Hangzhou

Picturesque Hangzhou
Author: Terry Williamson (Last Modified: 2006-11-05)
 
A short two hour train trip from Shanghai lays the Provincial capital of Zhejiang (浙江) Province, Hangzhou (杭州). While the streets of Hangzhou are probably as traffic filled as those of Shanghai, Hangzhou still offers a wonderful weekend getaway by staying anywhere on or around the jewel of Hangzhou, West Lake.
 
Although surrounded by the normal city crowds of this busy Provincial capital, West Lake is the perfect escape for exercise, sightseeing, bicycle riding, boating or just relaxing with that cooling drink and soaking up the atmosphere of relaxation this beautiful lake encourages.
 
West Lake is nestled almost in the centre of Hangzhou. While not a big lake compared with Dongqian Lake alongside nearby Ningbo, this lake is dotted with islands and mini lakes within lakes, like a traditional Chinese water garden, but on a grandiose scale. The natural setting of strangely shaped peaks, serene forests and springs, dense foliage and a myriad of blossoms, especially in springtime, are enhanced by a treasury of sculpture and architectural features. The largest part of West Lake is known as the Outer Lake and it is bounded by the North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. The many bridges that connect these waterways add man made beauty to that already bestowed by nature.
 
If this is not enough, in more recent years the local government has proceeded with the development of the "New" West Lake area, Mao Jia Bu.  This is an area of small lakes, streams, gardens and bridges that make a morning or a full day’s stroll, an immensely enjoyable experience. Truly this is a must-see venue for anyone contemplating a visit to Hangzhou.
 
There are many starting points for viewing and travelling on West Lake, but perhaps a nice place to start is to head to Xihu Tiandi. Anyone who has been to Xintiandi in Shanghai will recognise this name. Xin in Chinese means "new" while Tiandi is "world", thus Xihu Tiandi is West Lake World. Dotted with bars and restaurants, this is a trendy area for both tourists and locals and is beautifully lit by fairy lights at night.
 
Strewn on the shores of West Lake are many other tourist venues, including Sun Yat Sen Park, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, the beautiful Buddhist temple of LingYin, Tiger Pawing Springs, and  the Six Harmonies Pagoda. For $40 rmb you can hop on an electric cart trip around the lake foreshore, just flag one down.
 
But Hangzhou is not just West Lake. There are also the two most prestigious products of Hangzhou, silk and Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, perhaps one of the most famous teas in China.
 
Located on the southern bank of West Lake is the Chinese National Silk Museum, the world’s biggest silk museum, with eight exhibition halls, including a display of a piece of silk brocade dating back more then 5,600 years, the oldest piece of silk still in existence. The China National Silk Museum is a museum equipped with modern facilities and is dedicated to providing convenience for tourists. It offers free guide, free audio guide, free pamphlets on silk information, and even free wheelchairs for the disabled. People can also choose their favourite silk goods in the museum shop and relax in the teahouse. Admission is free and visitors can catch local buses 12 and 809 or Tourist Bus No 3.
 
A similar museum is dedicated in homage to tea. Located at the West Lake Dragon Well Tea Plantation, the National Tea Museum provides a fascinating insight into the history and production of Chinese tea. The Dragon Well itself is a small modest looking well in nearby LongJing, but the name is famously associated with the LongJing green tea grown on the nearby hillsides. You can fairly easily organise a taxi to take you there and introduce you to one of the local tea houses of LongJing. Negotiate with the driver, but $50 to $100 rmb is a reasonable price. Unless you are a connoisseur of tea, be careful not to be ripped off by tea merchants. Unfortunately there are little enforced legal controls on tea selling, so buyers beware.
 
If you have done all this and still want more, then a trip to Song City should complete your getaway. This enclosed village replicates life in the Song Dynasty some 900 years ago. The Song City is located in the south of Hangzhou a short taxi trip from the main railway station.
 
Accommodation in Hangzhou’s West Lake area ranges from the 5 Star lakeside Shangri La Hotel and the luxurious Sofitel for $180 US and $250 US respectively, to the more modest 4 star Ramada Plaza ($100 US) or for the more money conscious the 3 star Lily hotel ($50 US). These hotels are all located on or near beautiful West Lake. Weather in Hangzhou is hot and humid in summer and cold in winter, best visiting times are spring and autumn (fall).

Zhejiang Railway Hotel (3-star)

Hangzhou, Hotels, Accommodation
浙江铁道大厦
Last updated: Jun 07, 2009  Posted: May 20, 2009
Hotels in Hangzhou
Accommodation in Hangzhou
4
Address: 
No. 8 Chenzhan Square.

Zhejiang Railway Hotel is quite nice, and it is located at the right side of the Railway Station, the environment is nice, and the room is large, and at night you can have a nice night view of Hangzhou city, traffic are convenience too, you just need to Cross an intersection than you can take the bus Y2 to go to 3 star hotel


 

Lei Feng Pagoda (Lei Feng Ta)

Hangzhou, Tourist Attractions
雷峰塔
Last updated: May 19, 2009  Posted: Mar 06, 2009
Tourist Attractions in Hangzhou
5
Hours: 
Mar.15th-Nov.15 7:30am-9pm, Nov.16th-Mar.14th 8am-5:30pm
Address: 
No. 15 Nanshan Lu
Price: 
40 Yuan/ticket

The Lei Feng Pagoda was built in year of 977, but it was suffered two wars which got burn and only had some beams and the outlooking standing still there, but at September 25th, 1924, the old Lei Feng Pagoda collapsed suddenly only have the base left.
The Lei Feng Pagoda we saw now was rebuilt on 2000, and finished at 2002.

Tags: Xi Hu 10 Scenes Spots


 

Duan Qiao (Broken Bridge)

Hangzhou, Tourist Attractions
断桥
Last updated: May 19, 2009  Posted: Mar 06, 2009
Tourist Attractions in Hangzhou
5
Hours: 
All Day
Address: 
Beishan Lu, East side of Bai Di, inside of West Lack Scenic Area
Price: 
Free

The Broken Bridge is located at the Bai Causeway, and it is the place where Lady Snakewhite and Scholor Xu Xian met each other after them spearated by misunderstood, said of Chinese folk story "The Legend of Lady Snakewhite".

Tags: Xi Hu 10 Scenes Spots


 

1000 Island Lake (Qian Dao Hu)

Hangzhou, Tourist Attractions
千岛湖
Last updated: Mar 06, 2009  Posted: Mar 06, 2009
Tourist Attractions in Hangzhou
5
Hours: 
9am-4:30pm
Address: 
No. 32 Pailing Nan Lu, Qiandao Hu Town, Chun`an County, West of Hangzhou
Price: 
Peak season 120 Yuan/ticket, Off season 100 Yuan/ticket

Located in the west of Zhejiang province, Thousand-Island Lake is 145 kilometers to the provincial capital, Hangzhou, and 128 kilometers to splendid Huangshan Mountain.


 

Public Buses

Hangzhou, Transportation
公共汽车
Last updated: Jun 02, 2009  Posted: May 21, 2009
Transportation in Hangzhou
4

In Hangzhou, there have many bus routes in downtown.  The public transportation bus routes to scenic areas are Y1, Y7, Y9, K7, and Y1, Y2, Y9 have a tour guide will introduce each scenic ares also telling you where to get off if you want to go somewhere, but only in Chinese though.

Tags: Bus routes


 

Railway Station

Hangzhou, Transportation
火车站
Last updated: Jun 07, 2009  Posted: May 20, 2009
Transportation in Hangzhou
4.5
Address: 
Chengzhan Square.

Hangzhou Railway Station is really convenient because many trains go to and from Hangzhou since it connects with the national railway network through Hu-Hang, Hang-Yong and Xuan-Hang lines.
Hangzhou Railway Station is not only the main station of Hangzhou, but it is also a landmark of Hangzhou.

Tags: train station


 

Xihu Spring

Hangzhou, Chinese Food, Restaurants
西湖春天
Last updated: Apr 26, 2009  Posted: Apr 26, 2009
Chinese Food in Hangzhou
Restaurants in Hangzhou
3
Hours: 
10:30am-10pm
Address: 
No. 101-2 Nanshan Lu, Hangzhou

Another Branch

Shenlan Square Branch 深蓝广场店
Add: 3F, Shenlan Square, 203 Zhaohui Lu, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou
         下城区朝晖路203号深蓝广场3楼
Tel: +86 (0)571 8832 2777

Tags: Cantonese food, Dim sum


 

Li Fu Cantonese Restaurant

Hangzhou, Chinese Food, Restaurants
丽府粤菜
Last updated: Apr 26, 2009  Posted: Apr 26, 2009
Chinese Food in Hangzhou
Restaurants in Hangzhou
3.5
Hours: 
11am-11pm
Address: 
No. 8 Nanshan Lu, Shangcheng District

Another Branch

Qingchun Branch 庆春路店
Add: No. 38-1 Qingchun Lu, Xiacheng District
         下城区庆春路店38-1号
Tel: +86 (0)571 8779 2626, 8779 0808

Tags: Cantonese food


 
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