The natural charms of Hangzhou in China were immortalised more than 1,000 years ago in the poems of Bai Juyi and Lin Bu, and it remains a draw to this day even as the city has grown into a hub for innovation.
Known for its ancient streets and tree-lined canals, on the first day of China’s recent national “golden week” holiday in October Hangzhou welcomed more than 1.8 million visitors, making it one of the most visited destinations during the seven-day holiday. Autumn, with its cooler temperatures, is the best time to visit the city, the capital of Zhejiang province.
West Lake, usually tranquil, was packed. A Unesco World Heritage site since 2011, the freshwater lake is known for its well-kept gardens, islands, pagodas and temples, and is ringed by lush green hills. It is classified as a 5A tourist attraction – the highest rating by China’s culture and tourism ministry, reserved for its most spectacular sites.
The lake is around 3km (1.9 miles) by 3km and oval-shaped. A trip across it can take up to an hour in peak season.
West Lake has been a Unesco World Heritage site since 2011. Photo: Getty Images
The 10th century poet Lin Bu lived as a recluse on Gushan, or Solitary Hill, the lake’s largest natural island, for most of his later years. The 8th century poet Bai Juyi, who served as governor of Hangzhou, wrote in The Lake in Spring: “From fair Hangzhou I cannot tear myself away, on half my heart this lake holds an alluring sway.”
The spot most worth visiting around West Lake is the five-storey, octagonal Leifeng Pagoda, a replica of one built in 975 that collapsed in 1924. It is where the Legend of the White Snake, one of China’s four great folk tales, was set.
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