West Lake Loop
A World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2011): an urban lake with misty hills on three sides and the city on the fourth, dredged in succession by two of its governors, Bai Juyi and Su Dongpo; Su Shi's verse "wishing to compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Shi" made it a byword for Eastern aesthetics
Visitor info
- Opening hours
- Open all day
- Ticket
- Free
Price is indicative — final quote on inquiry.
A World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2011): an urban lake with misty hills on three sides and the city on the fourth, dredged in succession by two of its governors, Bai Juyi and Su Dongpo; Su Shi's verse "wishing to compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Shi" made it a byword for Eastern aesthetics. The Ten Scenes of West Lake (Spring Dawn at Su Causeway / Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge / Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake / Sunset Glow at Leifeng Pagoda / Three Pools Mirroring the Moon / Orioles Singing in the Willows / Viewing Fish at Flower Pond / Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard / Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds / Evening Bell at Nanping Hill) are spread around the lake, linked by walking paths and electric sightseeing carts; free and open all day, a short walk from Metro Line 1, Longxiangqiao or Fengqi Station; the loop is about 12 km, best covered in sections by bike or on foot — morning mist and sunset glow are the most stunning times.
Getting there: Metro Line 1, Longxiangqiao / Fengqi Station
Photos
More in Hangzhou
- Xixi National Wetland
Boat maze of reeds and water villages west of the city.
- West Lake
UNESCO lake of pagodas, causeways and arched bridges; boat or bike the shoreline.
- Lingyin Temple
Buddhist temple founded 326 AD amid grottoes of Song-era rock carvings.
- Longjing Tea Village
Terraced Dragon Well tea fields; tastings at family farms.
- Su Causeway & Bai Causeway
Su Causeway, 2.8 km long, was built from dredged silt when Su Shi dredged West Lake; six bridges span the lake, with peach trees and willows lining both banks—"Misty Willows over Six Bridges" is the top spring scene
- Leifeng Pagoda
The 2002 rebuilt pagoda on the ruins of the old tower that collapsed in 1924 (traditionally the "Huangfei Pagoda" built by a king of Wuyue): a steel structure shelters the original pagoda site, an elevator inside runs straight to the top floor for panoramic West Lake views, and the gilt silver Ashoka stupa unearthed from the underground palace is a treasure of Buddhist art