{"id":7710,"date":"2021-08-08T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/?p=7710"},"modified":"2021-09-16T07:13:39","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T23:13:39","slug":"the-best-hiking-trail-in-hangzhou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/zhejiang-travel\/hangzhou-travel\/the-best-hiking-trail-in-hangzhou","title":{"rendered":"The Best hiking trail in Hangzhou"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

West Lake<\/strong> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the numerous places to hike in the green and historical mountains around West Lake, the hike on Baoshi Shan is always my favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I start my one and half hour hike from Baoshi Shan’s north hillside behind Yellow Dragon<\/a><\/span> Cave<\/span>.<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Location of Boashi Shan ( Boashi Mountain)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baoshi Shan Hiking Guide Map Signboard in Chinese<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Baoshi Shan Hiking Guide Map Signboard in Chinese<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The well maintained mountain paths are built with solid slabs zigzagging up to the hill top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The well maintained mountain paths are built with solid slabs zigzagging up to the hill top<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I walk along the bamboo path up to the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
I walk along a bamboo path up to the hill.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After 10 minute\u2019s hike, I come across a rock sign carved with four directions. Please choose the direction pointing to Ziyun Cave (\u7d2b\u4e91\u6d1e) which will lead to the highlight of the trail destination \u2013 Baochu Pagoda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue to walk on the hill path, soon you will encounter a tomb, the Tomb of Niu Gao. Niu Gao (1087 \u2013 1147) was an anti-Jin general under Yue Fei <\/a>in Southern Song Dynasty ( 960\u20131279).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Tomb of Niu Gao<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This rock sign tells you the path leading to the important attraction on the Baoshi Shan \u2013 The Sunrise Terrace (\u521d\u9633\u53f0) which is a good place to view a sunrise in early morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
This rock sign tells you the path leading to the important attraction on the Baoshi Shan – The Sunrise Terrace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Sunrise Terrace (\u521d\u9633\u53f0) on a hill top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I continue to walk on the paved stone path flanked by bushes and tress on the mountain range in Baishi Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
A glimpse of West Lake below in a haze<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
pet bird cages hung on the tree branches<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is the final rock sign pointing to the path leading to Baochu Pagoda (\u4fdd\u4ff6\u5854).  People are trying to climb to the hill top and have a bird-eye view of the lake and city as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
climb to the hill top and have a bird-eye view of the lake and city as a whole<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Standing on a rock hilltop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Standing on a hilltop<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The slender Baochu Pagoda standing on Baoshi (Precious Stone) Hill on the north bank of West Lake in Hangzhou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The slender Baochu Pagoda standing on Baoshi (Precious Stone) Hill on the north bank of West Lake in Hangzhou<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Overlooking West Lake dominated by the Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge and surrounded by the city\u2019s downtown area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Overlooking West Lake dominated by the Snow Lingering Bridge and surrounded by the city’s downtown area<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Baidi Causeway divides the lake into the outer land and inner lake in a haze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Baidi Causeway divides the lake into the outer land and inner lake in a haze.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Baoshi Hill is a place for romance seeking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Baoshi Hill is a place for romance seeking.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Glory belongs to the Immortal in heaven; Peace and Happiness to people on earth.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On the hillside there is a \u201d book bar\u201d where you may have a drink over reading a book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the hillside there is a book bar where you may have a drink over reading a book<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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my favorite local snacks in Hangzhou<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I finish my one and half hour hike at Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
I finish my one and half hour hike at Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tip:  Hassle-free Hangzhou Guided Tours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Hangzhou Guided Tours:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hangzhou Tour<\/a>
Hangzhou 4-Day Tour Package<\/a>
Hangzhou 3-Day Tour Package<\/a>
Hangzhou Private Tour<\/a>
Hangzhou Theme Tour<\/a>
Hangzhou Side Trips<\/a>
Hangzhou Car Rental with Driver<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Readings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Top 10 Attractions in Hangzhou<\/a>
Top 10 Photography Spots in Hangzhou<\/a>
Night View of West Lake in Hangzhou<\/a>
The Best hiking trail in Hangzhou<\/a>
The best time to visit Hangzhou<\/a>
Hangzhou East Railway Station<\/a>
Hangzhou Airport Arrival Hall<\/a>
How to Visit Feilai Peak Grottoes in Hangzhou<\/a>
Where to stay in Hangzhou<\/a>
Hangzhou Bicycle Hire<\/a>
Wushan Night Market in Hangzhou<\/a>
Pedestrian Streets in Hangzhou<\/a>
Hangzhou\u2019s Best Bars & Nightclubs<\/a>
Best Way to Visit Hangzhou from Shanghai<\/a>
How to Visit Grand Canal Hangzhou<\/a>
How to Visit Xiling Seal Engravers\u2019 Society<\/a>
How to Visit Liuhe Pagoda<\/a>
Hangzhou Tea Plantation<\/a>
How to Visit Leifeng Pagoda<\/a>
How to visit Hupao Spring (Tiger Spring) Hangzhou<\/a>
How to Visit Yellow Dragon Cave in Hangzhou<\/a>
The Best Place to View Sunrise over West Lake Hangzhou<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any question, just drop a line.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[1536,1537],"class_list":["post-7710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hangzhou-travel","tag-hangzhous-best-hiking-place","tag-the-best-place-to-hike-in-hangzhou"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7710"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27490,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7710\/revisions\/27490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}