東大池為無錫西郊(jiao)著名風景區(qu),位(wei)于龍(long)山(shan)村(cun)嶂山(shan)與蓮花山(shan)之間(jian)的(de)山(shan)谷前,東大池實為惠山(shan)山(shan)水所(suo)匯(hui)成的(de)深潭,溪水前繞,林(lin)木(mu)蔥(cong)茂,景色幽(you)寂,秀麗多姿。
1918年(nian),離大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi)不(bu)遠(yuan)的陸井人(ren)陸培(pei)之(zhi),經商(shang)致富,出資(zi)開(kai)發(fa)。對(dui)大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi)疏浚挖深(shen),修(xiu)筑(zhu)(zhu)堤(di)岸,在(zai)(zai)東(dong)北(bei)角建(jian)香(xiang)(xiang)雪(xue)亭(ting),在(zai)(zai)池(chi)(chi)(chi)水中央(yang)建(jian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)心亭(ting),營(ying)造(zao)垂虹、印月(yue)兩小橋,又開(kai)得泉(quan)脈于山麓之(zhi)畔(pan),以(yi)“白沙泉(quan)”名之(zhi),在(zai)(zai)大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi)周圍(wei)遍植桃柳。為(wei)了(le)便于溪(xi)南的人(ren)來東(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi),又跨梁溪(xi)河建(jian)鴻橋一座。后因陸培(pei)之(zhi)工廠經營(ying)不(bu)善倒閉,于是將東(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi)及所有建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)抵押給曾(ceng)任(ren)隴海鐵路局(ju)長的徐燕(yan)謀,徐燕(yan)謀對(dui)東(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi)景(jing)觀(guan)極有興趣,于是大(da)興土木,在(zai)(zai)路口設置(zhi)“徐路”兩字界(jie)石(shi),香(xiang)(xiang)雪(xue)亭(ting)旁(pang)又辟游泳池(chi)(chi)(chi)。在(zai)(zai)蓮花山上建(jian)環翠樓飯莊,在(zai)(zai)池(chi)(chi)(chi)北(bei)建(jian)造(zao)“燕(yan)居池(chi)(chi)(chi)館”,稱為(wei)“燕(yan)廬”,現留有徐世(shi)(shi)昌親筆題寫(xie)的刻石(shi)一塊(kuai)。徐世(shi)(shi)昌曾(ceng)任(ren)北(bei)洋政府國(guo)(guo)務卿,1918年(nian)由段(duan)祺瑞(rui)的“安(an)福(fu)國(guo)(guo)會”選為(wei)總統,后拒任(ren)。徐燕(yan)謀以(yi)東(dong)大(da)池(chi)(chi)(chi)位于深(shen)谷之(zhi)畔(pan),桃紅柳綠,池(chi)(chi)(chi)水清(qing)澈,猶如世(shi)(shi)外桃源(yuan)(yuan),即在(zai)(zai)池(chi)(chi)(chi)畔(pan)立(li)一水泥坊,上書“小桃源(yuan)(yuan)”三字,從此(ci)這里(li)成為(wei)無(wu)錫郊(jiao)區(qu)游覽勝地。