Now we can see the long and snaking Western Causeway and a shorter dike that divides Kunming Lake into three areas that contain South Lake Island, Seaweed-viewing Island and circle city island. The three islands represent three mountains in ancient Chinese mythology, i.e. penglai, Fangzhang and Yingzhou. This peculiar method of incorporating a lake a three mountains within a single garden was a brainchild of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago, bearing testimony to feudal monarchs' longing for longevity. As the legend goes many heavenly elixirs grew on the three mythical islands. Using artificial building techniques, the ancient Chinese built this masterpiece based on the myth to make the mythical on appear to be accessible to humans.

(Inside the Garden of Harmonious Interest)

Setting a garden within a larger garden has been one of China traditional architectural styles. The Garden of Harmonious Interest serves as a fine example of this.

This Garden was built under the order of Emperor Qianlong and modeled after the Jichang Garden (Garden of Ease of Mind )at the foot of Mount Huishan, Jiangsu Province. It was renamed by his son Emperor Jiaqing in 1811. The existing Garden was rebuilt by Emperor Guangxu. Empress Dowager Cixi used to go fishing here. The Garden features 10 waterfront platforms, pavilions and halls as well as hundreds of galleries

With all of its structures facing the lake and pools, the Garden of Harmonious Interest is basically a garden of waterscape. Spanning the vast expanse of the lake and pools are five bridges, each quite different from the others. The most famous of them is the bridge known as "Knowing –the Fishing-bridge." It is said that more than 2,500 years ago during the Warring States Period, two philosopher named Zhuang Zi had an interesting argument by the side of a pond.

Zhang said, "Fish swim to and fro in the water. What happy fish!"

Hui asked, "You are not a fish. How do you know they are happy?"

Zhuang replied, "You are not me. How do you know I don't know?"