Attractions · Hangzhou

West Lake is one of China's most celebrated tourist destinations and was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 2011. The Ten Scenes of West Lake each have their own character: Spring Dawn at Su Causeway in spring, Lotus in the Breeze at Quyuan in summer, Autumn Moon over Calm Lake in autumn and Broken Bridge in Snow in winter. Highlights include Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and Leifeng Pagoda. A World Cultural Heritage site famous for its "Ten Scenes of West Lake," with the Broken Bridge, Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda setting each other off and scenery in every season, it is the soul of Hangzhou. Tip: rent a bicycle to ride around the lake, or take a West Lake cruise. Practical info: located at 1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang; admission free (some attractions charge); open all day. Best season: spring (March–May) brings peach blossoms and willows along West Lake; autumn (September–November) is crisp and clear. Pair it with Lingyin Temple, Xixi National Wetland Park and Leifeng Pagoda for a half- or full-day itinerary. Confirm same-day opening and reservation policies before you go and allow ample time. In peak season or on holidays, book ahead and travel off-peak, and allow time for queues and security checks.

Tip: Rent a bicycle to cycle around the lake, or take a West Lake boat cruise.

• Address: 1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
• Ticket: Free (some attractions charge admission)
• Opening: Open all day

Lingyin Temple is one of the ten great ancient temples of Chinese Chan Buddhism and was first built in the first year of Xianhe of the Eastern Jin (326 AD). The Feilai Peak carvings in the temple grounds are exquisite, with more than 300 Buddhist statues. Highlights include the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall and the Medicine Hall. A thousand-year-old temple founded in the Eastern Jin, hidden beneath Feilai Peak, with fine cave carvings and thriving incense, it is a famous temple of Jiangnan. Tip: go in the morning, when the incense is at its busiest. Practical info: located at 1 Fayun Nong, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang; admission Feilai Peak ¥45 + Lingyin Temple ¥30; opening hours 07:00–18:15. Best season: spring (March–May) brings peach blossoms and willows along West Lake; autumn (September–November) is crisp and clear. Pair it with the West Lake Scenic Area, Xixi National Wetland Park and Leifeng Pagoda for a half- or full-day itinerary. Confirm same-day opening and reservation policies before you go and allow ample time. In peak season or on holidays, book ahead and travel off-peak, and allow time for queues and security checks.

Tip: Visit in the morning when incense burning is at its peak.

• Address: 1 Fayun Nong, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
• Ticket: Feilai Peak ¥45 + Lingyin Temple ¥30
• Opening: 07:00–18:15

Xixi Wetland is China's first national wetland park, covering about 11.5 square kilometres, of which about 70% is water — rivers, ponds, lakes and marshes. Highlights include Reed Catkins in Snow, Plum Blossoms along Winding Waters, Persimmon Forest in Autumn and the Dragon Boat Regatta. An urban wetland ecological reserve with crisscrossing waterways and reed catkins like snow, it is best seen from a sculling boat and reveals a wild charm and tranquillity; the core areas are Zhoujiacun, Shentankou and Jiaolu Tianzhuang, and the sculling boat is the best way to see it. Tip: a sculling boat tour is recommended for the wetland's wild charm. Practical info: located at 518 Tianmushan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang; admission ¥80 (peak) / ¥60 (off-peak); opening hours 07:30–18:30. Best season: spring (March–May) brings peach blossoms and willows along West Lake; autumn (September–November) is crisp and clear. Pair it with the West Lake Scenic Area, Lingyin Temple and Leifeng Pagoda for a half- or full-day itinerary. Confirm same-day opening and reservation policies before you go and allow ample time.

Tip: A sculling boat tour is recommended for the best wetland experience.

• Address: 518 Tianmushan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
• Ticket: ¥80 (peak) / ¥60 (off-peak)
• Opening: 07:30–18:30

Songcheng is on Zhijiang Road in Xihu District and opened in 1996. Its theme is Song-dynasty street life, and it is divided into areas including the Market Street, Songcheng River, Immortal Hills and Jade Pavilions, and the Southern Song Style Street. The core show, Songcheng Romance, uses song and dance, acrobatics, lighting and stage machinery to tell the history of Hangzhou from Liangzhu and the Southern Song to the present, and is one of China's earlier large-scale tourism performances. The park also has interactive attractions such as the embroidered-ball toss, Judge Bao's street patrol and the Liaozhai haunted house, and suits a half-day or full-day visit. A Song-culture theme park modelled on Along the River During the Qingming Festival, it has the slogan "Give me one day, and I will give you a thousand years." The large song-and-dance show Songcheng Romance is the core attraction, and the park also has interactive scenes such as the Market Street, Ghost Street and Liaozhai haunted house. Tip: show tickets and park tickets are usually bundled, so check session times and choose seats in advance; holidays are crowded, so entering in the afternoon and leaving after the evening show is recommended. Practical info: located at 148 Zhijiang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou; tickets about ¥320 (includes the Songcheng Romance show; prices vary by session and seat, subject to official notices); opening hours 09:00–21:00 (show times subject to daily notices).

Tip: Show and park tickets are usually bundled; check session times and seats in advance.

• Address: 148 Zhijiang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
• Ticket: About ¥320 (includes the Songcheng Romance show; prices vary by session and seat)
• Opening: 09:00–21:00 (show times subject to daily notice)

Leifeng Pagoda was first built in the Wuyue Kingdom period (the eighth year of Kaibao of the Song, 975) and is traditionally said to have been built by Qian Hongchu, king of Wuyue; the pagoda collapsed in 1924 and was rebuilt on the original site in 2002, becoming the main feature of "Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow," one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake. Highlights include the pagoda's exterior, the panorama of West Lake, the Legend of the White Snake murals and the relics from the underground palace. It is the site of "Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow," one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, and is part of the lake scenic area itself: the pagoda stands on Sunset Hill and looks down on the water. The pagoda rebuilt on the old site is famous for the Legend of the White Snake; climbing it gives a panorama of West Lake, especially moving at night. Tip: go up in the evening to enjoy the West Lake sunset and night view. Practical info: located at 15 Nanshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang; admission ¥40; opening hours 08:00–20:30 (summer) / 17:30 (winter). Best season: spring (March–May) brings peach blossoms and willows along West Lake; autumn (September–November) is crisp and clear.

Tip: Climb the pagoda in the evening to enjoy the sunset and night view over West Lake.

• Address: 15 Nanshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
• Ticket: ¥40
• Opening: 08:00–20:30 (summer) / 17:30 (winter)

The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City date from about 5,300–4,300 years ago and consist of the palace area, inner town, outer town and an outer water-control system; they were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2019 and provide evidence of five thousand years of Chinese civilisation. Highlights include the Mojiaoshan palace terrace, the Fanshan royal tomb jades and the Liangzhu Museum. A late Neolithic capital dating to roughly 5,300–4,300 years ago, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2019, it is the key surviving evidence for five millennia of Chinese civilisation. The inner town covers about 300 hectares and the outer town about 500 hectares, and its long hill-foot embankment and groups of high and low dams are among the earliest large waterworks known in China. Jade cong tubes, jade axe-blades and the god-man with beast-face motif from the Fanshan cemetery record the beliefs and power order of the time. Tip: the park is large — take the shuttle to Mojiaoshan and Fanshan first, then walk the city-site area; there is little shade in summer, so bring water. Practical info: located northwest of the junction of Fengdu Road and National Highway 104, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang; admission about ¥60 (in-park shuttle charged separately; subject to notices on site); opening hours 09:00–17:00 (entry ends at 16:00).

Tip: The park is vast — take the shuttle to Mojiaoshan and Fanshan first, then walk the wall zone.

• Address: Northwest of the Fengdu Road / National Highway 104 junction, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
• Ticket: About ¥60 (in-park shuttle bus charged separately; per notice on site)
• Opening: 09:00–17:00 (entry ends 16:00)