Abstract:A large number of lakes located around state capitals in ancient China. These lakes were initially used for the water and irrigation of the cities, the landscape of which has been constantly developed and shifted to today’s public scenery places. The ancient development history of Fuzhou West Lake perfectly demonstrates the shift process of this complex landscape development. The research of the publicity of this kind of landscape should be based on two perspectives, public governance and public construction, and discuss the specific content of its construction process. Through analyzing the origins, process, elements and management mechanism of the development of Fuzhou West Lake by Zhao Ruyu in Southern Song Dynasty, this paper analyzes the political strategies and methods of the development. Further, it implies that the development of these city lakes, including Fuzhou West Lake, contains public landscape development in form, which is substantially different from the meaning of modern public landscape.