The Best Place to View Sunrise over West Lake Hangzhou

Plan your Hangzhou Tour? If you love to take sunrise shots, you may wonder where is the best spot for viewing the sunrise over the West Lake of Hangzhou. There are several sites good for sunrise at Hangzhou. For the best sunrise photo taking experience is Boshishan ( Precious Stone Moutain ), or 宝石山 in Chinese.

Baoshi Shan (Precious Stone Hill), the main body of the North Hill on the northen bank of West Lake. There are several stone paths winding up to the hill either from the lakeside, or from its north hillside. Baoshi Shan is dotted with unique caves, Buddhist, Taoist shrines and weird stones or rocks. Of course, it is a perfect place to view a sunrise overlooking the downtown and the lake.

Early morning I check online and get to know today’s sunrise time in Hangzhou is 6:09. At 5:30, I take a taxi to the cobbled pathway with stone steps leading to the top rock place overlooking the slender Baoshu Pogoda and the West Lake.

It takes about 10 minutes’walk to clamber up a view point on a rock, finding there have been already some sunrise lovers waiting on several high places despite of the early morning hilltop blustery wind.

there have been already some sunrise lovers waiting on several high places
there have been already some sunrise lovers waiting on several high places

A light haze hangs over the West Lake and Hangzhou City. The West Lake is circled by mountains on its three sides with its west being the downtown city, vulnerable land formation for keeping haze or smog.

Today’s thin haze delays the rising of the sun for about 10 minutes.

The thin haze delays the rising of the sun for about 10 minutes.
The thin haze delays the rising of the sun for about 10 minutes.

At 6:19, a fire ball is appearing above the grey haze over the lake and the city.

The sun is rising higher despite of the haze
The sun is rising higher despite of the haze

With the sun rising higher and higher, the bright sunlight leaves a thik red reflection on the water of the lake.

the bright sunlight leaves a thik red reflection on the water of the lake.
the bright sunlight leaves a thik red reflection on the water of the lake.

The slender Baoshu Pagoda is competing the beauty of the bright rising sun.

The slender Baoshu Pagoda is competing the beauty of the bright rising sun.
The slender Baoshu Pagoda is competing the beauty of the bright rising sun.

Hike down the Precious Stone Hill, I walk to the Beishan Road below the Northen Hill ( or the Baoshi Shan ) and snap a shot of the rising sun over the Broken Bridge (断桥).

the rising sun over the Broken Bridge
the rising sun over the Broken Bridge

Thank the Sun for giving us the sunshine beautify the world.

Thank the Sun for giving us the sunshine beautifying the world.
Thank the Sun for giving us the sunshine beautifying the world.

Tip:  Hassle-free Hangzhou Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Hangzhou Guided Tours:

Hangzhou Tour
Hangzhou 4-Day Tour Package
Hangzhou 3-Day Tour Package
Hangzhou Private Tour
Hangzhou Theme Tour
Hangzhou Side Trips
Hangzhou Car Rental with Driver

Further Readings


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

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