West Lake, a scenic spot at every step
"Comparing West Lake to Xizi, it is always beautiful whether lightly or heavily adorned." No matter what season or time you visit West Lake, there is always a picturesque scene worth sitting down to savor. The West Lake Scenic Area is like a super large open-air park embedded in the center of Hangzhou city, harmoniously blending with the bustling surroundings. The most essential sights to visit are the Ten Scenes of West Lake, the most classic version from the Southern Song Dynasty, which has been passed down to this day: 'Spring Dawn at Su Causeway, Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge, Lotus in the Breeze at the Crooked Courtyard, Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond, Orioles Singing in the Willows, Sunset Glow over Leifeng Pagoda, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill.'
Lingyin, Incense Offering and Worship at the Ancient Temple
Outside Lingyin Temple is Feilai Peak, also known as 'Lingjiu Peak'. The peak features the largest group of stone carvings in the southeastern coastal area of China, with over 300 well-preserved statues, making it extremely valuable. Inside Lingyin Temple, ancient trees stand tall everywhere, and the lush greenery is a feast for the eyes. Numerous ancient buildings are faintly visible among the trees. On the way to the main hall, there is a pond for releasing animals. Further inside are the four main halls: the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Medicine Buddha, and the Sutra Library. On both sides are additional buildings such as the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, the Hall of Jigong, the Huayan Pavilion, the Great Compassion Hall, and the Abbot's Hall.
Wuzhen, a high-level tranquil ancient town
Unlike other ancient towns that are bustling and flamboyant, in Wuzhen, a scenic area where every inch of land is precious, many storefronts along the street are actually closed! This is because Wuzhen, a super large ancient town operated in a unified manner, wants you to see the serene and leisurely scenes you hope to find in an ancient town. It sacrifices some commercial interests to offer you the rare tranquil atmosphere that ordinary ancient towns lack, and this is what makes Wuzhen stand out.
Qiandao Lake, a Relaxing Vacation Paradise
Although it is an artificial lake formed by the damming of the Xin'an River, the beauty of Qiandao Lake is in no way inferior to natural landscapes! The original rolling hills have transformed into numerous islands emerging from the lake, and there are indeed over 1000 of them, living up to its name.
Xixi, the Secret Place for Slow Living
Xixi Wetland is divided into two major areas: East and West. Most first-time visitors to Hangzhou will go to the East Xixi Wetland, which became widely known due to the movie 'If You Are the One'. The East area is famous for its natural scenery, where you can experience ponds, greenery, reeds, boats, and cobblestone paths.
Longjing, Discover the Fresh Aroma of Spring Tea
One of the New Ten Scenes of West Lake, 'Longjing Tea Inquiry' is located on the densely forested hills on the west side of West Lake. There is a spring named Longjing and nearby is Longjing Village. This place is less than 10 kilometers from the city center, yet it feels like a completely different world. Tired of the bustling crowds and traffic around West Lake? Here you can enjoy a moment of peace and tranquility. Surrounded by mountains, the tea trees are planted along the slopes. Even during the peak tourist season, there are not many visitors in the tea gardens.
West of Gongchen Bridge, Experience Half of Hangzhou's History
The thousand-year-old Grand Canal has been bustling since ancient times. On the west side of Gongchen Bridge, at the southernmost end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, lies the Gongchen Bridge West Historical and Cultural District. Here, residential buildings from different historical periods have been preserved, connected by cobblestone-adorned bluestone roads. The buildings with white walls and black tiles on both sides of the road resemble a picturesque ink painting. There are also clusters of museums here, such as the Umbrella Museum, Fan Museum, Knife, Scissors, and Sword Museum, and the Handicraft Living Museum. You can learn about these traditional crafts, and if you're interested, you can even try your hand at making a traditional handicraft yourself for a fun DIY experience.
