 Hangzhou (杭州), China
West Lake, Hangzhou
Author: Nat Krause (public domain)
Hangzhou (杭州) is a city on the Yangtze River Delta. It is the capital of Zhejiang Province. Located 180 kilometers (112 miles) to the southwest of Shanghai, the Hangzhou region has a population of 6.4 million people.
Guide to Hangzhou Hotels
It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Hangzhou which we've put together, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.
More about Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a popular tourist destination in China, due in part to its picturesque sceneries and cultural heritage. The best known attraction in Hangzhou is its famous West Lake.
The Hangzhou region has been settled as early as seven thousand years ago, when the prehistoric Hemudu people settled in Yuyao, about 100 kilometers southeast of present-day Hangzhou.
The city of Hangzhou was founded 2,200 years ago, during the Qin Dynasty. The medieval city walls dates to the Sui Dynasty, around AD 591.
Hangzhou is one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China. It was the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom periods, from AD 907 to 978. At that time, it was known as Xifu. It ranks with Nanjing and Chengdu as the tree great cultural centers of southern China.
Hangzhou was the new capital of the Southern Song Dynastry, and remained the capital until the Mongol invasion in 1276. Marco Polo is said to have visited it in the late 13th century. He referred to the city as Kinsay in his writing.
The importance of Hangzhou declined towards the middle of the Ming Dynasty, when its harbor began to silt up. With the fall of the imperial government, Hangzhou came under the rule of the Republic of China under the Kuomintang from 1928 until 1949. Deng Xiaoping's reforms enabled it to rapidly develop its economy, becoming one of the most prosperous cities in China today.
Visiting Hangzhou
By Plane
The Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) receives mostly domestic flights. It also receives international flights from several cities including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Osaka, among others.
Hangzhou Airport is 30 kilometers from downtown Hangzhou. There is a shuttle bus that goes from the airport to the Xiaoshan Bus Ticket Office on Tiyuchang Road, just west of Wulin Square. The fare is ¥ 15.
You can also get to Hangzhou by bus from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. It departs from the 2nd floor parking lot near Gate 15. The fare is ¥100.
By Train
You can easily reach Hangzhou from Shanghai by train. The high-speed "D" trains take a mere 1 hour 18 minutes to make the journey. The cost is ¥54 for Second Class seat and ¥64 for First Class seat.
Exploring Hangzhou
Buses with a "Y" before the number, for example Y2, ply a tourist route, so it will pass through a tourist attraction. It is quite possible to just take the Y buses the whole day and see most of the sites in Hangzhou. The bus fare is between ¥1.00 and ¥1.50 for regular buses and ¥2-¥4 for air-conditioned buses.
Photos of Hangzhou
Maitreya Buddha at Feilai Feng Caves, Hangzhou
Author: Miguel A. Monjas (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
Cathedral of St Ignatius, Xujiahui, Shanghai
Author: Shizhao (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic)
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Places of Interest in Hangzhou
- West Lake (Xihú)
Hangzhou's West Lake is regarded as one of the most beautiful places in China. There are many sights at West Lake that you should visit when you are there.
- Yue Fei Mu
Tomb of Song Dynasty general Yue Fei, revered for his patriotism.
- Huanglong Dong Park & Qixia Shan
A park on the north of West Lake, with many interesting sights.
- Baochu Ta
A reconstructed Song Dynasty pagoda to the east of Huanglong Dong Park.
- Baopu Taoist Compound
A Taoist temple on the slopes of Qixia Shan.
- Hu Qingyu Tang Museum of Chinese Medicine
An interesting museum housed in an old apothecary.
- Tea Museum
Museum tracing the history of tea cultivation and drinking.
- Longjing Village (Dragon Well Village)
Traditional village famous for its varieties of green tea.
- Lingyin Si Temple
A huge monastery temple with 70 different halls, stands as one of the biggest temples in China. Among the attractions include the Great Buddha Hall and Ligong Pagoda.
- Six Harmonies Pagoda (Liuhe Ta)
Pagoda dating back to AD 970 that served as a lighthouse until the Ming Dynasty.
- Leifeng Pagoda
Pagoda originally built in AD 977, now replaced by a new structure over the original foundation. Splendid views of the city skyline from the top.
- Jingci Temple
Temple with a 10-ton bell located on Nanping Road.
- Jade Emperor Hill (Yuhuang Shan Gong Yuan)
Temple complex on a hill with the lake below.
- Guo's Villa
One of the most beautiful traditional private gardens in Hangzhou.
- Hangzhou Botanical Gardens
Flower garden with ponds and a peacock farm.
- Xixi National Wetlands Park
Wetlands on the extreme west of Hangzhou.
- Dreaming of the Tiger Spring
A lovely spring in a wooded setting, with streams, bamboo groves and tea houses.
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