Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province and one of the central cities in the Yangtze River Delta. Hangzhou City is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with West Lake in the west. West Lake in Hangzhou has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in China due to its beautiful natural scenery, long history, and rich cultural heritage.
Since the Qin Dynasty, Hangzhou has a history of over 2200 years of urban construction. The Kingdom of Wuyue in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) and the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) established their capital in Hangzhou. After the Southern Song Dynasty established its capital in Hangzhou, the urban economy flourished unprecedentedly and became the largest commercial city in China. During the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), Hangzhou was praised by Italian traveler Marco Polo as the "most beautiful and luxurious city in the world".
West Lake is one of national 5A-rated tourist attractions. It is also one of China's top ten historical places. West Lake was included in the World Heritage List in 2011. West Lake, also known as Xizihu, also known as Qiantang Lake, is adjacent to Hangzhou city to the east and surrounded by mountains to the south, west and north. The Tang dynasty (618-906) named the West Lake because the lake was in west of the city.
The outline of West Lake is approximately oval in shape, with an area of about 6 square kilometers and a circumference of about 15 kilometers. The West Lake has one mountain, two towers, three islands, three embankments, and five lakes as its basic pattern and is famous all over the world for its "Ten Views of the West Lake". There are 122 main attractions in the West Lake Scenic Area. To visit the West Lake, you can walk, take a cruise, take a battery car, or ride a bike.
West Lake | Things to do in Hangzhou, China, Asia
Hangzhou Qiandao Lake is one of the "three major Thousand Islets Lakes in the world". Qiandao Lake, also known as Xin'an River Reservoir, is an artificial lake in Chun'an County, Hangzhou. The Xin'an River Reservoir was completed in 1960 and has a total of 1,078 islands in the lake.
Qiandao Lake covers an area of 982 square kilometers and has the reputation of being "the world's first beautiful water landscape". The main attractions of Qiandao Lake are Meifeng Island, Longshan Island, Yule Island, Santan Island, and other famous islands. Each island has its own attractions and services.
Qiantang River is the largest river in Zhejiang Province and was also the source of the name Zhejiang Province when it was established in the early Ming Dynasty. The Qiantang River and the Fuchun River are the same river, and the middle and upper reaches of the Zhejiang and Fuyang sections are called Fuchun Rivers, while the lower reaches of the Zhejiang and Hangzhou sections are called Qiantang Rivers.
The Qiantang River Tidal Bore, known as "the world's largest tidal bore", is a top natural wonder of the world. The Qiantang Tidal Bore's best viewing time of the year is in the summer.
Taking a cruise to enjoy the Qiantang River is a very popular way to travel.
When traveling to Hangzhou, you can't miss the West Lake and Xixi National Wetland Park. The Park is located to the west of the urban area, with a total area of approximately 11.5 square kilometers. Xixi National Wetland Park has a quiet environment and a network of crisscrossing waterways. Xixi Wetland is a rare natural wetland in the city and is known as the "kidney of Hangzhou".
As the saying goes, when you travel to Hangzhou, there are two must-visit spots: the West Lake and the Lingyin Temple. Lingyinsi (Lingyin Temple) was built by the Indian monk Huili in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326 AD). Lingyin Temple has a history of about 1,700 years and is the earliest famous temple in Hangzhou. Lingyin Temple has been one of the most famous ancient temples in Jiangnan since ancient times, and it is also one of the top ten ancient temples of Chinese Zen Buddhism.
Song Dynasty Town (Song Cheng), located southwest of West Lake, is the largest theme park showcasing Song Dynasty culture. Since its opening in 1996, the park has received more than 80 million tourists at home and abroad, creating a miracle of world tourism performance. The large-scale song and dance "Romance of the Song Dynasty", together with the O show in Las Vegas and the Moulin Rouge in Paris, are called "the world's three famous shows".
Qinghefang originated in the Southern Song Dynasty and has been a bustling place since ancient times. Qinghefang Old Street is surrounded by many ancient streets and monuments. The Qinghefang historical and cultural block, covering an area of 220,000 square meters, is the only well-preserved old city in Hangzhou.
Wuzhen Water Town is located in Tongxiang, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passing through it. As one of the four famous towns in the Jiangnan region, Wuzhen Water Town is an ancient town with a history of over 6,000 years.
The Zhejiang Provincial Museum is the largest comprehensive museum and a national first-class museum in Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Provincial Museum was founded in 1929 and was formerly known as "Zhejiang West Lake Museum" and "Zhejiang Provincial West Lake Museum". The museum has a collection of more than 100,000 cultural relics and specimens in a wide range of categories.
Where is it convenient to stay in Hangzhou? Usually, the best accommodation options in Hangzhou are close to scenic spots, shopping malls, and train stations.
Hangzhou cuisine (Hangbang Cai cuisine) belongs to the Zhejiang cuisine, one of the eight major Chinese cuisines. Hangbang Cai cuisine is mainly light salty taste, slightly sweet. More famous Hangzhou foods are: fried shrimps with Longjing tea, Dongpo pork, Chinese beggar's chicken recipe, West Lake vinegar fish, Sister Song's fish broth, Pian Er Chuan noodles.
Spring and autumn are the best travel times for Hangzhou. However, the traditional top 10 scenes of West Lake are suitable for different seasons. The best time to watch the Qiantang River Tidal Bore is in the summer.
The transportation in Hangzhou is very convenient; you can choose to take high-speed rail, train, or plane.
Railway Stations: Hangzhou Railway Station is in Hangzhou City. Hangzhou East Railway Station is a high-speed rail Station. Hangzhou South Railway Station is far from the city.
Plane: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is far from Hangzhou City, about 27 kilometers away.
Subway: The subway can reach the main attractions of Hangzhou.