Hangzhou, an ancient city of culture and
arts, has long attracted masses to its attractive, suburban-like
center. Nowadays the city is bustling with tour groups and travelers,
while it continues to proclaim its name as one of China's paradises on
earth. Along with the crowds, thankfully, comes major tourism
investment so that today Hangzhou is filled with well kept sights and
a prosperous, friendly populace. The city is rapidly changing into a
high-rise metropolis, but the sights in the southwest of the city and
on the outskirts are all a million imaginary miles from this
modernization.
It is a must for any would be tourists to
the city to visit Hangzhou's famous West
Lake, which is the symbol of the city and crammed full of
interesting sights. Known throughout China as the most beautiful of
lakes, the West Lake is a great place to wander, or boat, around and
can easily take up a day or more of your time. Beyond simply
meandering about, the best trip to be taken here is by boat to the Xiaoying
Island and the Three Pools,which has its own mini lakes and
islands within its confines. In the northwest corner of the lake is Solitary
Island, the largest of its kind, offering you the best view of the
entire lake and on which the Xiling
Seal Society is the place to see Hangzhou's artists at work.
Beyond these two sights there is a vast array of further things to do
here, most impressive being the Huagang
Fish Pool, the Mausoleum
of Yue Fei and the Su
Causeway.
Aside from the lake, probably the most
famous attraction is the Lingyin
Temple, a huge Buddhist sanctuary that takes at least half a day
to see. A little out from the city center is also the Longjing
Tea Plantation, the birth place producing arguably the most
well-known tea in China, and a place covered in hundreds of teabushes.
If you just plan to have a cup of this tea, however, you are better
off heading to the Tiger
Running Spring, one of the nicest parks in Hangzhou which is
filled with teahouses and pavilions.
As one of East China's best tourist
destinations, Hangzhou exerts a magnetic force on people, old and
young, domestic or foreign. Consequently, it is strongly advised that
you go there in autumn or winter, when there are fewer travelers.
