Park of China
Overview
| Province | Zhejiang |
| Location | Zhejiang |
| Latitude, longitude | 30.3, 120.2 Google Maps |
| Nearby sites | Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City 22km, Fuchun and Xin’an Rivers 107km, Classical Gardens of Suzhou 122km, Qiandao Lake 127km, Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) 194km Search nearby |
| Top sights | West Lake |
| Nearby cities | Shanghai |
| Themes | City, Lake, Culture, Hill, Tower, Ancient Building, Garden, Buddha, Spring, River, Banknote, Stamp, Tea, Food, Canals, Archaeological sites |
About
Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang, lies on the Qiantang River in the north of the province, a first-batch historic city.
Travel tips
Getting there: Hangzhou East is the main high-speed station, about an hour from Shanghai Hongqiao, with direct trains from Nanjing, Beijing and Guangzhou. Xiaoshan International Airport lies about 29 km from the centre, linked by metro and an airport express line. In town the metro and buses are the main options; parking near the lake is difficult.
West Lake: the shore is about 15 km round, with a path for walking or cycling and boats on the water. Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, Broken Bridge, the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and Lotus in the Breeze are all on the lakeside. Sunsets from the east shore are good on clear days.
Temples and hills: Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak lie west of the lake; Leifeng Pagoda and Jingci Temple are on the south shore; Beishan Road has Yue Fei's Temple and Mount Ge.
Tea country: Longjing and Meijiawu villages grow West Lake Longjing tea; Manjuelong is known for osmanthus in autumn; the Nine Creeks valley is a pleasant stream walk.
Elsewhere in the city: the Liuhe Pagoda and the Qiantang River are to the south; the Grand Canal district around Gongchen Bridge is to the north-east; Xixi Wetland to the west is a water-town style park where boats run.
Nearby: the Liangzhu ancient city site is in the northern suburbs and has a museum; Qiandao Lake is two to three hours southwest by road; Huangshan, Wuzhen and Moganshan make short trips.
Time: two or three days cover the lake and main sights; add one or two for Xixi and Liangzhu.
Season: peach blossom and willow in spring, osmanthus in autumn, lotus in summer. The plum rains and midsummer are humid; snow occasionally falls on Broken Bridge in winter. The Qiantang tidal bore is best watched around the 18th day of the eighth lunar month, mostly from Yanguan.
Where to stay: the lakeside and Wulin Square areas are convenient with many hotels; Lingyin and Longjing are quieter; Qianjiang New Town is close to Hangzhou East.
City sights
West Lake: the famous city lake with its ten views.
Liuhe Pagoda: famous old pagoda by the Qiantang, founded in the Northern Song and rebuilt in the Southern Song, national protected site.
Qiantang River Bridge: near the Liuhe Pagoda, designed by Mao Yisheng, begun in 1934.
Suburban sights
Lingyin Temple
Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies
Qiantang tidal bore: best on the 18th of the eighth lunar month. Take care: many have died watching it.
Further afield
Yaolin Wonderland cave
Food
West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, beggar’s chicken, Longjing shrimps
Specialities
West Lake Longjing tea, West Lake lotus-root starch, silk
Famous people
Su Dongpo, Bai Juyi, Yue Fei
Banknotes and stamps
One version of the 1,000-yuan note of the first series of renminbi (1950) shows the Qiantang River Bridge.
The back of the 1-yuan note of the fifth series shows the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon on West Lake.
In 1989 China Post issued T144 “West Lake, Hangzhou”, four stamps: Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway, Lotus in the Breeze at Quyuan, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge.
Photo credits: West Lake, Hangzhou: 钉钉 (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | West Lake, Hangzhou 3km, Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City 23km, Classical Gardens of Suzhou 124km, The Grand Canal 140km, Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) 193km, Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui: Xidi and Hongcun 213km, Zhongguo Huanghai Houniao Qixidi 224km, Zhongshan (Purple Mountain), Nanjing 239km |
| National parks of China | Wuyishan National Park 360km |
| National parks | Mount Mogan 38km, Huan River and Wuxie 62km, Xianhua Mountain 86km, Taiji Cave 103km, Fuchun and Xin’an Rivers 105km, Lake Tai 106km |
| Detailed guides | The Three Hills of Lake Tai 84km |
| AAAAA attractions | Xixi Wetland Tourist Area 10km, Lu Xun's Hometown - Shen Garden Scenic Area 49km, Wuzhen Ancient Town Tourist Area, Tongxiang 63km, Nanxun Ancient Town Scenic Area 73km, South Lake Tourist Area 80km, Xitang Ancient Town Tourist Area 103km |
| AAAA attractions | Qinghefang <1km, Zhejiang Art Museum 2km, West Zhejiang Grand Canyon 3km, Hangzhou Leifeng Pagoda Scenic Area 3km, China National Silk Museum 3km, Hangzhou Oriental Culture Park 4km |
| Historic cities | Shaoxing 49km, Huzhou 69km, Jiaxing 80km |
| Cities | Suzhou 124km |
| Historical sites | Site of the Zhejiang Industrial Bank <1km, Hu Qingyu Tang <1km, Hangzhou Confucian Temple Stele Forest 1km, Former Site of Qiushi Academy 2km, Baocheng Temple Mahakala Statue 2km, Scripture Pillar of Longxing Temple 2km |
| National geoparks | Suzhou Taihu Xishan National Geopark 101km |
| Nature reserves | Tianmushan National Nature Reserve 72km, Lin'an Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve 116km, Jiulongshan National Nature Reserve 125km, Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve 131km, Dapanshan National Nature Reserve 146km |
| Historic towns | Anchang Town 34km, Dongpu Town 42km, Xinshi Town 42km, Yanguan Town 44km, Longmen Town 44km |