Tianmu Mountain Resort

Itinerary: 3-Day Tours of Hangzhou - Qian Liu Tomb - Tianmu Mountain Resort - Grand Zhexi Valley

Paradise above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below, so goes the saying that praises the scenery. Hangzhou and Suzhou are resort towns that charm Chinese and foreigners alike for over centuries. Neither Hangzhou nor Suzhou, like Rome, was built in one day. For starters, we recommend Lin'an City which is the birth place of Qian Liu. The long history of the ancient Lin'an City can be ever traced back to the New Stone Age. Qian Liu (852-932A.D) is regarded as the creator of the time of great peace and prosperity of Hangzhou.

Tianmu Mountain Resort

For the first day, go to Lin'an from Hangzhou and visit the Qian Liu Tomb and Tianmu Mountain Resort. Either take a taxi or take the regular K598 to get there.  Buses depart regularly an half hour intervals from Hangzhou West Passenger Station (No. 112, Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang). Taxi fare of 150 RMB is negotiable.

It takes about 2.5 hours to arrives at Lin'an New Passenger tation AkA Gudang.  The air-conditioned buses leave Hangzhou every 30 minutes from 05:40 to 18:40 everyday of the week. The bus fare is 11RMB per person and the bus stops six times along the way. To learn about Qian Liu the person, the best place to begin is from the Qian Liu Tomb in Lin'an City (Address: No. 338, Yijin Street, Lin'an, Zhejiang; Telephone: 86-571-63722883). At Lin'an New Passenger Station, take No. 1 Bus to the Tomb. The place opens to the public from 07:30-17:30 and the charge is 16 RMB per person. Qian Liu set up the State of Wuyue (907-978) in the late Tang Dynasty. He fostered peace and prosperity. The power center extended southward to Jiangzhe area and the sate of Wuyue prospered. Important relics like the Six-Harmony Pagoda, Le Feng Tower Pagoda, Baoshu Pagoda, the White Dagoba and Huqiu Pagoda are dated back to the time of his regime. He was well loved and praised as the "Qian King". His tomb is a well preserved mausoleum. You may also visit the open campus of Zhejiang Forestry University for a feel of Chinese college life. After the visit, take lunch near by, and then return to the hotel in the city for a rest. We recommend: Holiday Inn Lin'an (Agrees: No.1363, Qian King Avenue, Lin'an, Zhejiang; Telephone: 86-571-23615588).

Grand Zhexi Valley

Next morning, take the 30 minute bus from Lin' an New Passenger Station to Zaoxi Town Stop (4 RMB per person) then take the connecting bus to Tianmu Mountain (2 RMB per person) or get a taxi there from the Stop(10 RMB). A taxi straight from your hotel to the Mountain costs 80RMB. It will take you a full day to explore the Tianmu Mountain Resort (Address: West Tianmu County; Telephone: 86-571-63857361). The entrance fee is 60 RMB per person. This famous Buddhist Mountain has 95% foliage and thus makes it a national forest and wild life preserve area. It is 31 kilometers northwest of Lin'an City; and it goes by the name"Forest Kingdom" and "Natural Arboretum". The villager's houses are inadequate accommodations. We recommend that you return to the hotel in Lin'an City for the night.

Visit the Grand Zhexi Valley on the third day. You may charter a car from the villager's hostels, if you are there already. If you are back in the the city hotel, you can go to the New Passenger Station and take bus to West Changhua Station and then connect to Taipingqiao Town at the Valley. Or, you may simply take a one-day Valley tour from a local agency. The Valley, 80 kilometer long, is divided into three sections. You will find relaxation in the resorts. After the visit, return to Lin'an or Hangzhou. Happy tour finishes here.