Suzhou Shihu Lake: A lake of poetry.

Shihu Lake is located 12 miles southwest of Suzhou. It is an inland bay formed by a tributary of Taihu Lake. The tides do not reach here, and the water is calm and clear. The mountains rise and fall along the shore, and the peaks are reflected in the water. It has been a scenic spot since ancient times. Shihu Lake has five dikes: Wu Dike, Yue Dike, Yang Dike, Fan Dike, and Shi Dike. They divide the lake into East Shihu Lake, West Shihu Lake, and South Shihu Lake, creating one of the 18 scenic spots of Shihu Lake, "Cuidi Fen Shui." The five long dikes are like green ribbons floating on the water, outlining beautiful lines and contours, and interweaving with the shadows of the mountains and pagodas to form a landscape painting of Jiangnan.