A view of West Lake. [Photo/people.cn]

On a recent media trip to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in Eastern China, we get the chance to a boat ride across the West Lake, of Hangzhou's scenic spots.

An hour's boat ride is a source of inspiration and will prove to you why the still waters have influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history.

The vastness of the lake, cool winds and surrounding natural vegetation draw tourists to the area that has since ancient days been an important source of inspiration for travelers.

Covering an area of about 2.5 square miles, the lake is surrounded by other scenic attractions such as temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands.

The boats that take tourists around the West Lake come in different shapes and are designed to give comfortable view inside or on decks outside.

Some tourists opt to ride on canoes to get a different experience. One woman, seated alone in a canoe, scribbles something in a notebook as she sails by guided by a rower.