply stands in the immortal's palm,
In the middle of a golden pillar held a fair lady's bowl…
Night Market of North Custom 北關夜市
North city, night market, stores crowd like forest,
Former dynasty handed this down to today…
Streets, lanes, allies, all are noisy no less than in the daytime,
The curfew bell is yet to toll, but the night is almost deep.
Cloudy Pine Trees of Nine Li九里雲松
Giant pine trees, numbered ten thousands, all are outstanding timbers,
For nine Li, blue clouds extend, forming one line,
Precipitations, all the way through Tianzhu Mountains, move away,
Sounds of tides always come, as if, from the gate of the sea…
Misty Willows on Six Bridges 六橋煙柳
Decorated bridge, six turns, curl at the end of the lake,
Most lovely is the shiny mists floating above the willows,
Shallow water covered by coldness is extending along with dark clouds,
Gentle breezes bringing warmth are playing with the tenderness [of the willow]…
Woodcutters Singing in Lingshi Hill 靈石樵歌
Ferry at Lingshi Hill, woodcutters are working in line,
Singing and resonating with each other in front of rocks;
Apes crying, cranes chanting, pure alike,
Wild tones, melodies of mountains, close to nature…
Apes Crying around the Cool Springs 冷泉猿嘯
Outside the Cool Springs Pavilion are thousands of trees,
Among which from time to time apes cry;
Seeking company, clouds come along, winds shake valleys,
[Apes] call their kids back to caves as the moon lies above the mountains…

Lin Bu's Poems 林逋詩
"Plum Blossoms" 梅花
While all other flowers have scattered away, she brightly shows her beauty alone,
Exclusively attracting the breezes' attention, she is leaning toward a small garden,
Sparse reflection, oblique and slant, on clear and shallow water,
Dim fragrance floating, while the moon is yellow and faint,
Frosty birds are about to descend, throwing a stealthy glance on her first,
If butterflies knew this, their heart would be broken,
Fortunately we can enjoy her beauty in verse,
No need of music or wine to have fun.

Ling Yuhan's poems凌雲翰
"Ten Poems of Qiantang" 錢塘十詠 (abridged)
Sunrise on the East Sea 東海朝暾
Casting lights on the railings, the sun looks faraway as being gazed at,
Rosy clouds over the sea are glaring, steaming into the high sky, with brightness,
Hill of firmiana where lights are moving, a lone phoenix is singing,
Island of immortals is glittering and seems floating with six turtles…
The Moon in West Lake Night西湖夜月
In front the South and North Peaks are Inner and Outer Lakes,
Clear autumn best suits the lone moon,
Mysterious fish listen to the music, sometimes emerging to the surface,
Tired birds remain in the nests, not making noises at night…
Autumn Tides of Qiantang River 浙江秋濤
In eighth month, to watch tides, only possible in Hangzhou,
Red carriage and blue umbrellas, on the shores of Qiantang River…
In the deep seas powerful dragons transform with the tides,
In the high sky lone bird become invisible…
Night Market of North Custom 北關夜市
…You should know that near the north city the market opens at night,
Unlike the southerners who go to bazaars in the daytime…
Riding a five-horse carriage, the ambassador returned late,
Both sides of the road, lanterns were lightening upon the eagle banners.
Isolated Hill After Snow孤山霽雪
Sudden snow stopping, the sun shining nicely, spring is felt only a bit,
Plum blossoms have been already everywhere in the Isolated Hill,
Entering the forest, getting lost on the way to a monk's place,
Residences on the opposite shore, the doors are all closed…
White Clouds in the Two Peaks 兩峰白雲
The snow of the South Peak connects to the pine trees of the North Peak,
Have mists and clouds ever left the two peaks?
When they appear without color, they look like cranes,
But when they start to change, they suddenly move with dragons…
Cloudy Pine Trees of Nine Li九里雲松
Nine Li of idle clouds, ten-thousand stems of pine trees,
Passing by, recalling the old steps,
Gold was used to embroidered the calligraphies of Song scholars,
How can dark blue dogs [clouds] be aware of its title of the Qing dynasty…
Misty Willows on Six Bridges 六橋煙柳
Thin willows and sparse mists, in distance, naturally become mixed,
Six bridges, stands north-south, connect to the sandbanks,
Being mistaken for rainbow, they are curling and hanging in sequence,
Deeply concealing fair orioles are freely singing…
Woodcutters Singing in Lingshi Hill 靈石樵歌
Wood cutting, "ding-ding" the sound, spring in the valley,
Walking and singing, in the sunset, seeing woodcutters,
Blue mountains pile up, today same as the past,
Yellow birds are chanting like guests of honor…
Apes Crying around the Cool Springs 冷泉猿嘯
The Flying-in Peak in height with enormous white clouds,
Wild apes are crying as night passing midpoint;
Three sounds are suddenly pitching toward the top of the peak,
Truly like one single thud heard at the end of a gorge…

Su Shi's poems 蘇軾
"Drinking on the Lake: At First It Was Clear, Later It Rained, second of two" translated by Michael Fuller (167)
The gleam on the water as it ripples is best on clear days.
The appearance of the mountains, empty and hazy, is also remarkable in the rain.
I would like to compare West Lake to the Lady West.
Light makeup and heavy powder both are becoming.
"On the Lake, Returning at Night" translated by Michael Fuller (159)
I drank [wine, but] did not [even] finish a cup:
When half-tipsy the flavor is especially strong.
In a sedan chair I returned by the lake.
The spring wind sprinkling my face is cool.
When we had reached west of Lone Hill, [note: Isolated Hill]
The night sky already had grown dark, dark blue.
My unsullied chant mixed with dreams:
Getting a line, I'd immediately forget it again.
I still recall the pear-blossom village:
I smelled the unseen, vague fragrance.
When I entered the city, what time was it?
Half the market crowd was gone.
My sleep-dimmed eyes suddenly started and stared about:
A profusion of lanterns disturbed [the peace of] Sandbank Road.
The people of the market clapped their hands and laughed:
My appearance was like [that of] a deer who had strayed from the forest.
I began to realize that for a rustic disposition,
Interests not my own were difficult to sustain by force.
In life, how can one find joy?
My plans have been particularly bad.

Wang Wei's poems 王洧 (十景詩, 西湖志, 143)
Spring Morning on the Dike of Su Shi蘇堤春曉
The setting moon behind the Isolated Hill is chasing the sparse tolling,
Decorated boats are disorderly floating with the willow winds.
Startlingly, orioles are awakened from dreams, but people are yet to arise,
Golden birds fly beyond five-layered clouds, eastwards.
Remnant Snows on Broken Bridge斷橋殘雪
Above the Lake Watching Pavilion, half blue hill,
Crossing water, the long bridge with its cold reflection,
Awaiting the departure, waves and green grasses form a divide,
Cranes are startled, crying out like jade breaking, pecking the railing.
Reflection of the Sunset on Leifeng Pagoda雷峰夕照
Reflection of the pagoda just faded away as the daylights diminished,
On the other side of the wall, human voices were approaching the fragrant garden,
Having enjoyed all over the South Hill, parting toward the roads home,
Some entered the Qiantang Gate, and some went to the Dark Gate.
Lotuses in Breeze at the Brewery曲院風荷
People who had run away from summer heat just returned from the Cold Spring,
The ferry in gloaming, the sky in evening breezes;
Loving the fragrant of lotus following humans to a distance,
People did not hire a boat home until having passed the high bridge.
Autumn Moon on the Peaceful Lake平湖秋月
Ten thousands of acres of cold lights spread at night,
Wherever the icy wheel goes, there is no cloud;
It travels beyond the eagle peak, west winds are cold,
Osmanthus seeds constantly drop into the jade kettle.
Listening to Orioles in Willows柳浪聞鶯
Like blowing a flute, [orioles are] nicely singing on the highest tip,
While willows in the yard are gathering green colors into ten-thousand bunches of silk,
Jade carriage has not come yet, while spring is aging,
The song can only sung to the scattering flowers, again and again.
Watching fish at Flower Port花港觀魚
Blocked branches of stream where only old names are left,
Leaning against the railing, feeding fish, past is told,
See gulls once witnessed the garden, its establishment and decadence,
These days, visitors again come to the Jade Spring.
Evening Tolling at South Hill南屏晚鐘
Steep stele nearby a brook is half covered by mosses,
In spring trip who comes to this hill?
Deep in the night mists the bell is tolling,
Monks return from the city after receiving offer.
Three Ponds Reflecting the Moon三潭印月
Besides the pagoda, lake boats are moored separately,
Treasure box is open as water is connecting with the sky,
A flute is blowing to call clouds to come from somewhere,
But rather it is an old dragon that be awakened from the heart of the lake.
Two Peaks Rising into the Clouds兩峰插雲
Pagodas stand oppositely on blue steeps in the morning,
Layered green colors in the sky are mixed with fogs,
Just take a look at the Phoenix Hill in distance,
The South Peak reaches close to the sky, while the North Peak is embraced by low mists.

Note: Each of the following poems is dedicated to one of the ten scenes. All the poems are translated by Professor Peter Bol.

Evening Tolling at South Hill南屏晚鐘Yang Shen 楊慎 (1488-1559).
An immortal's raft moored at a grassy islet;
Up to thousands kilometers striking the roar of huge whales;
In a long wait the jewel-like moon is hurried to full;
In the land of drunken slumber I awake from a dream of splendor.

Reflection of the Sunset on Leifeng Pagoda雷峰夕照Yin Tinggao 尹廷高 (13th century).
Smoky lights and sights of hills are hidden;
The pagoda of several hundreds meters stands alone against the sky;
The Lake's pleasure boats have all turned back;
An isolated hill still reflects the red of sunset."

Watching fish at Flower Port花港觀魚Chen Ting.
Around the sunny islet, golden fish are playing with willow catkins;
In the warm winds, red carps are blowing bubbles;
Leaning on the railing, I watch fish enjoying themselves;
Beyond the flowers, I also see fishing boats."

Three Ponds Reflecting the Moon三潭印月Xu Zouyun (Xihu baijue, 1:21b)
Osmanthus boats with orchid oars floating in a night breeze;
A myriad lotus standing middle in the lake;
Everybody is rushing to see the moon in the three ponds;
No one realizing the ponds are empty, and so is the moon."

Lotuses in Breeze at the Brewery曲院風荷Zhang Ning (15th century).
Cool breeze coming from the fragrant islet;
Aromas flow and the brook waters run;
Again and again I hear a lotus picking song;
But rarely do I see the pickers' boat." (Hushan bianlan)

Two Peaks Rising into the Clouds雙峰插雲Yin Tinggao 尹廷高
Steep, opposing -- they fight for the lead,
Old pagodas and thinned forests stand in light mists;
Composing perfectly the screen of smoke and rain above the lake,
The two peaks are like two brushes lying in the sky."

Autumn Moon on the Peaceful Lake平湖秋月Sun Rui.
The cold moon is frozen with icy spring, not flowing;
The songs are coming with returning boats, from where?
White duckweed and red smartweed floating in the west wind,
The lake of singular color opens an autumn vista of a myriad acres."

Remnant Snows on Broken Bridge斷橋殘雪Shi Jian (15th-16th century).
The houses along the water leave doors halfway open;
The halls and studios in the two hills reflect the sunset;
The many willows at the Broken Bridge,
Are sketched less and less by the sightseers."

Listening to Orioles in Willows柳浪聞鶯Wan Dafu (16th century).
In the shade of willows as if in a deep mist, coolness of jade vessel;
Blue waves, spraying into the air, light like undulating sleeves;
Beyond the woods, the never-ending songs of orioles;
Pleasure boats somewhere send out sounds of the flute."