東(dong)大池為無(wu)錫西郊(jiao)著名風(feng)景區,位(wei)于龍山(shan)村嶂山(shan)與蓮花山(shan)之間的山(shan)谷前,東(dong)大池實為惠山(shan)山(shan)水(shui)所匯成的深潭(tan),溪(xi)水(shui)前繞,林木蔥茂(mao),景色幽寂,秀麗多姿。
1918年,離大(da)池(chi)不遠的陸井(jing)人(ren)陸培之,經(jing)商致富,出(chu)資開發。對大(da)池(chi)疏(shu)浚挖深,修筑堤岸,在(zai)(zai)東(dong)北角建(jian)(jian)(jian)香雪亭,在(zai)(zai)池(chi)水中央建(jian)(jian)(jian)池(chi)心亭,營造(zao)垂虹、印月兩小橋,又(you)開得泉脈(mo)于山麓之畔,以“白沙泉”名(ming)之,在(zai)(zai)大(da)池(chi)周圍遍(bian)植桃(tao)柳。為(wei)了便于溪(xi)南的人(ren)來東(dong)大(da)池(chi),又(you)跨梁(liang)溪(xi)河建(jian)(jian)(jian)鴻橋一(yi)座(zuo)。后因(yin)陸培之工廠(chang)經(jing)營不善倒閉(bi),于是將東(dong)大(da)池(chi)及所有建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑抵押(ya)給曾(ceng)任隴海鐵路局長的徐(xu)(xu)(xu)燕(yan)謀,徐(xu)(xu)(xu)燕(yan)謀對東(dong)大(da)池(chi)景觀極有興(xing)趣,于是大(da)興(xing)土木,在(zai)(zai)路口設(she)置“徐(xu)(xu)(xu)路”兩字(zi)界(jie)石(shi),香雪亭旁又(you)辟游泳池(chi)。在(zai)(zai)蓮(lian)花山上建(jian)(jian)(jian)環翠(cui)樓飯(fan)莊,在(zai)(zai)池(chi)北建(jian)(jian)(jian)造(zao)“燕(yan)居池(chi)館(guan)”,稱(cheng)為(wei)“燕(yan)廬”,現留有徐(xu)(xu)(xu)世(shi)昌(chang)親筆題寫的刻(ke)石(shi)一(yi)塊。徐(xu)(xu)(xu)世(shi)昌(chang)曾(ceng)任北洋政(zheng)府(fu)國務卿,1918年由(you)段祺瑞的“安(an)福國會”選為(wei)總統,后拒任。徐(xu)(xu)(xu)燕(yan)謀以東(dong)大(da)池(chi)位于深谷(gu)之畔,桃(tao)紅(hong)柳綠,池(chi)水清澈,猶如世(shi)外桃(tao)源(yuan),即在(zai)(zai)池(chi)畔立一(yi)水泥坊,上書“小桃(tao)源(yuan)”三(san)字(zi),從此這里成為(wei)無(wu)錫(xi)郊(jiao)區游覽勝地。