Hangzhou Travel « China Travel Tips

Archive for the ‘Hangzhou Travel’ Category

Where to stay in Hangzhou

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Plan your Hangzhou tour? Hangzhou is inscribed on the list of World Cultural Heritage for its picturesque West Lake Scenic Area, which has greatly boosted the local tourism. The most used cliche describing Hangzhou is “Hangzhou is a paradise on earth”. “Hangzhou is beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world” is another often quoted saying by the Venetian Marco Polo visited Hangzhou in the late 13th century.

Now you are going to explore the mesmerizing Hangzhou on your own. One question lingering in your mind is ”where to stay in Hangzhou”. To answer this queston is largely contingent on your personal taste and budget.

A basic knowledge of the area you are going to stay is very important for you to choose your hotel in Hangzhou. Now I will provide you some useful information on the neighbourhoods and districts you possibly stay for your Hangzhou trip.

West Lake is a a lagoon type lake which is surrounded by the hills on three sides – north, south and west with its east meeting the city core of Hangzhou.

West Lake East Bank (Hubin Road)

Traditionally the city core of Hangzhou lies on the east of West Lake which is such named due to its location on the west of Hangzhou city center, hence West Lake. The road paralleling the east bank of West Lake is officially known as “Hubin Road” which means “Lakeside Road” to the north and Nanshan Road to the south. So both Hubin Road and Nanshan Road are the most sought areas to stay in Hangzhou. Most of the hotels along Hubin Road and Nanshan Road have better chances for lakeview rooms with easy access to the lake itsself.

Recommended hotels on Hubin Road:

Hyatt Regency Hangzhou

No.28 Hubin Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China

Crystal Orange Hotel

No.122 Qingbo Street, Nanshan Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 311703, China

The City Core Area (Between Hubin and Hangzhou Railway Station)

Hangzhou Railway Station is on the west Hangzhou. The area between Hubin Road ( and Nanshan Road) and Hangzhou Railway Station is the city core of Hangzhou with numerous high-rises, shopping centers, various restaurants and so on. The famous east-west Jiefang Avenue and the north-south Yan’an Avenue are located in the downtown area of Hangzhou. Many travelers choose to stay in the city center of Hangzhou, feeling the modern and trendy part of Hangzhou.

Recommended hotels in the city core:

Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou

No.555 Fengqi Road, Xiachang District, Hangzhou

Goethe Hotel

No.19 Xihu Avenue, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou

Wulin Square Area

Wulin Square is another business and commercial center to the north of the traditional city core between Hubin Road and Hangzhou Railway Station. Wulin Square is the largest public city square in Hangzhou. With the gravity of Hangzhou moving northwards, Wulin Square is becoming a new city center of Hangzhou. Hotels, restaurants, shopping centers are clustered around Wulin Square.

Recommended hotels in Wulin Square Area:

JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou

No.28 Hushu South Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou

SanLi New Century Grand Hotel

No.538 Shaoxing Road, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou

North of West Lake

Here north of West Lake refers to the two areas – On the north bank of West Lake and the area north of Baoshi Hill. The narrow bank area below Baoshi Hill along the north bank of West Lake used to be inhabited by celebrities in the past, which has left many famous villas and hotels. North of Boashi Hill is the newly developed and expanded area where many high learning institutes are located.

Recommended hotels in North of West Lake:

Shangri La Hotel Hangzhou

No.78 Beishan Road, Xihu Distric, Hangzhou

Dragon Hotel

No.120 Shuguang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou

Tea Boutique Hotel

West of West Lake

The west of West Lake is a scenic area with green belts and forested hills. This area is teemed with hotels, government-run sanatoriums, hospitals.

Recommended hotels in West of West Lake:

Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake

No.5 Lingyin Road, Hangzhou 310013, China

Banyan Tree Hangzhou

No.21 Zijinggang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310030, China

South of West Lake

South of West Lake is an arrow area between West Lake and South Hill featuring a scenic area.

Recommended hotels in South of West Lake:

Zhejiang Xizi Hotel

No.37 Nanshan Road, Hangzhou 310007, China

Xihu State Guesthouse

No.18 Yanggong Causeway, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310007, China

Hangzhou Railway Station

As a railway hub in Hangzhou, this area has attracted many hotels and office buildings.

Recommended hotels around Hangzhou Railway Station:

Best Western Premier Hangzhou

31, Laozheda Henglu, Hangzhou

Edinburgh Holiday Hotel Hangzhou

26 Qiutao Raod, Hangzhou

Home Inn (Daxue Road

116, Daxue Road, Hangzhou

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: Best place to stay in Hangzhou
Posted in Hangzhou Travel | No Comments »

The Best hiking trail in Hangzhou

Monday, January 9th, 2012

West Lake is surrounded by the hills on its three sides – North, South and West with its east lakeside bordering Hangzhou city’s downtown area, hence the hill names of North Hill, South Hill and West Hill around West Lake. Among the numerous places to hike in the green and historical mountains around West Lake, the hike on Baoshi Shan is always my favorite.

Baoshi Shan means Bashi Hill or Precious Stone Hill, an important part of the North Hill. Local people often refer to Baoshi Hill as the North Hill on the north bank of West Lake. There are numerous paths lead up the hill either from the lakeside, or from its north hillside. Baoshi Shan is dotted with unique caves, Buddhist and Taoist shrines. The slender Baochu Pagoda rises atop Precious Stone Hill where you can have a panoramic view of West Lake and the city as a whole, one of the two best West Lake viewing places with the other being Leifeng Pagoda.

I start my one and half hour hike from Baoshi Shan’s north hillside behind Yellow Dragon Cave. The normal hike trail takes around one 50 minutes, which takes up to about 2 hours due to the extra time for photo taking and the lake viewing.

Actually the reason for my hike starting from the northern side of Baoshi Shan is that I stumble across a “Baoshi Shan Guide Mao” signboard standing at the foot of the north hillside behind Yellow Dragon. I’m greatly intrigued by the practical hike guide map carved on the signboard with detailed hiking information – toilets, historical sites, caves, etc. Having been on the hill top of Baosi Hill for many times, this is my first time hike from its north side.

Baoshi Shan Hiking Guide Map Signboard in Chinese

It is a fine day, but there is haze all round the horizon. Not bad for hiking in a winter day with little wind. So I start my unprepared hill hike. My eyes feel quite comfortable with the green trees and grasses, and the bamboo here and there in the cold winter here in Hangzhou. It is amazing for a man who has been accustomed to living in the northern China where winter’s main colors are either grey or white.

The well maintained mountain paths are built with solid slabs zigzaging up to the hill top.

The well maintained mountain paths are built with solid slabs zigzaging up to the hill top

I walk along the bamboo path up to the hill.

I walk along a bamboo path up to the hill.

After 10 minute’s hike, I come aross a rock sign carved with four directions. Please choose the direction pointing to Ziyun Cave (紫云洞) which will lead to the highlight of the trail destination – Baochu Pagoda.

Please choose the direction pointing to Ziyun Cave

Continue to walk on the hill path, soon you will enconuter a tomb, the Tomb of Niu Gao. Niu Gao (1087 – 1147) was an anti-Jin general under Yue Fei in Southern Song Dynasty ( 960–1279).

The Tomb of Niu Gao

This rock sign tells you the path leading to the important attraction on the Baoshi Shan – The Sunrise Terrace (初阳台) which is a good place to view a sunrise in early morning.

This rock sign tells you the path leading to the important attraction on the Baoshi Shan - The Sunrise Terrace

The Sunrise Terrace (初阳台) on a hill top.

The Sunrise Terrace (初阳台) on a hill top

I continue to walk on the paved stone path flanked by bushes and tress on the mountain range in Baishi Hill.

While walking on the flat mountain range, here and there I have a glimpse of West Lake below in a haze, similar to a traditional Chinese painting.

A glimpse of West Lake below in a haze

Some bird singing attracts me and I find a group of local bird lovers are getting together and have their pet bird cages hung on the tree branches.

pet bird cages hung on the tree branches

This is the final rock sign pointing to the path leading to Baochu Pagoda (保俶塔).

the last rock sign pointing to the path leading to Baochu Pagoda (保俶塔).

People are trying to climb to the hill top and have a bird-eye view of the lake and city as a whole.

climb to the hill top and have a bird-eye view of the lake and city as a whole

Standing on a rock hilltop

Standing on a hilltop

The slender Baochu Pagoda standing on Baoshi (Precious Stone) Hill on the north bank of West Lake in Hangzhou.

The slender Baochu Pagoda standing on Baoshi (Precious Stone) Hill on the north bank of West Lake in Hangzhou

Overlooking West Lake dominated by the Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge and surrounded by the city’s downtown area.

Overlooking West Lake dominated by the Snow Lingering Bridge and surrounded by the city's downtown area

The Baidi Causeway divides the lake into the outer land and inner lake in a haze.

Baoshi Hill is a place for romance seeking.

The 16 Chinese characters engraved on a huge rock by Baochu Pagoda says: Glory belongs to the Immortal in heaven; Peace and Happiness to people on earth.

Glory belongs to the Immortal in heaven; Peace and Happiness to people on earth.

On the hillside there is a “ book bar” where you may have a drink over reading a book.

On the hillside there is a book bar where you may have a drink over reading a book

These are my favorite local snacks which I often ate when I lived in hangzhou 18 years ago. These shabby food makes me very nostalgic.

my favorite local snacks in Hangzhou

I finish my one and half hour hike at Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge.

Tags: Hangzhou's best hiking place, the best place to hike in Hangzhou
Posted in Hangzhou Travel | No Comments »

How to Visit Yellow Dragon Cave in Hangzhou

Saturday, January 7th, 2012

Are you going to visit Yellow Dragon Cave during your Hangzhou trip? There are two famous attractions in China in the same name of “Yellow Dragon Cave”. One is in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province; the other in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province. The Yellow Dragon Cave in Zhangjiajie is a cave as its name suggests, a karst cave with 2 underground rivers and hundreds of thousands of stalagmites, columns and stalactites while the so called “Yellow Dragon Cave” in Hanghzou is now actually a typical Chinese traditional garden at the foot of Xixia Range of the Northern Hill in Hangzhou.

Historically the Yellow Dragon Cave in Hangzhou used to be a buddhist temple during the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. In 1922, the Yellow Dragon Cave turned into a taoist temple. After 1949, the Yellow Dragon Cave was taken over by Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Cultural Relics. Trees were planted, bridges and pavilions repaired, made into an important attraction of the Northern Hill in Hangzhou.

The name of Yellow Dragon Cave comes from the legend that one day Monk Huikai in Southern Song Dynasty suddenly heard a loud thunder with the coming of a Yellow Dragon who brought ceaseless water gushing from its month, hence the name of “Yellow Dragon Cave”.

Now Yellow Dragon Cave in Hangzhou has less religious atmosphere. It has become a unique Chinese garden as well as a theme park or garden focused on “Good Luck”, a folk and custom of Chinese traditional culture.

So whether you are going to visit Yellow Dragon Cave during your Hangzhou tour largely depends on your person taste. Though it is not a must see sight in Hangzhou, if you are interestd in Chinese gardening or local folk and custom, it is advisable for you to visit this special atrraction in Hangzhou.

Entrance fee: RMB15, thee are several public buses running to the Yellow Dragon Cave in Hangzhou such as Y3, Y4 Y5, No.16, 21, 23, 28, K101, K599. Or you walk from Yuefei Temple up to Xixian range, then walk down to Yellow Dragon Cave, which takes about 1 hour.

Add: Shuguang Road in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
Admission fee: RMB 15
Opening hours: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

The main gate to Yellow Dragon Cave

The main gate to the Yellow Dragon Cave

Ticketing office resembles an ancient money exchange style in Song Dynasty.

Ancient Money Exchange Style Ticketing office

Two ponds wait for you when you enter the main gate. The ponds lined on both sides of the path are luck related ponds. The six statues of children here in the ponds represents the six kinds of luck – wealth, love, marriage, learning, official career and having a son. The square hole in the middle of the ancient coin carried by the children is the “luck-hitting hole”. If you hit the hole, you will get your desired wish.

The six statues of children here in the ponds represents the six kinds of luck -- wealth, love, marriage, learning, official career and having a son

The pond lined on the left side of the path is also a luck related pond.

The pond lined on the left side of the path is also a luck related pond

The path leads to the four major attractions in the garden within the white wall.

The path leads to the four major attraction in the garden within the white wall.

The signboard indicates the four major sights in the Yellow Dragon Cave park – Marridge Temple, a Performnce Stage. Square Bamboo Garden and Yellow Dragon in green.

The signboard indicates the four major sights in the Yellow Dragon Cave - Marridge Temple, Performnce Terrace, Square Bamboo Garden and Yellow Dragon in green

Visit the Yellow Dragon Cave Garden clockwise, you will first come cross a unique Square Bamboo Garden, a perfect place to enjoy the beauty of a varity of bamboo, black bamboo, square bamboo. etc.

Square Bamboo Garden

Marriage Temple or Match making temple

The spring gushes out from the head of the yellow dragon and falls into the pond bebow. The rock stands on the pond with the carved words “Any water can be holy with the presence of a dragon”.

spring gushes out from the head of the yellow dragon and falls into the pond bebow

In the center of the yard, you will see a big stage. Everyday the famous opera will performed with numerous retired local residents and visitors flocking in.

Enjoying ancient opera of love story

It seems that Yellow Dragon Cave area has become an ideal hangout for retirees. Inside the Yellow Dragon Cave, they see the performaces on the stage; outside the park, they play cards, play taiji and sing songs!

Local retirees are playing cards or chess