West Lake(West Lake Scenic Area, West Lake Cultural Landscape)

West Lake is undoubtedly the epitome of Hangzhou's beauty. The famous "Ten scenes of West Lake" surround its shores, where nature and culture complement each other, forming the core area of Hangzhou tourism. You don't need to visit every attraction - instead, spend half a day or a full day strolling along the lake. However you choose to enjoy it, the experience will surely lift your spirits.

West Lake is the core attraction of Hangzhou, surrounded by clouds and mountains on three sides and the city on one side. The Su Causeway and Bai Causeway stretch across the lake, dividing it into several water areas. The lakeside scenery is highlighted by the "Ten Scenes of West Lake" from the Southern Song Dynasty, along with the later "New Ten Scenes" and "Three Additional Scenes," featuring over a hundred attractions along the shore and mountains. Pavilions, temples, pagodas, gardens, causeways, and islands complement the distant mountains and nearby waters, while legends like the Broken Bridge where Lady White Snake met Xu Xian add a layer of storytelling to the landscape.

West Lake extends east from Songmuchang in Hangzhou and the north of Baolu Road turning to Shaoniangong Square, passing Baisha Road, Huancheng West Road, Hubin Road, and Nanshan Road to the south of Wansong Ridge, covering all attractions including Wu Mountain, Ziyang Mountain, and Yunju Mountain. To the south, it stretches from Gulou along the eastern foothills of Wu Mountain, Ziyang Mountain, and Yunju Mountain, passing Fengshanmen and Fenghuangshan Road, then following the West Lake water diversion channel to the north bank of the Qiantang River, turning to the Coral Sand Reservoir and ending north of Liufangling. To the west, it runs from Liufangling, Zhugan Mountain, Jiuqu Ridge, and Mingren Ridge to Meiren Peak, Beigaofeng, Lingfeng Mountain, and east of the ridge line of Laohe Mountain. To the north, it follows the foothills of Laohe Mountain (west wall of Zhejiang University), turns 30 m north of Qingzhiwu Road, connects to Yugu Road, Zhejiang University Road, and Shuguang Road, ending south of Songmuchang.

West Lake has over 100 attractions, renowned for its "Ten scenes of West Lake", "New ten scenes of West Lake" and "Three reviews · Ten scenes of West Lake".

West Lake overview

You can explore West Lake on foot, by cruise, on electric bikes, via self-drive, or by riding. Among these, electric bikes are the most convenient and effortless option, with hop-on-hop-off sightseeing vehicles circling the entire lake. Riding along the lakeshore is romantic and leisurely, with many public bike rental spots available. For a boat tour, there are nearly 10 docks around the lake offering various vessels and routes. We highly recommend taking a cruise to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon at the lake center while enjoying the scenic views. Alternatively, you can hail a hand-rowed boat for a more flexible experience with a boatman guiding your tour.

North line scenery

The north shore of West Lake gathers quite a few attractions, usually starting from the remnant snow on broken bridge at the northeast corner and heading west all the way to Yuewang Temple. You can walk along Bai Causeway to Solitary Hill, visiting cultural attractions like Xiling Seal Engravers' Society, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Chinese Seal Art Museum, and Zhongshan Park's Crane Pavilion. Enjoy authentic West Lake vinegar fish at Louwailou Restaurant, then cross Xiling Bridge to leave the island - Yuewang Temple and Breeze-ruffled lotus at Quyuan Garden are just a short distance away.

If it's a summer day with strong sunlight, it is recommended to stroll along Beishan road, hiding under the dense shade of trees to admire the curve of Broken bridge and the swaying weeping willows on Bai causeway opposite. There are many entrances along the way leading to Precious stone hill, where you can hike for views, and descend to reach Yuewang temple. Yuewang square has many small shops for snacks, and the Impression West Lake show here in the evening is also worth watching. If you have ample time and energy, you can also head to Su causeway from here for a walk to enjoy the panoramic view of West Lake.

Southeast coast (Lakeside-Nanshan Road)

Another area with a concentration of attractions is the Hubin Road-Nanshan Road along the southeastern coast. Hubin Road is located at the junction between Hangzhou's urban area and the attraction, offering views of West Lake, a dock for West Lake cruises, and the iconic music fountain. The advantage of Hubin Road is its quick access from the attraction to the downtown business district, making it suitable for travelers with a tight itinerary to make a short stop.

Head south from Hubin road and walk along Nanshan road, where you can visit attractions like Orioles singing in the willows, Long bridge, Leifeng pagoda, Evening bell at Nanping hill, and Viewing fish at flower harbor. The distance between adjacent attractions is not far, so you can walk or take a sightseeing bus or public transport, which are also convenient. You can arrange a day to visit a few of them according to your preference. Among them, Leifeng pagoda and Evening bell at Nanping hill can be visited in the evening. Listening to the bell at Jingci temple and overlooking the night view of West lake from Leifeng pagoda are both great experiences.