World Cultural Heritage Sites-West Lake/Xihu

Truly a "World Heritage City", Hangzhou boasts three world cultural heritage sites: West Lake, Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Together, they reflect the essence of the Chinese civilization, condensed into a unique symbol of urban spirit, and highlighting the area’s unique Oriental characteristics and temperament.

West Lake/Xihu

The West Lake, known as "the most representative poetic dwelling spiritual home in China, and a paradise on earth full of Oriental quality and aesthetic charm", owes much of its fame to its picturesque "Ten Views" as well as abundant historical and cultural sites and anecdotes of celebrities. Let us follow those highlights of the lake to appreciate its fantastic scenery and cultural richness.

Travel tips

The "Ten Views of the West Lake" is based on the artistic creation of the Southern Song Dynasty imperial painters who were fascinated by the fabulous looks of the lake in different seasons of the year, different times of the day, under different weather conditions and enlivened by different wild lives. Each scene focuses on a variety of aesthetic themes. Even with little knowledge about Chinese classical culture, you can intuitively understand the notion of beauty at the time when the city saw one of its golden eras.

Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge → Bai Causeway → Zhejiang Provincial Museum/China Seal Engraving Museum → Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake → Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway → Viewing Fish at Flower Pool
What's special: This is the most suitable hiking route to see West Lake. Passing through Su Causeway and Bai Causeway, it offers a panoramic view of most of the sights listed in the "Ten Views".

Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge /Duanqiao Canxue

The meeting spot of Lady White and Xu Xian, the protagonists of the enduring Chinese folk tale The Legend of the White Snake, it is also a nice choice to enjoy the snow scenery of the Lake.

200M east of the intersection of Beishan St and a trail to Baochu Pagoda

Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Gushan)
A national first-class museum, it nestles in a traditional Chinese garden surrounded by the relic-rich Solitary Hill /Gushan. In the museum, one can visit permanent displays including Wenlan Pavilion, Huang Binhong Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition, Chang Shuhong Oil Painting Exhibition, Leifeng Pagoda Cultural Relics Exhibition and lacquerware exhibition, etc. A ceramic exhibition that should not be missed showcases fi ndings of the ancient ceramic pieces that are more representative of Zhejiang styles.

25 Gushan Rd +86 571 86013085
09:00 ~ 17:00 (closed on Mondays, except offi cial holidays)

China Seal Engraving Museum
Located in the site of Xiling Seal Society, "the first academic society under heaven", the museum boasts a collection of more than 6,000 calligraphy, painting and seal works of all dynasties. Among those on display are rare ancient seals from pre-Qin, Qin and Han times.

10 Houshan Rd, Gushan +86 571 87035150
08:30~17:00 (12:00~17:00 on Mondays)

Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway /Sudi Chunxiao
Su Causeway was built by the famous poet Su Dongpo when he was the governor of Hangzhou in the Northern Song Dynasty. There, in spring, the green sprouting willows and pink peach blossoms present a particular enchanting sight along the undulating six stone arch bridges.

Su Causeway, West Lake

Viewing Fish at Flower Pool/Huagang Guanyu
A famous spot for watching gold fish which symbolizes good luck in local culture, it is also one of the few places in Hangzhou to admire peony flowers.
10 Yanggongdi
+86 571 87963033
24 hours Free

Seeing West Lake by boat

Gushan [Taking a Huafang (gaily-painted pleasure boat) at Zhongshan Gongyuan Pier] → Small Yingzhou Park/Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (re-board the boat after sightseeing) → Liu Gongyuan Pier/Huagang Pier/Zhongshan Gongyuan Pier
What's special: taking Huafang to see Small Yingzhou Islet, a model of Chinese landscape on water.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon /Santan Yinyue
The Three-Stone-Pagoda setting is one of the symbols of West Lake. What is interesting is that each tower is hollow, and there are fi ve evenly-distributed openings on the spherical body. On the night of the Chinese Moon Festival, the ancients would paste thin paper over the holes and light candles in the tower. The candle lights reflected in the lake looked like many "moons", which added brilliance to the real moon in the sky.
on the water surface South of Small Yingzhou Islet, West Lake

Travel tips
The West Lake cruise service offers huafang and regular leisure boat rides, both of which follow a fi xed route. The fare for ordinary huafang is 50 yuan/person, and leisure boat 55 yuan/person. More elaborately built types like "Lanyi" and "Quanrao" charge RMB 70 / person per ride. In addition, there are sculling boat and rowing boat services and both are charged by hour. Night cruises are also available. Detailed fare information can be found at different piers.

Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset (Leifeng Pagoda Scenic Area)/Evening Bell Ringing on Nanping Hill (Jingci Temple) → Orioles Singing in the Willows → Zhejiang Art Museum → West Lake Museum → Historical buildings in Beishan Street → Breeze-Rustled Lotus in Winding Courtyard
What's special: This is the most relaxed way to tour the lake. Flag down a sightseeing battery car is convenient, and the ride comes with the explanations of the attractions along the way.

Travel tips
The West Lake sightseeing battery car ride is divided into four sections, and each charges 10 yuan/person. They are respectively between Children's Palace (Broken Bridge) and Yongjinmen, Yongjinmen and Leifeng Pagoda, Leifeng Pagoda and Yue Fei Temple, Yue Fei Temple and Children's Palace (Broken Bridge). The car takes the most scenic route around the lake. The entire journey covers about 13.5 kilometers, in about 70 minutes, for a total of 40 yuan/person. It should be noted that you can get on and off the car at any point on the round-the-lake tour. Once you leave the car, your ticket becomes invalid and you need to pay again if you want to continue the ride in a different car.
Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset /Leifeng Xizhao (Leifeng Pagoda Scenic Spot)
Leifeng Pagoda was built by the King of Wuyue for worshiping the Buddha’s hair relic. Climbing the Pagoda to gaze at the West Lake and Jingci Temple under the setting sun is one of the highlights of your West Lake tour.
15 Nanshan Rd +86 571 87982111 40 yuan
08:00~20:00 (May 1 ~ October 31)

Central Exhibition of West Lake Museum
The first lake museum in China, it presents an overview of the West Lake, including its dredging and renovation in the past dynasties, the origin and inheritance of its famed sights, its cultural sites, as well as related literature and historical materials and relics.
89 Nanshan Rd
+86 571 87882279, 87882333
09:00~17:00 (closed on Mondays)

Beishan Street Historical Buildings
Known as the "Museum of Architecture of the Republic of China Era", Beishan Street boasts a host of historical buildings from the 1920s and 1930s. They are the records of the prosperity of the city and stories of many of its famous citizens, as well as the cultural epitome and witness of modern Hangzhou.
Beishan Street
Breeze-Rustled Lotus in Winding Courtyard /Quyuan Fenghe
Hangzhou's most famous summer lotus spot, it offers visitors the delight of walking on a zigzag long bridge over a pool teemed with blooming lotus.
89 Beishan St
+86 571 87179603
Free