West Lake is undoubtedly the epitome of Hangzhou’s beauty, with the renowned ‘Top Ten West Lake Scenes’ encircling the lake, where nature and culture complement each other, forming the core area of travel in Hangzhou. There is no need to be obsessed with visiting every single scenic spot; instead, spend half a day or a full day wandering by the lake, and no matter how you explore, it will leave you in high spirits.
An Overview of West Lake: Visiting West Lake can be done by walking, taking a cruise, riding an electric cart, or by driving or cycling. Among these, the electric cart is convenient and effortless, with tour carts that stop on request around West Lake, following a route that circles the lake; cycling along the lake is both romantic and leisurely, with several public bicycle rental points along the lakeshore; for a boat tour, there are nearly ten docks by the lake with various types of boats and routes. It is highly recommended to take a boat to the Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon in the center of the lake, and enjoy the panoramic views of West Lake from the boat. Alternatively, you can hire a manual rowing boat by the lake, where the boatman will row you around the lake, offering a more flexible experience.
Northern Shore Scenery: The north shore of West Lake hosts a concentration of attractions, usually starting from the Broken Bridge in the northeast corner and heading west to Yue Fei Temple. You can walk along the Bai Causeway all the way to the solitary hill, visiting cultural landmarks such as the Xiling Seal Society, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, China Academy of Sealing Arts, and Fanghe Pavilion. Enjoy the authentic West Lake vinegar fish at the famous Lou Wai Lou restaurant, then head down from Xiling Bridge to Yue Fei Temple and the Qu Yuan Wind and Lotus. On a hot summer day, it is recommended to stroll along the Beishan Road, seeking shade under the dense tree canopy and observing the curve of the Broken Bridge on the Bai Causeway and the swaying willows. There are numerous entrances along the way leading to the Bao Shu Mountain, where you can climb for a view and descend to Yue Fei Temple. There are many small shops on Yue Wang Square where you can dine, and the evening performance of ‘Impression West Lake’ is also worth watching.
If time and energy permit, you can also take the Su Causeway from here and enjoy a panoramic view of West Lake on foot.
Southeast Coast (Lakeside – Nanshan Road): Another area with concentrated attractions is the southeast coast along Lakeside Road to Nanshan Road. Lakeside Road is at the junction of Hangzhou city and the West Lake scenic area, offering views of West Lake and docks for lake cruises, as well as the iconic music fountain. The advantage of Lakeside Road is its quick access from the scenic area to the city center’s business district, making it suitable for short stays for those with a tight schedule. Heading south from Lakeside Road along Nanshan Road, you can visit attractions such as Liu Yang Wen Ying, Chang Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda, Nanping Evening Bell, and Hua Gang Guan Yu. The distances between adjacent attractions are not far, allowing for easy walking, and tour buses and public transport are also convenient, making it possible to plan a day to visit a few according to your preferences. Among them, Leifeng Pagoda and Nanping Evening Bell can be arranged for the evening; listening to the bell at Jingci Temple and overlooking the West Lake night view from Leifeng Pagoda are both highly recommended experiences.
Opening Hours: Open all day, every day from January 1st to December 31st.
Service Facilities: Parking: [Hangzhou West Lake Parking], reference price: ¥10/hour; address: West Lake Scenic Area Parking; capacity: 50 spaces.
Transportation within the park: reference price: charged; address: on-demand pick-up along the lakeside circuit.
Restrooms: There are multiple restrooms within the scenic area, with prominent signs near the ticket hall and the scenic area entrance.
Nursing Rooms: Address: Tourist Center
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