東大池為無錫西郊著名(ming)風景區,位于龍(long)山(shan)(shan)村嶂山(shan)(shan)與蓮(lian)花山(shan)(shan)之間(jian)的(de)山(shan)(shan)谷前,東大池實為惠山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)水(shui)所匯成的(de)深潭(tan),溪水(shui)前繞,林木蔥茂,景色幽寂,秀麗多(duo)姿。
1918年,離大(da)池(chi)(chi)不(bu)遠的(de)陸(lu)井人陸(lu)培(pei)之,經(jing)商致富,出資開發。對(dui)大(da)池(chi)(chi)疏浚挖深,修筑堤(di)岸,在東(dong)(dong)北角(jiao)建(jian)(jian)香雪(xue)亭(ting),在池(chi)(chi)水(shui)中央建(jian)(jian)池(chi)(chi)心亭(ting),營造垂虹、印月兩(liang)小橋(qiao),又(you)(you)開得泉脈于山麓(lu)之畔(pan),以“白沙泉”名之,在大(da)池(chi)(chi)周(zhou)圍(wei)遍植桃(tao)柳(liu)。為(wei)(wei)了便于溪南的(de)人來東(dong)(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi),又(you)(you)跨梁(liang)溪河建(jian)(jian)鴻橋(qiao)一(yi)座(zuo)。后因陸(lu)培(pei)之工廠(chang)經(jing)營不(bu)善倒閉,于是將(jiang)東(dong)(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)及所有(you)建(jian)(jian)筑抵押給曾(ceng)(ceng)任隴海鐵路局長的(de)徐燕(yan)(yan)謀,徐燕(yan)(yan)謀對(dui)東(dong)(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)景觀極(ji)有(you)興趣,于是大(da)興土(tu)木,在路口(kou)設(she)置“徐路”兩(liang)字界石,香雪(xue)亭(ting)旁又(you)(you)辟游泳池(chi)(chi)。在蓮花山上(shang)(shang)建(jian)(jian)環翠樓飯莊,在池(chi)(chi)北建(jian)(jian)造“燕(yan)(yan)居池(chi)(chi)館”,稱為(wei)(wei)“燕(yan)(yan)廬(lu)”,現留有(you)徐世昌(chang)親筆題寫(xie)的(de)刻(ke)石一(yi)塊。徐世昌(chang)曾(ceng)(ceng)任北洋政府國務卿(qing),1918年由段祺(qi)瑞的(de)“安福(fu)國會(hui)”選為(wei)(wei)總(zong)統,后拒任。徐燕(yan)(yan)謀以東(dong)(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)位于深谷之畔(pan),桃(tao)紅柳(liu)綠,池(chi)(chi)水(shui)清澈(che),猶(you)如世外桃(tao)源(yuan),即(ji)在池(chi)(chi)畔(pan)立(li)一(yi)水(shui)泥(ni)坊,上(shang)(shang)書“小桃(tao)源(yuan)”三字,從此這里成為(wei)(wei)無錫郊(jiao)區(qu)游覽勝地。