Hangzhou Attractions

Speaking of tourist attractions in Hangzhou, West Lake has always been the top one attracting travelers from home and abroad. It’s charming distinctively throughout the four seasons. By virtue of picturesque views, it is honored as the “Heaven on Earth”. Riding a sightseeing boat slowly to the center of the lake, you’re able to fully take in the harmonious landscape adorned with antique towers and pavilions, as well as chirping birds skimming across the water. Precisely such superior natural environment nurtured the most famous tea of Hangzhou, Longjing Tea. The lush terraced tea plantations on the hills along the lake shore exude the fragrance of tea leaves, and scattering tea pickers also become an integral part of this anime-like scene. Besides, in the city stands nearly 1,700-year-old Lingyin Temple where solemn Buddha statues in the main hall and the rising smoke from incense carry the aspirations of generations for a promising life.

West Lake at Sunset

Tourists in Xixi National Wetland Park

Nowadays, Hangzhou, leveraging its advantages in the technology industry, has transformed from a traditional tourist city into one of the destinations for “technology tourism” in which you can see robots making coffee, delivering packages, and even practicing Tai Chi with humans. Moreover, there are diverse advanced technological products you can experience, such as AR smart swimming goggles that can displays real-time data underwater, AI audio recording cards that can quickly converts meeting content into text, and DNA data storage “time capsules” that can preserve precious memories, etc.

You may combine stunning natural sightseeing with futuristic technology appreciation to enjoy two completely different travel experiences.
 The west lake covers an area of 638 hectares (1,579 acres) and is a must-visit attraction as the symbol of Hangzhou. The most remarkable feature here is the Top Ten Scenes of West Lake, including the Su Causeway where willows sway gently and peach flowers are in full bloom, large area of lotus flowers exuding aroma in the summer breeze around the gardens, and the painting of Leifeng Pagoda and the golden waves on the water at sunset, etc. These views, had inspired countless literati from ancient times to present to compose magnificent poems and paintings. In addition, there is a heart-wrenching love story between a white snake fairy and a human being, which adds some romantic elements to the beauty of the West Lake.

You can take a sightseeing boat to admire the expansive lake views, or go cycling around the lake to enjoy West Lake’s charm from different perspectives. At dusk, the landscape of West Lake turns into a large stage background featuring classic Southern Chinese style, where performers dance elegantly, creating a visual feast exclusive to Hangzhou for tourists.

Sightseeing Boat on West Lake

 Lingyin Temple, as the most renowned Buddha temple in Hangzhou, was constructed during Eastern Jin (317 - 420 AD) about 1,700 years ago. Every year, a large number of tourists come visiting and pray before the magnificent and solemn Buddha statues, hoping for blessings such as good health and prosperous future.

The Temple faces the Peak Flown from Afar, which is a limestone mountain with typical karst topographic features. Legend has it that an Indian monk came here on a journey and, impressed by this unique landscape, believed this mountain to have flown here from his home country. Thus, he named it Peak Flown from Afar, and settled here, presiding over the construction of the temple, which is now known as Lingyin Temple, meaning “Temple of Soul’s Retreat”. The mountain is crisscrossed with strange rocks and ancient trees tower above. Moreover, there are hundreds of Buddha statues on the mountain walls, with exquisite and lifelike carvings, being one of the largest and most concentrated groups of cave statues in southern China.

Tourists Praying in Lingyin Temple

Buddha Statue of Peak Flown from Afar

 Meijiawu is a small village tucked away in the lush mountains on the west side of West Lake. It is the main production area of Longjing Tea, one of the top ten famous teas in China, with the history of tea cultivation of over 600 years. The terraces of the tea plantation here are just like green waves stretching along the mountain slope, with white-walled and black-tiled cottages scattered around and the aroma of tea filling the air, as if you have accidentally entered a retreat away from the secular world.

From late March to mid-April every year is the tea-picking season when the terraces are dotted with tea pickers wearing straw hats. In the early morning, you can follow them to experience the joy of picking tea leaves, and then return to the folk house, watching the masters’ skills of frying tea. When the afternoon drowsiness sets in, a cup of brewed Longjing Tea will refresh your mind.

Tea Pickers Wearing Straw Hats

Tourists Watching Tea Frying

 Alibaba, as the leading internet enterprise of China and the globally renowned e-commerce giant developing from a small start-up company in 1999, has gone through technological innovations time and again. In Xixi Park Hangzhou lies the Alibaba Global Headquarters, which is equipped with smart office operating systems in all scenarios, and is also the birth place of various artificial intelligence technologies. Here, you can witness diversified black technology products, such as ingenious robots capable of efficiently conducting logistics sorting and distribution, intelligent household machines, self-driving automobiles, etc. What’s more, you can immerse in the considerate service supported by AI. For example, there is AI-driven unmanned Hotel for customers to stay, with all procedures handled by AI, proving a convenient living experience.
 

Six Harmonies Pagoda

Six Harmonies Pagoda is a historic tower approximately 60 meters (200 feet) tall. The term “Six Harmonies” in its name symbolizes the six harmonious ways of living advocated by Buddhism in terms of words, actions, spiritual thoughts, and governance. The exterior of the pagoda is made of wood, while the interior is constructed of brick and stone. What’s even more interesting is that although it appears to have 13 floors from the outside, in reality it only has 7 floors inside, with the other six floors enclosed and hidden inside the tower, serving to reinforce its structure.

Although Six Harmonies Pagoda was built in Northern Song (960 - 1127 AD) more than 1,000 years ago, there are still well-preserved ancient inscriptions by the emperors on the plaques for each floor, as well as stone-carved Buddhist scriptures from centuries ago, which expound on the theories of Buddhist practice. This pagoda was once used as a military garrison in ancient times, but now it has become an excellent viewing platform. After reaching the top, you can overlook the surging Qiantang River and admire the beautiful scenery of West Lake in the distance.
 About 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the West Lake lies a scenic spot praised as the Green Lungs of Hangzhou, Xixi National Wetland Park. The whole park has a water coverage of 70% and boasts superior ecological environment and diversified creatures. Over approximately 800 years ago, this park belonged to royal hunting field, which, with time passing by, transformed to royal garden and private garden in sequence. Therefore, up to now, you can still witness abundant historical and cultural sites, including ancient official’s family temples, time-honored village houses, and vivid stone carvings.

Taking a boat is the best way to tour around the park, which allows you to explore deep into the heart of the wetland and navigate through the crisscrossing waterways, experiencing the tranquility and harmony of nature. Delightfully, there are many bird-viewing platforms on which you can enjoy spectacular scene of large flocks of birds playing on the water or flying to the sky.

Antique Pavilion in Xixi National Wetland Park

River & Bridge in Xixi National Wetland Park

 Wuzhen Water Town has a long history and picturesque landscape and is about 1.5 - 2 hours’ drive away from Hangzhou downtown. The residence buildings here, all characterized by white walls and black tiles, are neatly arranged along the banks of rivers. Bridges can be seen everywhere, connecting districts on the two sides. Sitting in a black-awning boat to appreciate the water town would be rather enjoyable.

The meandering waterways divide the town into four areas on east, west, north, south directions. Among them, the east area features more authentic elements, possessing a lot of historic structures like temples and opera stages. Besides, you can see many exquisite wooden carvings, as well as experiencing traditional crafts like tie-dye and by the way make a tie-dye shirt by yourself. While the west area is more commercial and has beautiful night views. As the lanterns light up at dusk, the ripples of the river shine goldenly, full of romantic vibes. North and south areas are mainly life spaces of locals, which, though equipped with less comprehensive tourist facilities, are filled with a strong sense of life.

Streetscape of Wuzhen Water Town

Tourists Strolling in the Alley of Wuzhen Water Town

 The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City were excavated in the 1930s. The mysteries of the Liangzhu Culture, which had existed for over 5,000 years, were thus unveiled, further confirming the long history of China’s civilization spanning over 5,000 years. 

Now tourists can see many historic sites like nobility’s tombs and duplicated manual workshops at the time. Besides, there is a museum in which a large number of ancient artifacts used by nobility from Liangzhu Times are exhibited, ranging from pottery, jade, and lacquerware. These masterpieces, though made in prehistoric period, were exquisitely crafted, with various mysterious yet aesthetic patterns. Moreover, the scenic area is vast and boasts mesmerizing natural views aside from historical ones, where you can see many adorable sika deer and have a relaxing hike.