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.