2025 West Lake Scenic Area Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

#HangzhouTravel #100TravelTips 🌊 Don't underestimate this tourist attraction... XIHU Lake or West Lake is just an ordinary freshwater lake. Don't go there. Go somewhere else!! Blah blah blah 🧊 The truth! It's amazing, awesome, and I want to tell you about it. 🍂 It's very big. It takes 2-3 days to visit the entire lake. It's 3.3 x 2.8 kilometers in size. The background is 3 large mountains. 🍂 It is a world heritage site in China, nicknamed the "Pearl of Hangzhou". 🍂 Chinese poets and artists have acknowledged the beauty of West Lake, to the point of admiring it in their poems or painting pictures of this place. Importantly, it was published on the 1 yuan banknote. Marco Polo, a famous Italian, has visited and said that this lake is like heaven. 🍂 The water is clear and there are Chinese pavilions, pagodas, temples, Japanese gardens, Western gardens, Chinese-style moonstone bridges, and shrines. 🌳 Now that you know this, make up your mind to come!

#Lake tour Xihu Lake is a national tourist attraction in Hangzhou ✨, which was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2011. The word "West Lake" means West Lake. A large freshwater lake located in the west of Hangzhou. Surrounded by 3 mountains, the water is as clear as a mirror, which attracts tourists from all over the world to visit here. Today, we will take a boat trip to see the view of West Lake. They will pass Leifeng Pagoda. If you want to follow the legend of the White Snake, you must go. It is located on the top of Baoxi Mountain, right on the edge of West Lake. It is an ancient place full of legends in Hangzhou. The pagoda is 5 stories high and octagonal. In the legend that makes people popular to visit is the white snake demon who fell in love with a young man. But since the demon and the man could not love each other, the abbot of the temple intervened and locked the demon under the base of the pagoda, which has become a legend to this day. The boat ride takes about 20-30 minutes to complete the loop of the lake. There are many landmarks around the West Lake. We can walk from Longxiangqiao to Yongjin Bridge. Yongjin Bridge is a pavilion in the middle of the water. This place is lively. There are people doing rhythmic activities, music in the park and a view of Xihu Lake. Walk a little further and you will see Yongjin Bridge. There is a long bridge with a magnificent mountain background. 📌West Lake (Xihu Lake) 🚈How to get there: Take the Metro and get off at Longxiangqiao Station. Walk for about 10 minutes.

#discoverchina Went on a 7 days trip to Shanghai with day trips via railway to Hangzhou and Suzhou. itinerary as follows: Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai (March 8, 2025) Airport to Radisson Blu Hotel: Option 1 (Fastest): Take the Shanghai Maglev Train from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road Station (8 minutes, 50 RMB). Transfer to Metro Line 2 and ride to People’s Square Station (exit 19). The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the station. Option 2 (Convenient): Take a taxi directly to the hotel (approx. 45 minutes, 150-200 RMB). Evening: Walk to Nanjing Road (10 minutes) and The Bund (20 minutes). Day 2: Explore Central Shanghai (March 9, 2025) Hotel to Yu Garden: Take Metro Line 10 from People’s Square Station to Yuyuan Garden Station (exit 1, 10 minutes). Yu Garden to Tianzifang: Take Metro Line 10 from Yuyuan Garden Station to South Shaanxi Road Station, then transfer to Metro Line 9 to Dapuqiao Station (exit 1, 20 minutes total). Tianzifang to Dinner: Take a taxi to Fu 1088 (approx. 10 minutes, 20 RMB). Day 3: Cultural and Historical Shanghai (March 10, 2025) Hotel to Shanghai Museum: Walk to the Shanghai Museum (5 minutes from the hotel). Shanghai Museum to Xintiandi: Take Metro Line 1 from People’s Square Station to South Huangpi Road Station (5 minutes), then walk to Xintiandi (10 minutes). Xintiandi to Dinner: Take a taxi to Lost Heaven (approx. 10 minutes, 20 RMB). Day 4: Day Trip to Suzhou (March 11, 2025) Hotel to Shanghai Railway Station: Take Metro Line 1 from People’s Square Station to Shanghai Railway Station (10 minutes). Shanghai to Suzhou: Take a high-speed train (G or D series) to Suzhou Railway Station (30-40 minutes, 40-60 RMB). Suzhou Attractions: Use taxis or local buses to visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Tiger Hill, and Pingjiang Road. Suzhou to Shanghai: Return by high-speed train to Shanghai Railway Station, then take Metro Line 1 back to People’s Square Station. Day 5: Modern Shanghai (March 12, 2025) Hotel to Shanghai Tower: Take Metro Line 2 from People’s Square Station to Lujiazui Station (exit 4, 15 minutes). Lujiazui to Lunch: Walk or take a short taxi to Xiaolongkan Hotpot (10 minutes). Afternoon: Walk between attractions in Lujiazui (Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center). Evening: Take Metro Line 2 back to People’s Square Station. Day 6: Day Trip to Hangzhou (March 13, 2025) Hotel to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: Take Metro Line 2 from People’s Square Station to Hongqiao Railway Station (30 minutes). Shanghai to Hangzhou: Take a high-speed train (G or D series) to Hangzhou East Railway Station (1 hour, 70-100 RMB). Hangzhou Attractions: Use taxis or local buses to visit West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda, and Hefang Street. Hangzhou to Shanghai: Return by high-speed train to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, then take Metro Line 2 back to People’s Square Station. Day 7: Relax and Shop (March 14, 2025) Hotel to Zhujiajiao Water Town: Take Metro Line 1 from People’s Square Station to Xujiahui Station, then transfer to Metro Line 11 to Jiashan Road Station, and finally transfer to Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station (approx. 1.5 hours, 10 RMB). Zhujiajiao to Shopping Malls: Return to Shanghai via Metro Line 17, then transfer to Metro Line 2 or 10 to reach IAPM Mall or Plaza 66. Evening: Take a taxi to Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (reservation required). Day 8: Departure (March 15, 2025) Hotel to Pudong Airport: Option 1: Take Metro Line 2 from People’s Square Station to Pudong International Airport (approx. 1 hour, 7 RMB). Option 2: Take a taxi (approx. 45 minutes, 150-200 RMB).

#favouriteitinerary This is the scenery along Renhe Road in Hangzhou. Walking along Renhe Road with my friend, we can experience the unique charm of downtown Hangzhou. It’s such a beautiful experience. Slow down and enjoy a different lifestyle abroad, experiencing a different kind of life. If you visit Hangzhou, I recommend taking a stroll along Renhe Road to experience the unique atmosphere. It’s a wonderful feeling, and I’m sharing the scenery along the way with you. When you come to Hangzhou, China, make sure to experience something different.

Scenery of West Lake in Hang Zhou is spectacular Spot mandarin duck beside the lake

📍Address: West Lake / Xihu Lake 🌟 A famous landmark in Hangzhou that you must visit if you come here. The weather was great when we visited, around 10 degrees Celsius, not hot at all. But be careful, some days there are many clouds, which might make your photos not as beautiful. 🌟 We walked from Hubin Road to the lakeside. You will see a pavilion in the middle, which is also a popular spot for taking photos. For those who want to take a boat ride, there are services available. The price is around 50 to 70 yuan per person.

Hangzhou’s West Lake, celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a masterpiece of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Surrounded by lush hills and dotted with pagodas, temples, and gardens, it has inspired poets, artists, and travelers for centuries. Often described as “Heaven on Earth,” West Lake is a serene escape that perfectly blends nature and human artistry. A stroll along the Su Causeway, one of the lake’s iconic pathways, offers breathtaking views of willow trees swaying in the breeze and bridges arching gracefully over calm waters. The Broken Bridge, steeped in legend, is a favorite among visitors and is said to be where the famous Chinese love story, The Legend of the White Snake, unfolded. West Lake is also home to stunning landmarks like the Leifeng Pagoda, which stands majestically on a hill overlooking the lake. The reflection of the pagoda on the water during sunset is a sight to behold. Another must-visit spot is the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, where three small pagodas float on the lake, casting enchanting reflections under moonlight. Fun fact: West Lake’s beauty has been immortalized in traditional Chinese art, literature, and even currency—it’s featured on the 1 RMB note. Beyond its scenic charm, West Lake is a place for peaceful exploration. Whether you’re enjoying a boat ride, sipping tea at a lakeside pavilion, or simply taking in the tranquility, it’s an experience that stays with you. As the famous saying goes, “Above is paradise, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou,” and West Lake truly lives up to this celestial comparison. #chinatrip

Places we visited The first stop was westlake. 🏞 My advice is not to go at noon in the summer months, it would be a better choice in the afternoon or evening. Going to the island where there are 3 pagodas is only possible by boat. July 2024 price is 70 rmb and a little expensive, but you should ride once and see the islands. 🎏 Definitely eat noodles with crab sauce. The place we ate is in a shopping mall called in 88 sth like that. Lingyin temple and the Buddhas carved on the mountain are also must-see beauties🏯 The busy streets of the city and the historic streets leading to westlake are also very warming.🫠 We first went to Westlake at noon but on the second day we went back for sunset. 🌅Two days is a good time to explore the city in general. Don't forget to eat Hangzhou's famous fish dish at a local restaurant, you won't regret it! 😋

Who doesn't love West Lake. This attraction is the most popular scenic area in Hangzhou. It's a family friendly place that is suitable for summer escape. Recommended time to visit: Spend at least three hours to stroll the beauty of West Lake. But needs several days to explore every scenic area around it. How to reach this attraction: 🩵 Take Hangzhou city bus number 197 or 15 stop at Shuguang Apartement bus stop. Then walk or take a bike to reach the scenic area. 🩵 Take Hangzhou Metro line 1 stop at Fengi Road station, then ride a sharing bike for 1.2 km to the east. #chinatrip

Four Lakes Lake is the main lake in Hangzhou. It has a very beautiful viewpoint. You can also take a boat to see the lake. You can walk around the lake and see the beautiful willow trees or plum trees that bloom beautifully for us to see while walking. The air is very good. There is also a famous restaurant in the city where world leaders come to eat. The signature dish is the beggar chicken. #Flying to Hong Kong #Hangzhou