Showing 1-18 of 18 results
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Baochu Pagoda
The Baochu Pagoda, or 'Precious Stone' pagoda, looks out over the northeastern shore of the West Lake. Originally built in the 9th century, its current renovation dates to 1933.
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Baopu Taoist Compound
If you follow the main path along West Lake eastward, you'll come to the yellow-walled Baopu Taoist Compound , named after the Taoist master Ge Hong (AD 284-364), famous for his longevity elixirs. This is an active place of worship, with chanting in the early morning and evening. Behind the monastery is Sunrise Terrace (Chūyáng Tái) with fantastic views of the lake and the sprawling city surrounding it.
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China Academy of Art
Located on the banks of the West Lake, the China Academy of Art was the first of its kind established in China. Founded in 1928, the school teaches painting, design, sculpture and art history to local and international students. There are short-term classes available for those who want to learn traditional Chinese painting. A number of small galleries surround the academy.
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China Silk Museum
Close to the lake is the China Silk Museum. It has good displays of silk samples, and explains (in English) the history and processes of silk production.
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China Tea Museum
The hills south of West Lake are Hángzhōu's most undeveloped area and are a prime spot for walkers, cyclists and green tea connoisseurs. Not far into the hills, you'll begin to see fields of tea bushes planted in undulating rows, the setting for the China Tea Museum - 3.7 hectares of land dedicated to the art, cultivation and tasting of tea.
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Dragon Well Tea Village
You can enjoy one of Hángzhōu's most famous teas at the Dragon Well Tea Village. Tourist bus around Y3 will take you to the museum and the village.
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Gu Hill
Connected to the northern shores of the West Lake by the Bai Causeway is Gu Hill, the largest island in the lake and the location of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Zhèjiāng Shěng Bówùguan), Zhongshan Park (Zhōngshān Gōngyuán) and the Louwailou Restaurant. The island's buildings and gardens were once the site of Emperor Qianlong's 18th-century holiday palace and gardens.
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Huqing Yutang Chinese Medicine Museum
The Huqing Yutang Chinese Medicine Museum is an actual dispensary and clinic. Originally established by the Qing dynasty merchant Hu Xueyan in 1874, the medicine shop and factory retain the typical style of the period.
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Jingci Temple
Across the road from the Leifeng Pagoda is this peaceful Chan (Zen) Jingci Temple, originally built in AD 954 and now fully restored. Inside the temple is an enormous bronze bell - on the eve of the Lunar New Year, the bell is struck 108 times for prosperity.
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Leifeng Pagoda
East along the shore of West Lake is the eye-catching Leifeng Pagoda or 'Thunder Peak Pagoda', which you can ascend for fine views of the lake. The original pagoda, built in 975, was a popular spot to watch the sun set over the lake for centuries, until it collapsed in 1924. During its most recent renovation in 2001, Buddhist scriptures written on silk were found in the foundation, along with other treasures. At the bottom of the pagoda is a museum with English captions.
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Lesser Yingzhou Island
The smaller island in the lake is Lesser Yingzhou Island where you can look over at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Sāntán Yìnyuè), three small towers in the water on the south side of the island; each has five holes that release shafts of candlelight on the night of the mid-autumn festival. From Lesser Yingzhou Island, you can look over to Red Carp Pond (Huāgang Guānyú), home to a few thousand red carp.
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Lingyin Temple
The Lingyin Temple roughly translated as 'Temple of the Soul's Retreat', is one of Hángzhōu's chief attractions. It was built in AD 326 and, due to war and calamity, has been destroyed and restored no fewer than 16 times.
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Liulang Wenying Park
Liulang Wenying Park was once an imperial garden during the Song dynasty. Nowadays, the park is famous for its willow trees and is the site of the Lunar Festival.
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Mausoleum of General Yue Fei
General Yue Fei (1103-42), commander of the southern Song armies, is a fabled figure in literature, opera and movies. During the 12th century, the general led a series of successful battles against Jurchen invaders from the north. Despite his initial successes, he was recalled to the Song court, where he was executed, along with his son, after being deceived by the treacherous prime minister Qin Hui. In 1163, Song emperor Gao Zong exonerated Yue Fei and had his corpse reburied at the present site.
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Six Harmonies Pagoda
Three kilometres southwest of the lake, an enormous rail-and-road bridge spans the Qiántáng River. Close by is the 60m-high octagonal Six Harmonies Pagoda, first built in AD 960. The pagoda also served as a lighthouse, and was supposed to have magical power to halt the 20ft-high tidal bore which thunders up Qiántáng River every autumn. Behind the pagoda stretches a charming walk, through terraces dotted with sculptures, bells, shrines and inscriptions.
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Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum
The Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum was once a production site for the famed porcelain and ceramics of the Southern Song dynasty. You can visit the remains of the kiln, where there are some exhibits of ancient kiln tools and equipment. There's also a showroom of Song ceramics and explanations in English that outline the history of ceramic ware in China. You can even try your hand at making some treasures of your own for a nominal fee (around Y20 -50).
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West Lake
There are 36 lakes in China called West Lake, but this one is by far the most famous. Indeed this is the West Lake from which all others take their name. Originally a lagoon adjoining the Qiántáng River, the lake didn't come into existence until the 8th century, when the governor of Hángzhōu had the marshy expanse dredged. As time passed, the lake's splendour was gradually cultivated: gardens were planted, pagodas built, and causeways and islands were constructed from dredged silt.
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Yellow Dragon Cave Park
West of the mausoleum, a path leads upwards above the lake, eventually reaching the secluded mountainside Yellow Dragon Cave Park , tucked deep into the hills and surrounded by bamboo, ponds and teahouses. At the park summit you'll see a small spring with the stone head of a dragon and a stele nearby with an inscription that reads, 'Where there are dragons, there are spirits'.
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Showing 1-18 of 18 results
