阳澄湖形成于北宋初，原名阳城湖，是太湖平原上第三大湖，位于苏州工业园区最北部。

　　阳澄湖风光宜人，远望烟水接天，意境壮阔。沈周有诗云：“远树水光上，出没似空植。疏处方淼然，山黛一痕色。”晴日泛舟湖上，只觉潮平岸阔，微风过处，满湖波光粼粼，令人目迷五色。在风雨天气里，波浪激荡，声闻百里，气势雄奇。而在日落黄昏之时，望霞光中渔船收网归来，则又是一幅静美祥和的风情画。尤其在每年蟹秋之夜，看孤月残星与荧荧船火相映，更富奇趣。

　　阳澄湖水质清澄透明，水产资源丰富，其中以中华绒螯蟹最为著名，人称阳澄湖大闸蟹，今已成为世界美食的名牌。

　　苏州工业园区在阳澄半岛辟有风景旅游度假区，以满足乡村旅游和生态休闲的需要。为此设有风景旅游、度假村、主题公园、餐饮娱乐等项目，并以绿化为重点，推进了大型片林建设和湿地森林建设，以维护生态。又为保护水质和湖上景观，拆除湖中养殖水面近三万亩，完成了阳澄湖围网整治工程。

　　于是阳澄半岛如出水芙蓉，风光可媲美于金鸡湖。在此可听重元寺梵音钟声，泛舟可餐湖上烟云，岛村小游更可得农家情趣。尤其是深秋，蟹汛一到，在此可饱尝正宗阳澄湖大闸蟹的美味。届时于半岛小饮，看湖滨蒹葭飞花，于雅座持螯赏菊，岂非人生一大乐事?

　　[朱红撰文]

　　Situated in the north of the SIP, the Yangcheng Lake, the third largest lake on the Taihu Plain, came into being in the early Northern Song Dynasty.

　　Seen from afar, the lake meets the sky and thus creates an awe-inspiring realm. Shen Zhou once wrote, “Trees in the distance are just above the water like rootless, and hills become a thread of misty color. ” On a fine day, seeing on a small boat the dazzling ripples will be a great enjoyment, while on a windy and rainy day, the lake will have roaring waves. In the twilight when fishing boats are returning, it will present a tranquil and peaceful scene. Particularly alluring is the autumn night when crabs here are at their best. It will be an unforgettable experience to see the waning moon and few stars and the jacklights from the boats.

　　With pure and transparent water, the lake offers a lot. The most famous is the Chinese Hairy Crab, known as the giant crab, which has already become a top-brand delicacy of the world.

　　There is a scenic spot on the Yangcheng Isle, satisfying the needs for country tour and eco-tour. To this end, such projects as the holiday resort, themed parks, catering and the entertainment center have been established. Afforestation and wetland greening are carried out in order to safeguard the ecosystem. Meanwhile, a total of 2,000 hectares of aquaculture zone was restored to its natural state to guarantee the water quality and aqua-landscapes.

　　Therefore, the Yangcheng Isle has become a bathing beauty, whose charm can rival that of the Golden Rooster Lake. Herein you can listen to the Sanskrit chants and chimes of the Chongyuan Temple, feast your eyes on the mist over the lake while rowing the boat, and enjoy the special flavor of the hamlet on the isle. Unforgettable is the late autumn here, which coincides with the right season for crabs. Isn’t it a bliss and blessing to enjoy the chrysanthemum and flying reed catkins over a small cup of liquor and finely-prepared crabs?

　　[Zhu Hong]