Attractions in Hangzhou, China
Travel to the West Lake and Tour Its Classical Chinese Sights
Hangzhou is the provincial capital of Zhejiang province. The famed West Lake at the center of Hangzhou, with its natural beauty as well as cultural and historical significance, has drawn travelers to the city for the past thousand years. Once the capital of the Southern Song dynasty, Hangzhou has been immortalized in countless poems. Marco Polo once spoke of Hangzhou as “the finest and the noblest in the world”, and a traditional Chinese saying goes, “Above is Heaven; below are Suzhou and Hangzhou”. Learn which attractions are must-sees.
Explore the West Lake and Stroll the Su and Bai Causeways
One of the best ways to do sightseeing at the West Lake is to walk along its circumference, well planted with bamboo groves and gardens, as well as stroll along the causeways built across the lake.
The Bai Causeway was built by a Tang dynasty governor, who planted the willow trees that line its walkway. A stroll along the Bai Causeway not only yields views across the lake, but also connects the Broken Bridge with Gu Hill, the largest natural island on the lake. In spring, blossoming trees add to the scenery, and in early summer, lotus blossoms flourish in shallow water along the banks of the West Lake.
Zhongshan Park, on Gu Hill, is a refreshing place to enjoy the greenery, climb up the hill, and relax in a pavilion on the slopes of the hill.
The Su Causeway was built by the famed Song dynasty poet, Su Dongpo, who dredged the lake and used the accumulated mud to build a causeway about 3 times as long as the Bai Causeway. It links six bridges, and offers a good overall view of the lake, though it is a long walk on a hot day.
Bikes are available for hire and wooden boats charge 80 yuan to take tourists around the lake.
Pagodas and Temples
Baochu Pagoda and the Six Harmonies Pagoda can both be seen from the lake and are popular landmarks. The Baochu Pagoda to the north of the West Lake is over a thousand years old and stands seven stories tall with a lantern at its top, and has a distinctive slender shape. The Six Harmonies Pagoda is located to the south of the Lake and is one of the most striking features in the area. Tourists can climb to the top of this impressive structure by paying an entrance fee and ascending the spiral staircase inside.
Lingyin Temple to the West of the Lake is a still-operational Buddhist temple, one of the oldest in China. For a 30 RMB fee, visitors can admire Buddhist statues and several rooms inside the temple.
Leifeng Pagoda, while traditionally beautiful on the outside, is now thoroughly modern on the inside, with escalators and elevators. The 40 RMB entrance fee may be worth it however, to some visitors who wish to enjoy the spectacular skyline of the West Lake from the top of the Leifeng pagoda.
Hefeng Jie Shopping Street
Street stalls packed with souvenirs, handicrafts, snacks and curios line Hefeng Jie, near Wushan Square to the east of the West Lake. This is a great place to eat as street stalls offer local specialties for very reasonable prices.
Hangzhou Botanical Gardens and Guo's Villa
Visitors wishing to lose themselves in the peaceful greenery of a Chinese garden will enjoy the Hangzhou Botanical Gardens and Flower Nursery, which displays a variety of flora including a towering bamboo grove and a garden of flowering plum trees. Guo's Villa is one of the best kept private gardens, and a small entrance fee effectively keeps the crowds at bay. Its Chinese villa, pavilions, walks, and gardens make it the quintessential traditional Chinese garden.
Hike the Tea Fields
The Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies trail south of the West Lake snakes through slopes and fields planted with tea bushes, as well as numerous tea villages. The Longjing tea village, with its houses built in the traditional Hangzhou style of white walls, black tile roofs, and latticed windows, is a charming location to enjoy a meal and a cup of the famous Longjing green tea that is grown in the surrounding fields. The two to three hour hike ends in the tea fields around the Tea Museum. A great souvenir from West Lake is a box of loose West Lake Longjing tea leaves, which are sold everywhere.
How to Get There
Chinese trains are fast and convenient. Hangzhou is an easy 80-minute train ride from the international hub of Shanghai. Fast and convenient "D" trains leave from the South Shanghai train station, and can be purchased at any train station in Shanghai, as well as various ticket stations around the city. Look for the automated ticket machine, which has English options.
Hangzhou also has an international airport, but mainly accepts domestic flights.
Hangzhou is one of the most beautiful cities in China, and one of the not-to-be-missed attractions of the country. Few will regret spending an extra day or two in Hangzhou during their travels in China.
Hangzhou West Lake
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