The Lingyin Temple (Língyǐn Sì, 灵隐寺), which literally means "where the divine rest in seclusion," has long been considered one of the most important Zen Buddhist (Chán in Chinese, 禪) temples in China. Established in 326 AD, Lingyin is located at Feilai Feng, making it one of Hangzhou's most significant and popular attractions. Founded by a legendary Indian monk known as Huili, Lingyin is lined with various limestone sculptures and smaller shrines, including Ligong Pagoda (Lǐgōng Tǎ, 理公塔), where Huili's ashes are buried, and the Hall of the Heavenly King (Tiānwáng Diàn, 天王殿). In its heyday, the temple featured nine towers, 18 pavilions, 72 halls and housed some 3,000 monks, although it has been destroyed and rebuilt 16 times and is now comprised of structures dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Entrance requires purchasing a ticket to both... more >>

About 20 minutes north of the Qiantang River (Qiántáng Jiāng, 钱塘江) from Liuhe Pagoda, the Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies (Jiǔ Xī Shíbā Jiàn, 九溪十八涧) make for a lovely stroll or bike ride through attractive countryside. Heading north from the river, the main path passes through paddies and tea terraces, along pleasant streams and, ultimately, to a small lagoon, a teahouse and the Longjing Tea Plantations further into the hills, terminating at Longjing Village (Lóngjǐng Cūn, 龙井村). You can also head south from the village toward the river. Give yourself at least three or four hours to explore the creeks and gullies by foot or make it part of a larger Hangzhou bicycle ride. If you've had your fill of West Lake, the creeks and gullies make for a nice break from the crowds and go well with a visit to either Liuhe Pagoda or the Tea Museum. The Nine Cr... more >>

The Chinese, as a culture, love to rank, number and list things at least as much as a bunch of American sports fans or music geeks. Hence, one doesn't merely visit a famed attraction and see it, as it were, for oneself; rather one follows in the footsteps of millions who went before, and one heeds the collective touristic wisdom that has arisen from many centuries of group tours, list-making, phrase-coining and guide book writing. (If one doesn't, one just may be a barbarian.) Hence, when you visit Hangzhou's West Lake (Xi Hu), you should know that there are a semi-official Ten Views of West Lake (actually, they're rather official, each being marked by a stele inscribed with four characters written in the calligraphy of the Qianlong Emperor, who ruled Qing China from 1735-1796 and kept a holiday palace on the lake). The Su Causeway (Sū Dī, 苏堤) is at the very top of the list. If yo... more >>

Solitary Hill (Gū Shān, 孤山), or Solitary Island, sits in the northwest corner of West Lake (Xi Hu), linked to the mainland by the Bai Causeway (Bái Dī, 白堤). The largest island on the lake and a lovely place to wander and explore, Solitary Hill affords visitors fine lake views and a number of significant attractions. For anyone interested in Chinese history, symbolism or legend, the island is crowded with fascinating monuments and sites. For those simply after a pleasant day outdoors amidst beautiful scenery, Solitary Hill fits the bill nicely. On the north side of the island are Wenlan Pavilion (Wénlán Gé, 文澜阁), Zhongshan Park (中山公园 Zhōngshān Gōngyuán) and the Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Zhèjiāngshěng Bówùguǎn, 浙江省博物馆), housed in part of an old imperial palace. On the west side the Xiling Seal Society sits atop a scenic hill.... more >>

Liùhé Tǎ (六和塔), or "Six Harmonies Pagoda," stands south of West Lake, aside the Qiantang River. The 60 m (196 ft) tall pagoda was built during the Song Dynasty in part to gain the favor and assistance of Heaven in warding off floods and in moderating the Qiantang River's unique tidal bore, when a massive wall of water rushes upstream under optimal lunar conditions. The Qiantang's tidal bore is the world's largest, rising up to 9 meters (30 ft) and attaining speeds up to 40 km per hour (25 mph). If you happen to be in Hangzhou during the autumn equinox and Mid-Autumn Festival the temple is a popular spot from which to witness this rare phenomenon. Otherwise, the bore occurs twice monthly at the time of the highest tides. Divinely assisted flood control aside (or Dragon King control, as popular lore would have it), the pagoda has traditionally served as a ligh... more >>

The Xiling Seal Society (Xīlíng Yìnshè, 西泠印社) is a charming institution dedicated to the study, preservation and creation of classical Chinese inscriptions, printmaking and painting. Located in West Lake on Solitary Hill island just opposite Zhongshan Park (Zhōngshān Gōngyuán, 中山公园), the Society boasts a history of over 1,900 years. On a rising slope, the Xilin Seal Society grounds are covered in beautiful gardens, rockeries, and sculpture and provide a great place to explore or just relax. The Society has produced numerous books on classical Chinese artforms. Today, you can see the writers and artists at work and visit a small shop selling examples of their efforts. Zhejiang guide | Hangzhou guide | Hangzhou attractions Hangzhou flights | Hangzhou hotels | Hangzhou tours & activities Hangzhou on the China Travel Blog more >>

Running Tiger Dream Spring is also referred to in English as Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, Tiger Running Spring, or Tiger Spring, each name attempting to properly translate its Chinese name (Hǔ Páo Mèng Guán, 虎跑梦泉) which is literally "tiger run dream spring." Seeping through quartzite, a rock very resistant to weathering, the water is considered to be very pure and thus held up alongside Dragon Well (Longjing) water as ideal water for making tea. While the source of the spring is protected to prevent contamination, the waters flow into a small stream through gardens where locals line up to fill jugs full of the pure, sweet water. Travelers not looking to lug heavy water jugs around for the rest of their trip can try the water with locally grown tea at a local teahouse. According to legend, during the Tang Dynasty Zen (Chán, 禅) Buddhist master... more >>

Overview A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011, Hangzhou's premier tourist attraction, West Lake (Xīhú, 西湖) and its surrounding gardens, hills, rockeries, temples, pagodas and parks have for centuries inspired poets, officials and tourists with their beauty. This beauty pulls an estimated 12 million domestic tourists and half a million foreign tourists annually making it—and, consequentially, Hangzhou—one of China's most tourist-heavy locales.   The lake covers a sizeable area on the southwestern edge of the city and is dotted with a number of islands, most of which are reachable only by boat, which can be hired along the shore. The largest island, Solitary Island, was once an imperial getaway but is now connected to shore by the Xiling Bridge (Xilíng Qiáo, 西泠桥) and scenic Bai Causeway (Bái dī, 白堤). Cutting through the... more >>

The Mausoleum of General Yue Fei (Yuè Miào, 岳庙) is one of Hangzhou's most popular attractions among Chinese tourists, who view Yue as a patriotic hero. The historical Yue Fei lived in Southern Song Dynasty China during the 12th century AD, at a time when China was split between the ethnically Han Song and the rival Jin Dynasty, ruled by ethnic Jurchens from the north. The Jin had conquered the north of China, pushing the Song out of their capital Kaifeng and taking the Emperor Qinzong captive. Yue fought the Jin valiantly, but was betrayed by corrupt officials who had him imprisoned and executed as part of a plot to sign a peace treaty with the Jin that would prevent the return of the captured Qinzong, allowing the new Song emperor, Gaozong, to remain in power in the south. Yue Fei certainly had many virtues and talents, but the fantastic tales of feats and abilities... more >>

Hangzhou is famous for three things: its water, its fertile and picturesque countryside, and ancient tradition. All three combine in a perfectly brewed cup of Longjing tea (Lóngjǐng chá, 龙井茶). Ideally made with water straight from the Dragon Well (Lóngjǐng, 龙井) and leaves picked from the terraces of the Longjing Tea Plantation (Lóngjǐng Wèn Chá, 龙井问茶), a cup of this delicate green tea connects you with some two thousand years of history, going back to the second century AD when Dragon Well water was discovered and combined with green tea leaves, lightly fried to stop the oxidation process and preserve the best of their flavor and nutrients. The spring water's mineral content and cold temperature make it heavier than rain water so that when rain falls, it sits on top of the spring water, creating swirling patterns reminiscent of the image ... more >>