1. Things To Know Before You Go
West Lake, as one of China's top ten famous scenic spots, listed as a World Heritage Site in 2011 by UNESCO. It features in one mountain, two pagodas, three islands, three causeways and five lakes as its basic layout, the natural scenery and humanistic elements set off each other, therefore presenting a breathtaking beauty.
There are numerous cultural relics and historical sites in Hangzhou, the most representative ones include the West Lake culture, Liangzhu culture, silk culture, tea culture as well as many stories and legends passed down through the ages, which have become the cultural representatives of Hangzhou, an in-depth understanding of them will make tourists' trips more enjoyable and fascinating.
2. Why Is West Lake So Special?
West Lake with its intoxicating scenery has always been favored by many ancient literati. For example, Su Shi wrote, "I would compare the West Lake to the beautiful Xizi, always enchanting no matter in light or heavy makeup. 欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜" ; Yang Wanli wrote, "The lotus leaves seem to reach the sky in their endless greenness, and the lotus flowers look especially red in the sunshine.接天莲叶无穷碧，映日荷花别样红"; Bai Juyi wrote, "I love to walk along the east of the lake without feeling tired, especially take a stroll on the White Sand Causeway among the shade of green willows.最爱湖东行不足，绿杨阴里白沙堤"
West Lake, it is not just a lake but also a part of our daily life. As a free and open scenic area in the center of the city, it is characterized by natural landscapes and profound cultural landscapes, hence it is definitely of great value and deserve us to set aside some time and appreciate it more thoroughly.
2.1 The Tangible Benefits Bring To Tourists
"Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." This saying reflects the remarkable natural beauty of Hangzhou. When it comes to the most dazzling pearl of Hangzhou, it surely belongs to the West Lake. Through the ages, it has been the "darling" of literati, the main character in films, TV shows and songs, and even a "must-see" for countless travelers. The scene of "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon", which appears on the back of the one-yuan note, also demonstrates the special status of West Lake among China's scenic spots. When tourists visit the West Lake, they can choose to walk, take a cruise ship, ride an electric vehicle, drive by themselves or cycle, each way can make them completely intoxicated and reluctant to leave.
2.2 Attractions Overview
2.2.1 Historical Backgrounds
West Lake was originally a small bay near the mouth of Qiantang River. Later, the silt deposited by Qiantang River slowly blocked the mouth of the bay, turning it into a lagoon, which is the West Lake we see today. The historical background of the West Lake can be traced back to ancient times, it was initially a bay connected to the Qiantang River, as time went by, the bay gradually evolved into an inland lake due to the silt accumulation and finally formed the present West Lake.
During the Changqing period of the Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi carried out large-scale renovations on the Qiantang Lake (the West Lake today) while he was in office. Later, in the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi inherited Bai Juyi's ideas for lake management and used the silt dug out from the West Lake to build a long causeway in the lake, creating the "Su Causeway", which also became a model for lake management in later generations.
2.2.2 Geographical Features
West Lake, is located at No. 1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It lies in the western part of downtown Hangzhou. The total area of the scenic area is 49 square kilometers with a catchment area of 21.22 square kilometers and a lake surface area of 6.38 square kilometers. Surrounded by mountains on its south, west and north sides. Bai Causeway, Su Causeway, Yang Gong Causeway and Zhao Gong Causeway in the lake divide the lake surface into several water areas. The outline of the West Lake is nearly oval-shaped, and the bottom of the lake is relatively flat, its average water depth is 2.27 meters, and the deepest part is about 2.8 meters.
2.2.3 Tourism Resources
There are numerous famous scenic spots in West Lake. Among them, the most renowned ones are the "Ten Scenes of the West Lake" and the "Ten New Views of the West Lake".
The "Ten Scenes of the West Lake" include Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda in the Evening Glow, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, Spring Dawn at Su Causeway, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill, Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden, Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves, and Viewing Fish at Flower Pond.
The "Ten New Views of the West Lake" include Heavenly Wind over Wu Hill, Jiangyangfan Wetland, Sweet Osmanthus Rain at Manjuelong, Clouds Flying over Jade Emperor Mountain, Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, Yellow Dragon Spitting Greenness, Rosy Clouds over Precious Stone Hill, Ruan Gong Islet Encircled by Greenery, Autumn Glow at Manzhou, and Dreaming of the North Street.
Besides, there are many other famous scenic spots in the West Lake Scenic Area, such as Leifeng Pagoda, Baochu Pagoda, Solitary Hill, Bai Causeway, Su Causeway and so on, forming the basic layout of "one mountain, two pagodas, three islands, three causeways and five lakes".
Additionally, the West Lake Scenic Area is divided into the Lakeside Area, the Central Lake Area, the North Hill Area, the South Hill Area and the Qiantang Area. Each area has its unique landscapes and historical sites. Moreover, the climate of the West Lake is warm and humid with four distinct seasons, making it an excellent place not to be missed, it is also an idyllic fusion between humanity and nature.
2.2.4 Cultural Activities
West Lake, an excellent destination that combines natural landscapes with rich historical and cultural heritages, it has witnessed the development of Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and the culture of tea, leaving behind a large number of poems, folklore, such as "The Legend of the White Snake"," the stories of Jigong"and "Butterfly Lovers".
"The Legend of the White Snake" is one of the four most widely spread legends among the Han ethnic group. It tells the story of a white snake that had cultivated herself for a thousand years and transformed into Lady White (Bai Suzhen). She came to the West Lake in Hangzhou with her younger sister Xiaoqing, a green snake. There, she met and fell in love with Xu Xian, a pharmacy apprentice, and they got married. However, they were later interfered with by a monk named Fahai, experiencing a series of joys and sorrows.
"The Butterfly Lovers" , it tells the story that Zhu Yingtai disguised herself as a man to study at Wansong Academy together with Liang Shanbo. For several years as classmates, Liang Shanbo failed to discover that Zhu Yingtai was a woman, while Zhu Yingtai had already secretly fallen in love with him. When bidding farewell on the Long Bridge, the two walked back and forth on the bridge for eighteen li(5.59 miles). The Long Bridge carried their shyness when expressing their feelings and the joy of pledging their love. When Zhu Yingtai returned home and finally realized that Zhu Yingtai was a woman, she had already been betrothed to Ma Wencai, so he was so depressed that he died. On her way to get married, Zhu Yingtai jumped into Liang Shanbo's tomb. Finally, the two turned into butterflies together, creating a myth of the pursuit of free love that they couldn't live together but were willing to die together.
Among the cultural activities of the West Lake, the most representative one is "Impressions of the West Lake". It is a large-scale live performance of urban landscapes with the natural landscapes of West Lake as the background, it was created by director Zhang Yimou's team. The performance takes the sky as the curtain, the lake as the stage and the landscapes as the scenery, integrating the representative elements of West Lake's humanistic history with natural landscapes, lighting, music and performances, it premiered in 2007 and has been revised for many times since then. Currently, it has been performed more than 3,000 times in total with more than 400,000 visitors every year. The whole performance of "Impressions of the West Lake" is divided into five acts, namely "Meeting", "Falling in Love", "Parting", "Reminiscing" and "Impression", love stories that have been passed down through the ages, such as that of Xu Xian and Lady White, and Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, as the creative sources and reproduces the humanistic history of the West Lake through ancient folk legends and myths.
Longjing Tea Picking Festival held at the end of March and the beginning of April every year is also an influential agricultural festival activity in the West Lake area. It serves as a platform for displaying tea products, exchanging tea culture and discussing the tea industry, its opening ceremony is usually held in late March, which is the time for Longjing tea being picked intensively. The tea picking festival also means that a large amount of Longjing tea is on the market in the new year, the Longjing Tea Competition in Xihu District is a regular event during the spring tea season every year. Tea roasting masters will display their exquisite tea roasting skills on site, showing ten techniques such as shaking, building, pressing, rubbing, throwing, grasping, pushing, buckling, pressing and grinding. These wonderful scenes should not be missed.
Other cultural activities, such as the Music Fountain in West Lake, which is situated on the Third Lakeside Park, the 126-meter-long "Music Fountain" shows its charming appearance to people. The most convenient way for tourists to watch the music fountain is to take Hangzhou Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao Station(龙翔桥), then get out from Exit C4 and walk 200 meters westward.
3. How To Get To West Lake
There are various means of transportation to get to the West Lake, including subway, bus, sightseeing bus, bicycle and walking.
Subway
Subway Line 7: Get off at Wushan Square Station (吴山广场) and walk to the scenic spot of Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves, then you can reach the West Lake Scenic Area.
Subway Line 3: Get off at Huanglongdong Station (黄龙洞), and then you can choose to transfer to a bus to go to the West Lake.
Subway Line 2: Get off at Fengqi Road Station (凤起路) and you can easily head to the West Lake.
Bus
Take Bus No. 186 to Xiao Che Qiao (小车桥) and then walk to the side of West Lake.
The lakeside buses: The inner and outer loop buses connect the scenic spots around the West Lake. The inner loop starts from the First Park, passing through Jing Temple (净寺), Su Causeway, Ge Ling (葛岭) and other places. The outer loop starts from Bai Causeway, passing through Xiling Bridge (西泠桥) and Bai Causeway. The fare is 2 yuan. The operating hours are from 8:30 to 18:15 on weekdays and from 8:30 to 19:00 on holidays.
Bus No. 1314: It starts from the First Park and heads towards the direction of Lingyin Songcheng (灵隐宋城), passing through Long Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda and other places. The fare is 2 yuan. The operating hours are from 8:30 to 17:00 on weekdays and from 8:30 to 18:00 on holidays.
Sightseeing Bus
The lakeside sightseeing bus: It provides the service of traveling around West Lake in a clockwise direction. There are two types: the green-painted bus and the wooden bus. The fare of the green-painted bus is 10 yuan per stop, and it costs 40 yuan to travel around the lake once. The fare of the wooden bus is 20 yuan per stop, and it costs 80 yuan to travel around the lake once, the operating hours are from 8:30 to 17:00. It is suitable for tourists who don't like walking, but it may be difficult to take it when there are many people during holidays.
Bicycle and Walking
Cyling: You can choose to ride a bicycle to easily shuttle through the streets and alleys of Hangzhou and finally reach the West Lake. The rental fee is 1.5 yuan for every 30 minutes and it takes about an hour to ride around the lake.
Walking: It is recommended to start from Longxiangqiao (龙翔桥) Subway Station, there are commercial areas and delicious food around it, and you can slowly enjoy the beautiful scenery of the West Lake.
4. Highlights Of West Lake
There are traditional Ten Scenes and the Ten New Views in the West Lake, each scenic spot has its own characteristics in spring, summer, autumn and winter, now I will introduce some of the main tourist attractions as well as the seasons suitable for visiting them.
4.1 Attractions Suitable For Spring
4.1.1 Spring Dawn At Su Causeway 苏堤春晓
Su Causeway runs through the south and north of the West Lake, it was built when Su Dongpo was an official in Hangzhou and is also known as "Su Gong Causeway". "In the spring dawn, the misty bridges among the greenery are low, and the fragrant breeze dyes the Su Causeway in all seasons." The spring scenery of the Su Causeway is the most famous, so it is called "Spring Dawn at Su Causeway" and ranks first among the Ten Scenes of the West Lake. The Su Causeway is nearly 3 kilometers long from south to north, there are six stone bridges, namely Yingbo Bridge, Suolan Bridge, Wangshan Bridge, Yadi Bridge, Dongpu Bridge and Kuahong Bridge. Whenever spring comes, with the gentle breeze blowing slowly and the willow branches fluttering, it is the most beautiful sight reflected in the mirror-like lake waves.
Nowadays, at the southern end of Su Causeway, tourists can still see the stone tablet inscribed with "Spring Dawn at Su Causeway" by Emperor Kangxi. It is the only original stone tablet among the Ten Scenes of the West Lake tablets that has been preserved until now. Yadi Bridge of Su Causeway is suitable for viewing the panorama of the West Lake, the scenic spots are relatively concentrated at both ends of Su Causeway. At the southern end, there is Su Dongpo Memorial Hall that can be visited for free. At the northern end, there are beautiful scenic spots such as Yuewang Temple and Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden that should not be missed.
4.1.2 Viewing Fish At Flower Pond 花港观鱼
Viewing Fish at Flower Pond is sited on the south side of the West Lake and used to be a private garden of officials in the Southern Song Dynasty. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Lu Yunsheng, an official in the imperial palace, built a private garden named "Lu Garden" in the area of Flower Pond. He specially dug a large pool in this garden and raised various "imported fish" in it, which attracted many literati at that time. Thus, the name "Viewing Fish at Flower Pond" came into being, the spring scenery is especially charming, when the gentle breeze blows, petals fall in profusion.
The whole garden is divided into five scenic areas, namely the Red Fish Pond, the Peony Garden, the Flower Pond, the Large Lawn and the Dense Forest. The most famous part in the garden is the groups of red carp and the Red Fish Pond is the essence of "Viewing Fish at Flower Pond". After years of renovation, it has now become a large park. There are three main entrances to the park, the south entrance is on Nanshan Road, the west entrance is located on Yang Gong Causeway, and tourists can also walk northwards onto Su Causeway.
4.1.3 Listening To Orioles At Willow Waves 柳浪闻莺
As one of the Ten Scenes in West Lake, it got its name from the verdant willows and the melodious singing of orioles, it is a large park located at Qingbo Gate on the southeast bank of the West Lake. As a small scenic spot in the Lakeside Area of West Lake, it is also a great place for people to relax. Originally, it was an imperial garden in the Southern Song Dynasty and was also known as Jujing Garden. In the Qing Dynasty, the old scene of "Orioles Singing in the Willows" was restored and its layout is fresh, elegant and simple. The willow groves set off rare trees and famous flowers such as Phoebe sheareri, cedar, magnolia grandiflora, flowering peach, Chinese flowering crabapple and Chinese rose, when visitors stroll along the kilometer-long embankment by the lake, they can appreciate various kinds of willows like weeping willows and drunken willows along the way and feel the enchanting atmosphere of the vibrant nature.
4.1.4 Longjing Tea Plantation 龙井问茶
"Longjing Tea Plantation" is one of the Ten New Scenes of West Lake and a famous attraction for exploring Longjing tea culture. West Lake Longjing tea is mainly produced in the area of Longjing Village. Longjing tea not only features in color, aroma, taste and shape of tea, but also integrates the five famous elements of famous mountains, famous temples, famous lakes, famous springs and famous teas. Longjing tea of West Lake can be classified into different types such as those from Shifeng, Longjing, Yunqi, Hupao and Meijiawu. Among them, the tea from Shifeng and Longjing areas is of the highest quality. The subtleties can only be understood when visitors go to Longjing Village in person to taste it. Hence, there comes the interesting saying of "Inquiring about Tea in Longjing". Due to the clear and sweet Longjing spring water and the long-standing reputation of Longjing tea, people rush to go there afterwards, so it is worth visiting.
4.1.5 Taiziwan Park 太子湾公园
Taiziwan Park is nestled at the southwest corner of West Lake, it is a park full of romantic scent and its tulips in spring are the most famous. From the end of March to the beginning of April every year, hundreds of thousands of tulips, cherry blossoms and hyacinths in the park are in full bloom, looking extraordinarily beautiful. Even when it's not the flowering season, the autumn scenery of Pipa Island and Feicui Garden in the middle of the park as well as the winter snow scenery each have their own characteristics. At any time, you can see many newlyweds taking wedding photos and couples on dates, making the whole park filled with a romantic atmosphere. Taiziwan Park is adjacent to Jingci Temple and Zhang Taiyan's Tomb Path in the east, connects with Nan Peak in the west, and there is a long row of tall and lush metasequoia forests in the north, separated from the busy Nanping Road, it rather resembles the seat of an old-fashioned armchair. What is worth mentioning is that it is also the venue for the "West Lake Music Festival" every year. During the music festival, tourists can enjoy music performances, art exhibitions and other related activities here.
4.1.6 The First Park 一公园
The First Park is connected to the scenic spot of Orioles Singing in the Willows. When walking in the First Park, visitors may find that they have entered the area of Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves. Both scenic spots are located near the popular Lakeside area in Hangzhou with a large flow of people, they are also the parks that best reflect the flavor of people's daily life in Hangzhou. Here, you can see elderly people practicing calligraphy on the floor tiles, uncles and aunts singing in a chorus, passers-by feeding squirrels, people walking on the arched bridge at dusk and so on. If you want to get close to the local flavor of Hangzhou, just come here. There is also an internet-famous pavilion in the First Park, it's called the "Jixian Pavilion", which is located opposite the stone tablet inscribed with "Evening Stream with Lingering Fragrance" in the First Park of Hangzhou. As one of the Eighteen Scenes of West Lake in the Qing Dynasty, the night view of Jixian Pavilion will definitely not disappoint you.
4.2 Attractions Suitable For Summer
4.2.1 Breeze-ruffled Lotus At Quyuan Garden 曲院风荷
As one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, hundreds of varieties of lotus are cultivated in Fenghe Park where it is located, showing an especially charming attraction in summer. The so-called "Quyuan Garden" was actually a workshop for brewing official wine situated at Hongchun Bridge during the Southern Song Dynasty. It was famous across the country for making yeast wine with the stream water from Jinsha Stream. Whenever the wind blew in summer, the fragrance of wine and lotus was refreshing, so it was called"Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden". The lotus leaves were lush and the lotus blossoms were enchanting, small bridges with various shapes were built over the water surface, pedestrians walked across the bridges as if they were walking among the lotuses. In midsummer, red lotuses, white lotuses, double-petaled lotuses and many other kinds of lotuses were in full bloom, making it the best place for tourists to appreciate lotuses in summer.
4.2.2 Bamboo-Lined Path At Yunqi 云栖竹径
Bamboo-Lined Path at Yunqi, one of the Ten New Scenes of the West Lake, is located at the western foot of Wuyun Mountain. It is said that when the King of Wuyue built a temple here in the fifth year of Qiande in the Song Dynasty (967 AD), colorful clouds gathered here, so it was named "Yunqi". There are high mountains and deep valleys with thick bamboo groves and dense forests, in the early morning and at dusk, clouds often gather and colorful clouds chase each other in the valley. Therefore, it has always been praised as "the First Area of the Lake and Mountain". Perhaps the eight words "Ancient Temple in the Deep Mountain, Sound of the Chime along the Bamboo Path" are the best annotation. Take a deep breath, get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and imagine yourself as a reclusive swordsman, then you may feel your soul is also be purified.
4.3 Attractions Suitable For Autumn
4.3.1 Autumn Moon Over The Calm Lake 平湖秋月
"Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake" is one of the "Ten Scenes of the West Lake" in the Southern Song Dynasty, its specific location is mainly on the south side of the western end of Bai Causeway. It backs onto Solitary Hill, and to the west is the outer lake of West Lake, making it the best place to overlook the panorama of West Lake and the moon on autumn nights. Whenever the bright moon shines brightly in the sky on autumn nights, climbing up here to gaze at the moon can be regarded as an extraordinary experience. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty once toured the West Lake and took the waterside courtyard by the lake at the southeast corner of Solitary Hill as the site of this landscape, and inscribed the plaque with the words "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake" himself.
4.3.2 Three Ponds Mirroring The Moon 三潭印月
Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon is also known as Xiaoyingzhou (小瀛洲). The so-called "Three Ponds" refer to the three stone pagodas standing in the lake. They were first erected by Su Shi after he dredged the West Lake. Regarded as the largest of the three islands in the West Lake and the only one that tourists can visit. It is bestowed with the most beautiful scenic spot of West Lake, its outline looks like the Chinese character "田". The outer ring is a Jiangnan-style garden, and the inside is divided into four small lakes by a cross-shaped island and bridges, full of poetic and artistic atmosphere. The flowers and trees on the whole island are distributed with proper density, mainly including green willows, lotus flowers, red maples and cotton roses. Therefore, it is considered as a representative work of the art of Jiangnan water courtyards.
What's more, the back of the RMB one yuan note adopts the magnificent scene of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, which shows that it plays an extremely important symbolic role among China's scenic spots. Besides, it is also an excellent place to admire the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. According to legend, if you paste thin paper on the holes of the house on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, the light of the candles inside will shine through the paper, looking exactly the same as the real moonlight.
4.3.3 Yang Gong Causeway 杨公堤
Yang Gong Causeway is one of the "Three Causeways of West Lake" that is as famous as Bai Causeway and Su Causeway, it got its name because it was dug under the supervision of Yang Mengying. Yang Gong Causeway is located to the west of the West Lake, there are six bridges on the causeway, named from north to south as Huanbi Bridge, Liujin Bridge, Wolong Bridge, Yinxiu Bridge, Jingxing Bridge and Junyuan Bridge, all of them echo with the six bridges of Su Causeway in the east and are collectively called the "Twelve Bridges of the West Lake".
Among them, Yinxiu Bridge and Jingxing Bridge are accessible to cruise ships. Yang Gong Causeway is 3.4 kilometers long, starting from Lingyin Road in the north and ending at Hupao Road in the south, it connects many famous scenic spots such as Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden, Jinsha Port, Hangzhou Flower Nursery, Maojiabu, Wugui Pond, Santai Mengji, Yu Hu Bay and Viewing Fish at Flower Pond. There are also 23 historical and cultural landscapes near Yang Gong Causeway, such as Huangmie Tower, Lakeside Green House, Orchid Garden, Ancient Jingxing Bridge and Zhao Gong Causeway. Just like a low-key gentleman, although it doesn't attract much attention at first glance, once you step into it, you may find that it's like walking into a fairyland isolated from the outside world.
4.3.4 Sweet Osmanthus Rain At Manjuelong 满陇桂雨
Manjuelong is located to the south of West Lake in Hangzhou, it is a valley in a natural village sandwiched between Nan Gaofeng and Baihefeng. Manjuelong got its name from the fact that there was an ancient Buddhist temple called Manjue Temple (originally named Yuanxing Temple) in Wuyue Kingdom in ancient times. Commonly known as Manjia Alley, it was rich in osmanthus flowers during the Ming and Qing dynasties and was a famous place for enjoying osmanthus flowers by the West Lake.
4.4 Attractions Suitable For Winter
4.4.1 Lingering Snow On Broken Bridge 断桥残雪
When it comes to the West Lake, the first impression that many people have is the Broken Bridge, the story of Xu Xian and Lady White meeting on this long bridge in "The Legend of White Lady" has added a lot of romantic imagination to it. When the winter snow first falls, the sunny side of the bridge melts the ice and snow, but the shady side is still covered with lingering snow. When seen from high above, the bridge seems to be broken but actually isn't, thus forming the famous scene of " Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge". Every winter, the Broken Bridge becomes the best place to enjoy watching the snow and also the starting point for many people to visit the West Lake. Tourists can go from the Broken Bridge along the Bai Causeway to Solitary Hill, and then visit various scenic spots around the West Lake one by one.
4.5 Enchanting Scenic Spots All Year Around
4.5.1 Leifeng Pagoda In The Evening Glow 雷峰夕照
Leifeng Pagoda is associated with the story in which Lady White was imprisoned under it by Fahai (a monk). In reality, Leifeng Pagoda was actually built by the King of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties period to celebrate the birth of his son to his concubine Huang, and it was originally called "Huangfei Pagoda".
As the largest existing Buddhist pagoda in China with an octagonal double-tube structure, it is famous for the beautiful scene of "Leifeng Pagoda in the Evening Glow". Whenever dusk falls, the afterglow gilds the pagoda with a layer of gold, presenting a breathtaking view. Tourists can go to Jingci Temple and ascend the Shijia Hall, which is one of the best places to view Leifeng Pagoda and visitors can ascend the pagoda to overlook the panorama of the West Lake.Ticket price of Leifeng Pagoda for adults is 40 yuan, children under 6 years old (including 6 years old) or under 1.2 meters tall (including 1.2 meters) are eligible for free admission.
4.5.2 Evening Bell Ringing At Nanping Hill 南屏晚钟
It refers to the bell sound of Jingci Temple on Nanping Mountain in the evening, the bronze bell is 3 meters high and weighs more than 10 tons. More than 68,000 characters of the "Lotus Sutra" are cast on the bell and tourists can hear the sound of the large wooden mallet hitting the pendulum clock at around 16:00 every day, which is very deep and powerful. On New Year's Eve, many citizens and tourists will gather inside and outside the bell tower of Jingci Temple to hold the New Year bell-ringing activity. The highest point of Jingci Temple is the Shijia Hall (释迦殿), tourists can see the West Lake and overlapping mountains when looking northwest. There is a Jingci Temple Art Museum in the temple, which is included in the ticket price. It exhibits precious cultural relics unearthed from Leifeng Pagoda and is well worth visiting for tourists.
Ticket price of Jingci Temple: 10 yuan for admission fee and additional 10 yuan for clanging the bell.
Opening hours: 7:00 - 17:00 everyday, it is recommended to see "Leifeng Pagoda in the Evening Glow" at around 4:00 p.m, if you want to ring the bell or visit the art museum, it is advisable to go a little earlier.
4.5.3 Twin Peaks Piercing The Clouds 双峰插云
"Twin Peaks" refer to the South Peak and the North Peak among the mountain ranges in the western part of the West Lake. With green mists and white fogs, the spires of the pagodas reached into the clouds, sometimes hidden and sometimes visible. Seen from a distance, it was like a fairyland. Whenever the clouds and mists filled the air, looking westward from the West Lake, these two peaks faced each other from afar. While the surrounding peaks were indistinct, the spires of the pagodas were clearly visible, just as if the peaks were piercing the clouds, hence it got the name of the scenic spot "Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds". During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was a pagoda on each of these two peaks. Although it can no longer be seen today, we can still catch a glimpse of the magnificent scene at that time from the paintings left by our ancestors.
4.5.4 Nine Creeks In Misty Forest 九溪烟树
Considered as one of the Ten New Scenes of West Lake, it is commonly known as "Nine Creeks and Eighteen Brooks" and located under Jiguan Ridge among the mountain ranges to the west of West Lake. It connects with Longjing in the north and runs through the Qiantang River in the south, it winds and disappears from time to time before flowing into the Qiantang River. The term "Eighteen Brooks" means the large number of small streams with gurgling spring water. The Nine Creeks and the Eighteen Brooks converge in front of the Creek at the foot of Bajue Mountain (八觉山). Along the way, there are numerous overlapping peaks, tea plantations scattered around, the path winding with the mountain, the flowing water gurgling gently and the mountain birds chirping. The beautiful scenery is very visual appealing on sunny days and the mist and clouds are ethereal on cloudy days.
4.5.5 Changqiao Park 长桥公园
If you ask where the best viewing spot for "Leifeng Pagoda in the Evening Glow" is, actually it's not inside the Scenic Area of Leifeng Pagoda, but in the Changqiao Park which is several hundred meters away from Leifeng Pagoda.
Changqiao Park is located at the southeast corner of West Lake, beside Changqiao on Nanshan Road. The park extends along the lake with an exquisite layout and profound artistic conception, and it has the title of "City Flower Park" of Hangzhou. Changqiao is one of the three "Lovers' Bridges" of West Lake. As for the explanation of Changqiao, one version is that in the famous episode "Eighteen Farewells" in the folk legend "Butterfly Lovers", it is said that when they saw each other off, they walked back and forth on the bridge for eighteen li (5.59 miles). Zhu Yingtai used eighteen metaphors to express her feelings with objects, so it's called "The road is long while the bridge is not", and that's how the saying "The long bridge is not long" came into being. Another explanation is that during the Southern Song Dynasty, Wang Xuanjiao, a commoner, and Tao Shier fell in love freely, but were blocked by Tao's stepmother, and they both died for love at the lotus pond beside Changqiao. Therefore, "The long bridge is not long, the broken bridge is not broken, and the solitary hill is not solitary" is known as the "Three Wonders of West Lake".
4.5.6 Bai Causeway 白堤
Bai Causeway was originally named "Baisha Causeway" and it serves as a link connecting the urban area of Hangzhou with the scenic area. It starts from "Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge" in the east, passes through the Brocade Belt Bridge and extends westward, ending at "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake". In the Tang Dynasty, it was called Baisha Causeway or Shadi. Later, its name was changed as "Solitary Hill Road" and "Shijin Pond in the Song and Ming Dynasties. The Bai Causeway stretches across the lake, dividing the West Lake into the outer lake and the inner lake, and connecting Solitary Hill with North Hill. The scenery of Bai Causeway varies distinctively in different seasons: peach blossoms in spring, willows in summer, osmanthus in autumn and snow in winter, each presenting a unique charm. Bai Juyi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem when he served as the prefect of Hangzhou: "I love best to walk along the eastern shore of the lake, the Baisha Causeway shaded by green willows I frequent most." It refers to this causeway, later generations named it Bai Causeway in memory of this poet.
One of the most famous attractions in West Lake, "Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge", is located at one end of Bai Causeway, the Broken Bridge is situated at the water-dividing point between the North Inner Lake and the Outer West Lake in Hangzhou, one end spans North Hill Road, and the other end connects with the Bai Causeway. The Broken Bridge can definitely be perceived as one of the hottest scenic spot of West Lake. During each holiday and festival, the Broken Bridge always makes it to the hot list on travel pages. So much so that we often joke that the Broken Bridge was broken by people stepping on it. Therefore, if you plan to visit the area near the Broken Bridge, it is recommended to avoid the peak season and the best time for a visit is from 6:00 to 8:00 in the morning.
5. Suggested Tour Routes And Attractions
There are more than 100 scenic spots in the Scenic Area of West Lake, they are separated by Solitary Hill, Bai Causeway, Su Causeway and Yang Gong Causeway and the waters of the West Lake can be divided into five parts respectively, namely the Outer West Lake, the West Inner Lake, the North Inner Lake, the Small South Lake and Yue Lake. Su Causeway and Bai Causeway cross the lake surface. Three small islands, namely Xiaoyingzhou, Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ruan Gongdun, stand in the middle of the Outer West Lake. Leifeng Pagoda on the Evening Glow Hill and Baochu Pagoda on the Precious Stone Hill mirror each other across the lake, thus forming the basic pattern of "one hill, two pagodas, three islands, three causeways and five lakes".
5.1 One-day Tour Routes
Classic Route: Spring Dawn at Su Causeway → Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge → Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake → Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden → Viewing Fish at Flower Pond → Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow → Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill → Listeningto Orioles at Willow Waves → Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds → Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon. This route is scientific and reasonable without any backtracking, allowing you to fully appreciate the charm of the Ten Scenes of West Lake within one day.
Route to Avoid the Crowds: You can choose a small loop, such as experiencing the wild fun of bird-watching at Maojiabu (茅家埠), taking a public transport boat from the former residence of Du Jinsheng (都锦生故居) to Viewing Fish at Flower Pond, and then taking the scenic area sightseeing bus to visit the lotus in "Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden" afterwards. This route is suitable for friends who don't like the hustle and bustle but still want to visit classic scenic spots .
5.2 Two-day Tour Routes
Day 1: Start from the Broken Bridge and pass by Bai Causeway, Solitary Hill, Xiling Bridge, Yue Temple, Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden, Su Causeway, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Leifeng Pagoda and other places in turn.
Day 2: You can go to Longjing Tea Plantation in the morning and head to Lingyin Temple in the afternoon. After that, you can enjoy the natural scenery in the eastern area of Xixi Wetland in the evening. Reservations are required to buy tickets for Feilai Peak when visiting Lingyin Temple, and the ticket price for the eastern area of Xixi Wetland is 80 yuan.
5.3 Three-day Tour Routes
Day 1: Visit the northern line of West Lake and part of the western line.
Morning: Broken Bridge → Bai Causeway → Solitary Hill → Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden
Afternoon: Yang Gong Causeway → Yu Hu Bay 浴鹄湾→ Wugui Pond 乌龟潭→ Taiziwan太子湾
Day 2: Visit the southern line of West Lake and the area along Meiling Road.
Morning: Leifeng Pagoda → Changqiao Park → Listening to Orioles at Willow Waves → The First Park
Afternoon: Bamboo-Lined Path at Yunqi → Lingyin Temple → Longjing Village
Evening: Watch the music fountain at The First Park.
Day 3: Routes along Zhijiang Road.
Morning: Liuhe Pagoda 六和塔→ Baita Park
Afternoon: Nine Creeks in Misty Forest
6.What To Do At West Lake
There are all sorts of things that tourists can do by the West Lake, including but not limited to the following
Appreciating the Ten Scenes of West Lake: The West Lake has its own unique beauty in the four seasons. In spring, one can go to Orioles Singing in the Willows to listen to the birdsong. In summer, visit Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden to enjoy the lotus flowers. In autumn, head to Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake to watch the moon. In winter, stroll in the Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge. Whenever you come, there will always be new feelings and harvests.
Daydreaming by the Lake: Find a place to sit by the West Lake and gaze at the lake water quietly, lost in thought. At different times and in different weathers, the West Lake presents different appearances. For example, "The West Lake in sunny days is not as charming as in rainy days. The West Lake in rainy days is not as beautiful as in the night. The West Lake in the night is not as enchanting as in snowy days."
Cycling around the Lake: Whether cycling or walking, the beautiful scenery of West Lake always makes people feel pleasant. Cycling is not allowed on Su Causeway and Bai Causeway on weekends and holidays, but it is permitted at other times. The combination of cycling and hiking to see the West Lake is an experience that many people like.
Taking a Sightseeing Bus: There is a sightseeing bus that circles around the West Lake, tourists can charter cars or take a shuttle bus, with fares ranging from 20 yuan to 80 yuan. The sightseeing bus stops at multiple scenic spots and plays historical allusions along the way, which is also a definite way for tourists to acquire knowledge.
Taking a Boat Tour on the Lake: It is also a very pleasant experience and a very popular entertainment project, there are a variety of boats on the West Lake and tourists can choose a suitable way to enjoy the beautiful landscape of lakes and mountains. You can rent a small boat and row on the lake by yourself to appreciate the beautiful scenery. It is a way to relax and a good choice to spend a nice time with family or friends.
Tasting Local Cuisine: There are many delicious foods worth trying by the West Lake, such as West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy (西湖醋鱼), Dongpo Pork (东坡肉), Shelled Shrimps with Longjing Tea (龙井虾仁). In addition, Longjing Lotus Root Starch (龙井藕粉) on Hefang Street, Jia's Wonton Casserole (嘉馄饨) on the Southern Song Imperial Street (南宋御街) are also delicious that should not be missed.
Visiting Museums: Some museums are near the West Lake, such as China Silk Museum and China National Tea Museum, they both display China's long history and culture. Therefore, foreigners can further their deep understanding according to this way.
Watching the Music Fountain Show: At the Music Fountain Square of West Lake, there is a wonderful music fountain show every night. The water columns dance with the rhythm of the music, combined with the lighting effects, giving people a sense of audio-visual feast.
Visiting Ancient Buildings: There are many ancient buildings around West Lake, such as Leifeng Pagoda and Yuewang Temple. These ancient buildings represent the ancient Chinese architectural styles and cultures. Consequently, visitors can get a good grasp of Chinese architectural art based on this way.
Participating in Folk Activities: During specific festivals or activities, some traditional folk activities will be held around the West Lake, such as dragon boat races and lantern exhibitions, you won't be disappointed to experience the local culture and traditions by participating in these activities.
7. Best Time To Go
The best seasons to visit West Lake are spring (from March to May) and autumn (from September to November). In these two seasons, it has beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, which is suitable for sightseeing.
Spring (from March to May): In spring, everything comes back to life and is full of vitality. The lake surface is clear, with willows turning green and flowers blooming in red. Peach blossoms and cherry blossoms are competing to burst into full bloom, presenting a beautiful picture. At this time, the West Lake is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Tourists can take a stroll along the lake, enjoy the sea of flowers and feel the breath of spring.
Autumn (from September to November): In autumn, the weather is cool and the air is fresh. At this time, the leaves of maples, ginkgoes and other trees by the lake gradually turn yellow, presenting a colorful scene which is very suitable for taking pictures. Visitors can wander along the lake, enjoy the autumn scenery and feel the tranquility.
Winter (from December to February): In winter, it is a little cold. However, if it snows, the West Lake will be covered with white snow, forming the beautiful scene of "Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge", which is well worth spotting.
In addition, there are different beautiful views at different times of the day.
Morning: The air is fresh and the lake surface is calm, which is very suitable for a stroll or doing morning exercises.
Evening: The afterglow reflects on the lake surface, forming the beautiful scene of "Leifeng Pagoda in the Evening Glow", which is photo-friendly.
Night: It is very appropriate for a night tour to enjoy its night views.
It should be noted that the West Lake is a popular tourist attraction with a large amount of tourists, especially on holidays and weekends. Therefore, it is recommended that tourists may plan their trips in advance and avoid the peak periods so as not to affect their travel experience.
8. Nearby Attractions
8.1 Lingyin Temple 灵隐寺
Lingyin Temple, also known as Yunlin Temple, is located in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It backs onto the North Peak and faces the Feilai Peak. It was first built in the first year of Xianhe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326 AD) and covers an area of approximately 87,000 square meters. Lingyin Temple is one of the famous ancient Buddhist temples in China with a long history and profound cultural connotations.
The main buildings of Lingyin Temple include the Hall of Heavenly Kings (天王殿), the Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿), the Medicine Master Hall (药师殿), the Dharma Hall (法堂) and so on. They are arranged along the central axis, and on both sides are attached buildings such as the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats (五百罗汉堂), Jigong Hall (济公殿), the Great Compassion Building (大悲楼) and the Abbot's Building(方丈楼). It is not only a pilgrimage site for Buddhist believers but also a popular scenic spot for tourists to visit. The unique architectural style and its long history in the temple have attracted an increasing numbers of tourists to visit each year.
8.2 Liuhe Pagoda 六和塔
Liuhe Pagoda is situated on Yuelun Mountain (月轮山) by the Qiantang River, south of the West Lake in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is one of the best-preserved ancient pagodas with a brick-wood structure in China. Liuhe Pagoda was first built in the third year of Kaibao in the Northern Song Dynasty (970 AD). A monk, Zhiyuan, built it to suppress the tidal bore of the river, naming it Liuhe Pagoda by taking the meaning of "Six Harmonies" in Buddhism, the current body of Liuhe Pagoda was rebuilt in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the 1990s, "Exhibition Garden of Ancient Pagodas in China" was newly built near Liuhe Pagoda, the famous pagodas from all over China were carved in miniature and displayed here, which intensively showed the achievements of ancient Chinese architectural culture. When tourists stand on Liuhe Pagoda and listen to the sound of the waves of the Qiantang River lapping against the shore, they will feel very comfortable. The admission fee is 20 yuan to enter the park, and another 10 yuan to ascend the pagoda.
9. Useful Travel Tips
9.1 West Lake Photography Tips
Best Shooting Time: The best time to take pictures of the West Lake is from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During this period, the light is soft and the colors are warm, enabling you to take beautiful photos.
Recommended Shooting Attire: Han - style clothing can be chosen to enhance the ancient - style atmosphere.
Recommended Shooting Locations
Bai Causeway: At the end close to the inner side of West Lake, you can have a panoramic view.
Cruise Ships: Choose a cruise ship with a canopy so that you can enjoy the scenery and take beautiful pictures at the same time.
