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How to visit Hupao Spring (Tiger Spring) Hangzhou

Monday, August 9th, 2021

Plan your Hangzhou tour? If you would like to pamper yourself in a green and beautiful environment with singing birds and murmuring springs, come to Hupao Spring ( or Dreaming of Tiger Spring at Hupao Valley). “Hupao Spring” literally means Tiger Running Spring, Tiger Digging Spring, or simply named Tiger Spring.

The legend has it that here lived an eminent monk named Xing Kong during Tang Dynasty. In 819 when he decided to leave this place due to lack of water, the immortal told him in his dream that two tigers would be sent to him and take spring to him. Next morning, to his pleasant surprise, He saw two tigers digging the earth and soon the spring gushed forth, hence the name Tiger Spring ( also known as Dreaming of Tiger Spring at Hupao Valley).

How to Get to Hupao Spring

Hupao Spring is located at the foot of Daci Hill around 8km in the southwest of downtown Hangzhou. You have several public transport choices going from downtown Hangzhou to Hupao Spring: by taxi, by bike or by private car or van.

Hupao Spring located ablout 8km southwest of Hyatt Regency Hangzhou (Google)

Public buses to Hupao Spring: K4, K504, Tourism Bus (Y5) No.5 for 2 or 3 Yuan.

Ticket price: 15 yuan per person

Opening hours: 7:30-17:30

How to Visit Hupao Spring

It is advisable to combine Liuhe Pagoda and Hupao Spring into a half day Hangzhou trip since the two attractions are on the same travel route in Hangzhou. If you have a taste for Hangzhou Zoo or if you travel with your kids, Hangzhou Zoo will be on your travel agenda, which is just next to Hupao Spring. Liuhe Pagoda, Hupao Spring and Hangzhou Zoo are very often put together for one day Hangzhou tour.

Hupao Spring is reputed as the Third Best Spring in China due to its unique fountain. Longjing Tea made of the water from Hupao Spring is regarded as the “two wonders” in Hangzhou. Of course, Hupao Spring was not taken here by the two tigers. Hupao Spring gushes forth due to the underground water seeping from quartz sandstone.

Hupao spring tastes pure, sweet and cold, an ideal drink for good health. What arouse people’s interest is the fact that the spring water rises three millimeters above a bowl edge without overflowing, a scientific phenomenon due to the high surface tension of the spring water.

The attraction of “Hupao Spring” doesn’t stop here. Actually, right now “Hupao Spring” has been expanded into a forest park – Hupao Spring Forest Park rife with streams, trees, pagodas, pavilions. Beside natural elements in the park, Hupao Spring Forest Park has added much Chinese culture and history content to make it worth visiting and exploring more.

Li Shutong Memorial was built in memory of the scholar who was outstanding in the aspects of music, drama, painting, and calligraphy. Monk Jigong’s hall and Dagoba were also set up in honor of the popular monk. Now Hupao Spring Forest Park is a good fusion combining nature and culture.

Two hours are neended for visiting Hupao Spring. It is a half hour’ walk from its main entrance by the road to the hillside Hupao Spring and other attractions.

This is the Ticketing Office at Hupao Spring. Entrance Fee: RMB 15. Children under the height of 1.2 meters are entitled to free tickets.

A long corridor lined with numerous pines trees leading up to the center of Hupao Spring.

Some local residents are fetching the Hupao Spring water from a designated area in the park.

A screen wall is carved with the three Chinese characters “Hupao Spring”.

Late Premier Zhou Enlai escorted foreigners visiting Hupao Spring in 1950s. All were amazed by the surface tension of Hupao Spring.

later Premier Zhou Enlai escorted foreigners visiting Hupao Spring in 1950s.

The Diecui Hall in front of Hupao Spring introduces the development and events in Hupao Spring.

The Diecui Hall in front of Hupao Spring introduces the development waiting for coming foreign visitors

Ji Gong was known for his wild and eccentric behavior while maintaining his compassionate for the poor. Ji Gong became a folk hero in China. Ji Gpong here is enshrined in Ji Gong Hall.