Hangzhou Things to Do

3 more images

Fei Lai Feng stands next to Ling Yin Temple and is a must-see in Hangzhou.

Fei Lai Feng, 209 meters tall, is a pure limestone mountain that is very distinctive from the sandstone mountains around it. Large stones scattered along the peak are said to resemble animals like a flying dragon, a running elephant, a crouching tiger, and a fleeing monkey.

A favorite may be the laughing Buddha, sitting on the cliff along the stream with exposed breast and belly.

1 more image

Flower Harbor was a private garden of 52 acres (21 hectares) in the Song dynasty, famous for raising goldfish and koi. During the Qing Dynasty, the Kangxi and the Qianlong emperors each visited Flower Harbor, inscribing poems to mark their appreciation.

Today, the place is famed for its half-a-year-long flower scenery. The best time for flower viewing is when spring translates itself smoothly into summer.

3 more images

Hangzhou West Lake is the most impressive and famous one. This partially man made lake was shaped throughout the centuries by the many Chinese dynasties that ruled the empire, specially Wuyue Kingdom and the Southern Song Dynasty and was one of the favorite imperial retreats.

The lake occupies an area of around 6 km square and resembles a lot like a large and impressive Chinese garden that beautifully integrates with the surrounding mountains, serene forests, stone caves, and ancient buildings.

Hangzhou West Lake is also famous for its rich cultural history and is associated with many national heroes, scholars and revolutionary martyrs and had Marco Polo, the Italian explorer, among its visitors.

2 more images

You will find Ling Yin Temple in a long, narrow valley between Fei Lai Feng (Peak flown from Afar) and North Peak to the northwest of the West Lake at Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province.

The Temple contains an important collection of Buddhist literature together with many other treasures. As a consequence it is a great centre of information for those who wish to study aspects of Chinese Buddhism in detail.

1 more image

Hi, why not cycling around the West Lake? Fyi, below is one route around the Lake: rent a bike at the Pubic Bicycle Service, start your cycling from The No.1 Lakeside Park at the beginning of Nanshan road(South of West Lake--->West Lake Xintiandi, Yong Jing Park, West Lake Museum, King Qian's Temple--->Orioles Singing in the Willows--->Xue Shi Park--->Long Bridge Park,Leifeng Pagoda, Jing Ci Temple, Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill, Taizi Bay Park---->Flower Pond--->Su Causeway, Mausoleum of General Yue Fei--->Beihan Road, Xiling Seal Society, Zhejiang Provincial Museum--->Solitary Hill, Bai Causeway, Broken Bridge--->the No. 6 Lakeside Park, Hu Bin Business Street--->End and back the bike. You will get a full day~~~^^
Just don't forget to carry with your passport for rental enregistering. Good experience in Hangzhou^^

The Su Causeway is a north-south pedestrian-only path that cuts through the western part of West Lake. The causeway is 2.6 km long, and it contains several bridges under which small boats can pass through. There are many trees, grassy areas, and benches (good for picnic) all along the way, so if you're not in a hurry, you could plan on strolling the entire length of the Su Causeway. Alternatively, there are electric trams you can take to make the sightseeing faster, but beware that the trams only run in one direction - from south to north on the Su Causeway - and in the clockwise direction around the West Lake. So be sure to plan ahead accordingly, in which order you want to see the sites. You can also rent a bike if you prefer, but you will have a dodge a lot of people when the causeway is very crowded.

This is one of the famous scenic spots along the West Lake. The "Three Ponds (or Pools) Mirroring the Moon" is actually located on an interesting island which contains four lakes itself. You will also notice that this scene can be found on the back of the 1 yuan bill. A good place for some memorable photographs of the lake and the Leifeng Pagoda in the distance. However, since this is on an island, it can become extremely crowded with tourists and tourist groups. It is probably best to go early in the morning.

4 more images

There are three stone pagodas sticking out of the water just to the south of the Lesser Yingzhou Island. The original pagodas were built during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1279) when Su Shi dredged the West Lake. The present ones were rebuilt under the reign of Wanli in around 1611 when the island was built. They are hollow and each of them has five small round holes. At the night of the Moon Festival when there is a bright full moon, the local people ride boats to them and place a lit candle in each one to create reflections resembling the moon.