東(dong)大池為無錫(xi)西郊著名風(feng)景(jing)區,位于(yu)龍山(shan)(shan)村嶂山(shan)(shan)與蓮花(hua)山(shan)(shan)之(zhi)間(jian)的山(shan)(shan)谷前(qian),東(dong)大池實為惠山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)水(shui)所匯成的深潭,溪水(shui)前(qian)繞,林木蔥茂(mao),景(jing)色幽(you)寂,秀麗多姿。
1918年(nian),離大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi)不遠(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)陸井(jing)人陸培之,經(jing)商致富,出資開(kai)(kai)發。對大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi)疏浚挖深(shen),修筑(zhu)堤岸(an),在(zai)(zai)(zai)東北角(jiao)建(jian)(jian)(jian)香雪亭(ting),在(zai)(zai)(zai)池(chi)(chi)水(shui)(shui)中央建(jian)(jian)(jian)池(chi)(chi)心亭(ting),營造垂虹、印月兩(liang)小橋(qiao),又(you)開(kai)(kai)得泉脈于(yu)(yu)山麓之畔,以(yi)“白沙泉”名之,在(zai)(zai)(zai)大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi)周圍遍植桃(tao)柳。為(wei)了(le)便于(yu)(yu)溪南(nan)的(de)(de)(de)人來東大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi),又(you)跨梁溪河建(jian)(jian)(jian)鴻橋(qiao)一座。后(hou)因(yin)陸培之工廠(chang)經(jing)營不善(shan)倒閉,于(yu)(yu)是將東大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi)及所有建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)抵押給曾(ceng)(ceng)任(ren)隴海鐵路(lu)局長(chang)的(de)(de)(de)徐(xu)燕謀,徐(xu)燕謀對東大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi)景觀(guan)極有興趣,于(yu)(yu)是大(da)(da)興土木,在(zai)(zai)(zai)路(lu)口設置“徐(xu)路(lu)”兩(liang)字(zi)界石(shi),香雪亭(ting)旁(pang)又(you)辟(pi)游泳池(chi)(chi)。在(zai)(zai)(zai)蓮(lian)花山上(shang)建(jian)(jian)(jian)環翠樓飯莊,在(zai)(zai)(zai)池(chi)(chi)北建(jian)(jian)(jian)造“燕居池(chi)(chi)館(guan)”,稱為(wei)“燕廬”,現(xian)留有徐(xu)世昌親筆(bi)題(ti)寫的(de)(de)(de)刻(ke)石(shi)一塊。徐(xu)世昌曾(ceng)(ceng)任(ren)北洋政府(fu)國務卿,1918年(nian)由(you)段祺瑞(rui)的(de)(de)(de)“安福國會”選為(wei)總統,后(hou)拒任(ren)。徐(xu)燕謀以(yi)東大(da)(da)池(chi)(chi)位于(yu)(yu)深(shen)谷之畔,桃(tao)紅柳綠,池(chi)(chi)水(shui)(shui)清澈,猶如世外桃(tao)源,即在(zai)(zai)(zai)池(chi)(chi)畔立(li)一水(shui)(shui)泥坊(fang),上(shang)書“小桃(tao)源”三字(zi),從此這(zhe)里成為(wei)無(wu)錫郊區游覽勝地。