[2025 Hangzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Bazi Bridge (Updated Jun)

As a city that combines natural beauty and cultural heritage, Hangzhou offers much more than popular attractions like West Lake and Lingyin Temple. There are many hidden gems beloved by locals. Here's a travel guide that blends local atmosphere with cultural depth, covering ancient towns, alleyways, secret tea mountains, and water experiences to help you avoid crowds and experience authentic Hangzhou charm. 1. Tangqi Ancient Town: Free Watertown for Slow-Paced Enjoyment • Features: Few tourists, beautiful scenery, preserving the authentic Jiangnan watertown style, ideal for visitors who enjoy tranquility. • Must-visit spots: • Guangji Bridge: A Ming Dynasty seven-arch stone bridge, gorgeous for photos at sunset. • Shuibei Street: Ming and Qing dynasty ancient street with traditional teahouses, handicraft shops, and the Grand Canal Granary Museum. • Rowing boat tour on the Grand Canal (about 50 yuan/person), experience the poetic feeling of "sailing on emerald waves." • Food: Rice flour meat balls, fine sand lamb tail (recommended at "Century Huichang"). • Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Linping Station, then bus 486; or about 40 minutes by car. 2. Dama Lane: Old Hangzhou's Vibrant Atmosphere • Features: A bustling alley where locals shop for New Year goods, full of everyday life ambiance. • Experiences: • Taste scallion pancake wraps, vegetarian roast goose, and marinated duck (Ge Ji Sauce Shop's duck is very popular). • Visit sugarcane stalls and white-cut lamb shops to feel the traditional New Year atmosphere. • Nearby: Try the pan-fried dumplings at the original University Road Dumpling Shop on Zhongshan South Road, worth waiting in line for. 3. Li Jilong Mountain: Poetic Life in the Longjing Tea Mountains • Features: A lesser-known tea village, avoiding Dragon Well Village crowds while experiencing tea farmers' life. • Activities: • Pick tea leaves around Qingming Festival and taste freshly roasted West Lake Longjing tea. • Stroll through tea gardens and visit the China National Tea Museum. • Recommended restaurants: Green Tea Restaurant, Green Peach Restaurant (creative Hangzhou cuisine). • Accommodation: Lucha Inn or Private Mountain Residence, enjoy slow mountain living. 4. Water Bus Line 7: Unlock Jiangnan Watertown Views for Just 3 Yuan • Features: Ride a traditional boat through East River, admiring ancient bridges and local scenery. • Route: Meihua Monument to Bazi Bridge (45 minutes total, hourly departures). • Highlights along the way: • Wuliu Lane: Southern Song Dynasty historical district, great for photos and exploring shops. • East River ancient bridges: Such as Bazi Bridge and Baoshan Bridge, each with its own history. • Tip: Boats limited to 8 people, recommended to avoid peak hours when queuing. 5. Lingfeng Plum Viewing & Yunqi Bamboo Path: Nature and Zen • Lingfeng Plum Viewing (winter to early spring): Locals' secret spot for plum blossoms, less crowded than Gushan. • Yunqi Bamboo Path: Bamboo forest sanctuary, filming location for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," perfect for rainy day walks. Nini🌟 Tips: • Transportation: Areas around West Lake get congested; metro plus shared bikes recommended. • Accommodation: Qingzhiwu homestay area is artistic and fresh, or choose near Xixi Wetland (like Banyan Tree). • Food: Try Pian'er Chuan, Dongpo Pork, Longjing Shrimp at chain restaurants like Nongtang Li or Green Tea. This guide combines ancient towns, local neighborhoods, tea mountains, and water experiences, perfect for travelers wanting to experience Hangzhou deeply. To further customize your itinerary, consider seasonal adjustments (like loquat picking in May or Xixi Persimmon Festival in autumn).

Unlock a Wuliuxiang Water Bus Journey in Hangzhou for Just 3 Yuan and Encounter Jiangnan Romance In Hangzhou, for just 3 yuan, you can take a water bus and leisurely navigate through the old town, immersing yourself in the unique charm of Jiangnan's water towns. When spring arrives at the historic Wuliuxiang district, the willows sway gently and flowers bloom brilliantly, gradually unfolding a stunning Jiangnan painting. Today, follow me to unlock the poetry and romance of Jiangnan with a 3-yuan water bus ride! The Water Bus Line 7 starts at Meihuabei Station (Ferry Station) and ends at Baziqiao, requiring only a 3-yuan ticket for the entire journey, with breathtaking scenery along the way. Sitting on the boat as it moves forward, it feels as if you're truly entering Jiangnan. Walking through Wuliuxiang is like stepping into the folds of history, with surprises at every turn. Along the path, azaleas bloom competitively with vibrant colors; unexpectedly, you might encounter delicate small orchids. Historical buildings are arranged in a staggered yet harmonious pattern. Here, the brilliance of flowers collides with the simplicity of paper boxes, creating a unique poetic romance. Turn into the alley, and you'll find elegant Zhejiang-style residences. When morning light falls on the bluestone slabs, time seems to slow down, reminiscent of the beautiful bygone days described in Mu Xin's poem "Slowness of the Past." In Wuliuxiang, floral affairs intertwine with culinary delights. Zhao Baomei Pastry Shop is a renowned establishment in Hangzhou, located right next to Wuliuxiang. Their pan-fried buns are considered exceptional. Waiting in line here to taste a steaming hot pan-fried bun allows you to experience the most authentic traditional flavor. If you get tired from walking, head to Doufuer Bridge and find a riverside café to sit down. Order a latte sprinkled with osmanthus, watch the weeping willows swaying by the river, and enjoy a leisurely moment of relaxation. It's worth noting that Water Bus Line 7 is quite popular and usually requires waiting in line. To avoid long waits, it's recommended to arrive early in the morning to begin this wonderful Jiangnan water journey!

Bazi Bridge was built in the Song Dynasty. It spans the Donghe River, and the bridge plaque is inscribed with the words "Donghe First Bridge", so it is called "Donghe First Bridge". The name of the bridge, Bazi, comes from the fact that there was originally a Genshan Water Gate next to the bridge, and a dam was built on the water gate. The water of the Donghe River converged with the Grand Canal through this rolling dam. Due to the huge difference in water level between the Donghe River and the Grand Canal, ships used to have to cross the dam to enter the Donghe River from the canal or to leave the canal from the Donghe River. Winches were installed at both ends of the dam, and the large iron hooks on the winches hooked the bow of the ship. The winches were operated by a dedicated person, and the boatmen pushed hard on both sides and the stern of the ship to let the ship pass the dam and enter the river smoothly. The stone sculpture "Soul of the Canal" next to the ancient Genshan Gate stele "tells" the story of ships entering and leaving the two rivers and "crossing the dam". It is said that this bridge was built by Lu Ban, and a pavilion was built on the bridge, named Phoenix Pavilion. The pavilion has eight pillars and double eaves, and is shaped like a silk car. Legend has it that a phoenix came to nest, bringing beauty and shade to the place. A poem says: "The immortal axe of the Ban Gate is tested for its spirituality, and the bridge is built in accordance with the years. It is said that Zhang Guolao came to rest at the Phoenix Pavilion riding a donkey." The Shunying Bridge mentioned in the poem is the old name of Bazi Bridge. The Qing Dynasty poet Yao Siqin teased in "Donghe Boat Song · Sailing on Yanghu Lake": "Egrets fly on Egret Beach, and ducks return to the duck house by the bridge. I live by the Phoenix Pavilion, and I have never seen a phoenix fly." Lu Ban, Zhang Guolao, phoenixes, and immortal axes all come from legends. Although they are not enough to be relied upon, they are always talked about with great interest. A key cultural relic protection unit in Hangzhou.

It is a sunny early autumn day with pleasant temperature. Taking Hangzhou Water Bus Line 7 is definitely a great value. Today, the boat needed to be repaired temporarily, and I was lucky enough to get on an 8-person pleasure boat, not the usual 24-seat medium-sized boat🚢. There are lush trees along the coast, many branches are very close to the boat, and some willow branches are even within reach. Occasionally, you can see green herons in the trees, gazing quietly ahead. You will often be surprised if you look for them along the way. There are also water birds in the water, such as egrets, swimming or walking in the shallows. They happened to encounter a young bird that swam alone, dived into the water for a while and then emerged from the water, which was very interesting. There are also elders on the shore who are exercising 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️ or singing 🎤 to the music 🎶, and the place is full of vitality. This route lasts about 40 minutes between Bazi Bridge and Meihuabei, running north-south along the Donghe River, crossing bridges of various sizes, shapes, and new and old. It is recommended to go to the starting pier early to wait according to the timetable (the station has the stop information of this line, and the WeChat public account "Water Bus" is even more convenient, where you can check all the departure times of Lines 1, 2, 3, and 7). Especially when the boat is small like today, you will most likely have to wait for the next one. If no one gets off the boat along the way, it will not dock, which will easily prolong the waiting time and affect the itinerary.

Took the water bus and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Hangzhou from a different angle, known as 'Paradise on Earth'. The water bus Line 7 (Dam Bridge Station - Plum Blossom Stele Station) takes about 50 minutes. It follows a branch of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The boat isn't very fast, and at times it's even slower than pedestrians walking along the canal, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the scenery. Sometimes a gentle breeze blows by, which is quite lovely. If you take the water bus from 'Dam Bridge' to 'Plum Blossom Stele', you can also visit the 'Wu Liu Lane Historical District' to experience the local life of Hangzhou. This area used to be inhabited by officials and nobles, and later became the residence of commoners, small craftsmen, and traders. There are many local Hangzhou delicacies and popular cafes, etc. Tour route - Dam Bridge - Plum Blossom Stele - Wu Liu Lane - Hefang Street. It's best to wait at the 'Dam Bridge' station around 6:30 in the morning. The water bus runs hourly and can only accommodate 7 people at a time, including children. So if you don't want to wait too long, it's best to go early in the morning, otherwise, you might end up waiting for at least an hour and a half. You can rent an entire boat for about five hundred for two people, for an hour and a half, which includes a set of tea and snacks. If more than two people want to charter the boat, an additional hundred is charged for each extra person.

I’ve been to Hangzhou so many times This is my first time taking the most beautiful water bus line 7 in Hangzhou🚤 There is really not much scenery, there are willow trees, small bridges, and clear water. It is really a real-life version of the Wizard of Oz🍃 👇 There are two types of boats on Line 7 (you can choose a boat with 8 people or 24 people). If you want to experience the feeling of a West Lake cruise, choose the 8-person boat, but you will probably have to wait for more than an hour! 🕐 Duration: about 40 minutes 🎟 Cost: 3r, just swipe the Hangzhou bus card/citizen card on your mobile phone after boarding the boat 👉You can choose the boat dock: Meihuabei/Baziqiao ①Baziqiao Pier Location: No. 9639 Jianguo North Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou (there will be more people queuing here, usually 1-2 hours) ②Meihuabei Pier Location: Wuliu Lane Historic District, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City (there are relatively few people here!!) 📍Just navigate and locate Bazi Bridge or Plum Blossom Monument 🍃Round trip route: Bazi Bridge - Baoshan Bridge - Guang'an New Bridge - Chaoming Temple Lane - Caishiqiao - Kui Lane - Zhejiang Second Hospital - Chengzhan Railway Station - Plum Blossom Monument 🕐 Time: Upbound: Meihuabei Station-Baziqiao Station: 08:40-17:00 Downbound: Baziqiao Station-Meihuabei Station: 07:40-18:00! The boat departs every 40 minutes, and it is said that the frequency will increase during holidays. ▪️ ✓We waited for about 20 minutes to take the big boat. Although the river water was a bit smelly, it didn’t affect our mood~ We will take a small boat next time if we have the opportunity