Exploring West Lake: A Journey Through Hangzhou's Iconic Landmark
If you're planning a trip to Hangzhou, a visit to West Lake is an absolute must! Here are some of the places around West Lake that I explored during my recent trip.
West Lake: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
West Lake stands as one of China's most beautiful tourist destinations, frequently appearing in classical literature, poetry, and paintings. It is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The lake is quite large, covering an area of approximately 6.4 square kilometers, with a circumference of about 15 kilometers.
Suggested Itinerary Around West Lake
Here's a possible itinerary you can follow to explore the beauty of this scenic area.
- Willow Waves Listening to Orioles
- Broken Bridge (View of Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset)
- Leifeng Pagoda
- Jingci Temple
- Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor
- Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
- Xiling Bridge
- Gushan Park
- Baidi Causeway
- Broken Bridge
- Beishan Road
- Jixian Pavilion
You can refer to these spots, but seeing them all can take a considerable amount of time, so choose 3-4 that interest you the most.
Must-See Spots Around West Lake
Chang Bridge (长桥)
Known as the bridge associated with the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. There's no admission fee.
Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor (花港观鱼)
This area boasts a large koi pond. However, be prepared for a bit of a walk, around 1-2 kilometers. This is also the departure point for boats heading to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (the image on the one yuan banknote). There's no admission fee.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭映月)
A 10-minute boat ride will cost you 55 yuan (including the island entrance fee). If you want to find the perfect photo spot resembling the one on the one yuan note, search for "My Heart and Your Heart Pavilion" (我心相印亭).
Baidi Causeway – Broken Bridge (断桥晚霞)
The causeway stretches about 2 kilometers, accessible only by foot or tourist electric vehicle. It tends to get very crowded, especially during sunset. This is also known as the place where Xu Xian met Bai Niangzi in the legend of the White Snake.
Leifeng Pagoda (Tịnh Từ Tự - 净慈寺)
Entrance to Leifeng Pagoda is 40 yuan (optional). A beautiful photo spot is located at the Jingci Temple across from the pagoda. Entrance to Jingci Temple is 10 yuan. The famous photo angle is in front of the Grand Hall of the Great Sage at the top.
Jixian Pavilion (集贤亭)
The lotus pond here is in full bloom, and the sunset views are stunning, though it can get crowded. After sunset, you can head to the In77 shopping district.
Xiling Bridge (西泠桥)
Famous for its towering plane trees and the curve of Gushan Hill offering a direct view of West Lake. Search for 西泠桥(公交站) to find the bus stop.
To reach these locations, simply copy the Chinese names and paste them into Amap (Alipay's map function).
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