It became a favorite place of leisure for emperors, generals, ministers, and wealthy landlords and merchants, and was used by common city residents and visitors to the capital as a large park.
南宋建都杭州後，西湖也由天然蓄水庫變成首都的風景區，帝王將相、地主富商將之當成安樂窩，上百萬市民和全國各地來到首都的流動人口以此為大公園。