When To Visit Hangzhou
April to October is the best time to plan a trip to Hangzhou as the city becomes lush with beautiful trees and flowers.
Regardless of weather, one can enjoy a trip to this haven, as all the weathers showcase different scenery here.
During spring, you should be ready for highly variable weather with frequent rain and alternating cold and warmth.
Lovely peach flower blossoms make the months of March and April awesome for a holiday.
Incredible Things to do in Hangzhou
Here is the list of the topmost attractions and things to do in Hangzhou that will fill your China trip with great deal of enthusiasm and fun.
Lingyin Temple
When you hire the services of any local guide, he will definitely lead you towards this excellent temple.
Come prepared, because, in order to purchase a joss stick for praying to the deities of this small temple, you will have to pay extra.
The carving of deities on the rock leads you towards the Lingyin Temple itself.
There is nothing very spectacular to see in the temple but statues of the Guan Yin and Buddha are huge enough to catch your attention and leave you amazed.
Being one of the must see places in Hangzhou, this special destination can be combined with a visit to the lovely botanical gardens.
The only thing you should keep in mind is to see the park first, otherwise you will have to pay again to see the temple once more.
Despite not being symbolic or exceptional, the temple is worth visiting for its beautifully carved statue of the Buddha into the rocks.
You will find peace and calmness in this temple but go in the morning if you want to avoid the huge crowds.
Don’t forget to bring some fresh flowers with you.
It will be an excellent tour for you to learn about Luo Han Tang and to see more than 500 man sized statues under a single roof.
What else to do in Hangzhou?
Prince Bay Park
Beautiful scenery gives rise to the huge number of people who frolic in this park.
Adorned with elegant flowers and verdant trees, this tranquil park will become a part of your memories forever.
People who wish to relax and refresh will love this place to enjoy their time of leisure.
Here you will get the chance to climb up the hills and snap the most panoramic views of your China trip.
Despite being a small park, this place is well organized and arranged to offer a breath of relaxation to travelers.
Situated across the road from the West Lake, the Prince Bay Park is greatly loved for the tulip exhibition.
Stretched all the way around an attractive lake, this garden area is not suitable for strolling due to its knobby cobblestones.
Walking hand in hand with your partner here makes your trip more romantic.
In short, this place is a bay of flowers that will remind you of a floral dreamland.
If you are able to, plan a visit in April to see the spectacular tulip exhibition.
More stuff to do in Hangzhou
West Lake (Xi Hu)
This cold and clean lake has made the city one of the most luxurious and most visited places in the world.
Whether you want to have an incredible midday scene there or you are willing to secure a beautiful West Lake Show at night, you will find this place entirely surrounded by natural elegance that is great for photo shoots that you will cherish.
Catch a view of a landscape, museum, temple, or garden – your choice, they are all great.
You may even like to visit this lake more than twice during your trip to Hangzhou.
You can enjoy boating if you desire to do so.
One of the important things you should keep in mind while visiting this beautiful lake is to carry mosquito repellent with you as there are many of them around the lake.
Outside of the lake, hotels, villages, and a silk and pearl factory are also nearby.
Don’t forget to snap a sunset view when you visit West Lake.
The historical importance and natural elegance are the two main reasons why people adore this place.
A few travel tips for Hangzhou
Gu Shan (Solitary Hill)
Gu Shan or Solitary Hill is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city as it is an excellent cultural, scenic zone.
Being utilized as the center of culture, this heritage site is situated near the Zhejiang Museum.
This is a beneficial point for you as you can enjoy views of two different sites along the same route.
Various heritage and cultural sites make this site a favorite of travelers.
Whether you are interested in collecting cultural stories and traditions affiliated with the place or you want to visit China on a historical tour, Gu Shan offers you perfect opportunity.
Natives are available to share many glorious stories connected to the area.
The first stop should be the Zhejiang Museum.
It exhibits outstanding fashion and art from the West Lake art gallery and is the best place to fill your desire for beautiful art pieces.
The Sun Yat-Sen Park is a historical place, and it was once the provisional palace of the Qing Dynasty’s Emperor.
The fascinating calligraphy by ancient poets here offers a glimpse of the glorious Chinese culture.
The 40 meter high hill is definitely a beautiful place to see and spend a joyous holiday.
Xixi Wetland Park
Admired for its natural elegance and quiet environment, Xixi Wetland Park has secured a position in the list of attractions to see in Hangzhou.
Going through Touts towards the visitor center, you will have to buy expensive tickets to explore this amazing park.
There are lots of exciting things to do here that will refresh your mind such as boating, strolling, snapping photos of old Chinese houses and observing the wildlife.
You won’t want to miss the chance of boating on traditional Chinese-styled oar boats during which you can catch impressive views to the local wildlife – such as ducks, storks, and even snakes.
If you want to rediscover romance in your relationship, don’t forget to visit with your partner.
You can both enjoy dinner on the boat, but remember that it can take about 1.5 hours for dinner to be delivered and you will be charged by the hour.
So, plan your boating trip as per your budget and time.
The Xixi Wetland Park offers you the chance to discover peace and joy in China.
Fun things to do in Hangzhou
Su Causeway
Having the most awesome view of the lake, the Su Causeway offers you a great experience.
What makes this place charming is the line of trees, the beautiful natural environment, the easy to walk and bike on paths, lots of shops selling souvenirs, gardens with lush of greenery and the beautiful architecture of its bridge.
A 3km walking trail makes Su Causeway an ideal tourist spot all the way till evening.
Along the fertile shores of the East China Sea, the West Lake is nothing less than a pearl.
Drawing attention of tourists for years, this path offers you the chance to explore the lake.
You will be able to enjoy views that are generally missed by visitors who don’t choose to travel through the Su Causeway path.
You can choose the bus or the subway as your means of transportation to see the tree-lined lakeside path.
If you don’t want to face too much of a crowd, find time for a morning walk or jogging when this place is not as crowded.
While enjoying the scenery on both sides through the Causeway, you will not want to miss an opportunity to take tons of great pictures.
Places to see in Hangzhou
Fei Lai Feng
Bearing hundreds of stone statues of the Buddha, dated from the 10th to the 14th century, Fei Lai Feng is a legendary peak.
What will capture your attention here is the excellent carving on the mountains.
The time you spend here will inspire you as you find yourself getting closer to the teachings and legend of the Buddha.
Geologically, the mountain peaks here have been formed from limestone distinguishing it from other local mountains.
Its caves are also secluded and quiet.
You will not be able to resist the attraction of elegant carvings from the Ming dynasty.
The rock carving statues line the famous Lingyin Temple.
Overall, the place has multiple small niches and crannies that make you feel curious and not want to miss anything.
Even a slightest bit of sunlight sneaking through its jagged crevices can make that particular moment unforgettable.
The natural setting around several Buddha statues from different time periods creates a mesmerizing view.
What else to see in Hangzhou
Bai Causeway
Another attractive causeway of West Lake is the Bai Causeway, which also offers an excellent opportunity for walking or riding.
Enjoying a trip through Bai Causeway is one of the best things you can do during your Hangzhou trip.
Being shaded and quiet, this lake causeway offers incredible views not only to see but also to photograph.
It was built during the Tang Dynasty and showcases a lovely line of trees, fabulous scenery, and sweeping willows.
Connecting the broken bridge and Jindai Bridge together, this special causeway adds lots of pleasure to travelers’ treasure trove of memories.
The Causeway becomes crowded with courting couples during early evening and late afternoons in summers.
One of the most lovable points about this place is the Longjing tea village, representing the local Chinese culture.
Spending a pleasant sunny weekend day exploring the West Lake through this Causeway, is a fantastic experience.
Even while walking through the same site at night, or in the rain, you’ll have a wonderful time.
You can sometimes see people dancing and singing on the broken bridge.
Whether you enjoy boat cruising or catching lovely views of these exciting scenes from afar, the place will make you feel good and relaxed while in Hangzhou.
Places to go in Hangzhou
Hangzhou Huanglong Dong Yuanyuan Folk Park
Located near the West Lake in the downtown area, the Hangzhou Huanglong dong Yuanyuan Folk Park is one place you should not miss, especially in summer.
Down to the hills, this exclusive area has so many attractions to amuse travelers.
On the basis of a folktale, this place has become a reputed Daoism temple in the city.
Recently, it has been developed as a folk park with the catchy theme of fate pulling the attention of tourists.
Shaoxing Opera performance, a unique show performed in this park every morning, is loved by local opera lovers.
Another attraction here is the matchmaker temple where people pray and draw divination sticks with the wish of getting a sound relationship in the future.
You will have to pay 10 Yuan for all of this adventure.
Single people like to visit this place to pray for marriage and a happy marital life.
Presenting magical colors in the Hangzhou Huanglong Cave, on the other side of the park, you will find a ballroom where young and old people enjoy listening to opera and dancing together.
Overall, this park offers lots of fun for everyone.
Hangzhou Botanical Garden
People who plan their China trip looking to discover beautiful flower beds, lily-filled ponds, and shady trees should not forget to add the Hangzhou Botanical Garden to their schedule.
Awesome lotus plants and lily pads grown in ponds make this place fabulous.
Maple trees, Magnolia trees, and the extensive flowering plants there are ready to welcome you to a replenishing walk.
This exotic place is also a research institute where you will enjoy identifying the plants and exploring the garden’s history – if you so desire.
Hire the services of a guide to highlight individual plants for you.
Representation of more than 50k specimens in this garden makes it unique and among the world’s best botanical gardens.
You can see famous plants from different countries such as olives, redwood, Ephraim and flowering peach, for only 10 RMB.
The fresh air in the garden helps ease your mind and soul.
This heavily wooded garden has become a premium place for dating and family trips.
You can also barbecue.
Guo’s Garden
This ancient and private garden in Hangzhou features traditional Chinese gardens.
When visiting, your will quickly learn that a conventional garden in China includes flowers, pavilions, water and rocks arranged in an attractive way.
The specialty of Guo’s Garden is that you will find totally different and innovative views of this garden in every other step.
You will have a marvelous view of the West Lake from here also.
This classic garden is known among travelers for its various flower shows that are held here from time to time.
Quiet environment, ancient architecture, scenic beauty and attractive bridges together make this place worth visiting.
Hangzhou Songcheng
A little far from the central region of the city, Hangzhou Songcheng is an entertainment zone for travelers.
If you are with your family or a group of friends, you can buy a ‘one for all’ ticket that includes entrance fee and performances.
You will find an amusement park, various kinds of street food, stalls for snacks and souvenir and eye catchy stage performances.
The colossal stage for art performance is suitable for lovely design, costumes and ornaments, but the uncomfortable seats may disappoint you.
This cultural amusement park and village in China offers you the perfect scenario to learn more about the Chinese culture.
This place is nothing less than a kind of living museum where you will enjoy a delicious dinner and a well-organized amusing show.
Hangzhou is a heavenly elegant city in China.
You should definitely plan a visit to this place to learn more about the traditional Chinese Culture.
