Live Your Best Lives
Hangzhou residents enjoy a rich and somewhat contradictory recreational lifestyle. Some enjoy leisurely tea and card games in Meijiawu and Longjing Village; others indulge in a boisterous night of drinking on Nanshan Road's bar strip; others sip coffee and marvel at the lakeside views at West Lake Tiandi; and even more so, indulge in the decadence and revelry of Hubin Road Pedestrian Street. Or perhaps, you can take your children on a whirlwind outing at places like Hangzhou Paradise, Rotten Apple Paradise, Underwater World, and Hangzhou Polar Ocean World. The choice is yours.
"Impression West Lake," a large-scale live-action performance of the West Lake landscape, was produced by renowned tour guide Zhang Yimou. The show is composed of various imaginary scenes of the West Lake, starting with the boat carrying "Xu Xian" to a "floating attic." Each performance is devoid of storytelling, but rather a performance of intention. The most striking moment is the triangular curtain of rain rising from the lake, with two large birds soaring through the rain. Accompanied by Jane Zhang's song "Impression West Lake Rain," you can also witness the love story between White Snake and Xu Xian.
Address: No. 29 Yanggongdi, Xihu District (opposite to Yue Temple)
Fee: 220 yuan per ticket
Show time: First show at 19:45 (every day), second show at 21:15 (every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
Stage range: South to Zhaogong Causeway, North to Yuehu Tower, West to Quyuan Fenghe, East to Su Causeway
Transportation: Take Y2, Y3, 27, K27, K850, 81, K81, 7, K7, Y9, or J1 to Yuemiao Station
Hangzhou is a city of leisure, and a cup of Longjing tea is a must. Besides Meijiawu, one of the main West Lake destinations, other good options include Guozhuang on Yanggong Causeway, Yongfu Temple on the hill behind Lingyin Temple, and the teahouse in the Hupao Dream Spring Scenic Area. If that's not enough, try rafting around Hangzhou.
Here you can enjoy the most delicious farm food, the freshest air, drink a cup of the best Wumeilongjing tea, play cards, and look at the new green of the tea gardens all over the mountain. You will spend a leisurely and comfortable day.
Nearby attractions: To the north of Meijiawu is Lingyin Temple, to the south is Yunqi Bamboo Path, and it is also very close to Songcheng and Jiuxi Yanshu.
Address: No. 1 Meiling South Road, Xihu District
Transportation: Take bus No. 4 or No. 5 and get off at Meijiawu Station
The area is blanketed in lush bamboo forests, a verdant landscape. The Shuangxi Bamboo Sea rafting trip takes about an hour. Paddle your raft as you follow the confluence of tributaries from Mogan Mountain and Tianmu Mountain, where they converge into Shuangxi. Kingfishers, ducks, and egrets can be seen on the water. Lush tea fields and endless bamboo forests stretch along the banks. Along the streamside, scenic spots such as "An Old Man Fishing" and "A Village Girl Pounding Clothes" are also featured.
Address: No. 7, Shuangxi Zhuhai Road, Jingshan Town, Yuhang District
Cost: 100 yuan (rafting + ox cart) + 10 yuan (tour bus), half price for children under 1.2m.
Opening hours: Daytime 7:30-17:00, Nighttime 18:30-20:30
Contact: 0571-88501888
The only amusement parks in Hangzhou city are the Children's Park and the Underwater World, most of which are concentrated in Xiaoshan District. If you want to have fun all day, we recommend going to Hangzhou Paradise (No. 2555 Fengqing Avenue, Xiaoshan District, 9:30-17:00, 160 yuan/person) and the Rotten Apple Paradise opposite it (Metro Line 1, get off at Xianghu Station, walk east for about 15 minutes, 10:00-17:00, 150 yuan/person). The Polar Ocean World (No. 138 Xianghu Road, Xiaoshan District, 9:00-17:00, ticket price 180 yuan, between K515 and Xiaoshan Bus No. 16, get off at Polar Ocean World) also has more marine animals than the Underwater World.
Here you can find the country's longest coral sea view tunnel, more than 250 kinds of strange and bizarre marine creatures, and you can also enjoy the thrilling human-shark dance show.
Address: No. 49, Nanshan Road, Shangcheng District
Cost: 90 yuan
Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
Contact: 0571-87069500
Transportation: Take Bus No. 12, 30, 38, 308, 504, or Y2 and get off at Wansongling intersection
Nanshan Road Art and Leisure Street is home to high-end leisure and entertainment venues such as West Lake New World (No. 147, get off at Qingbomen Station). It is a famous bar, gallery and entertainment street in Hangzhou.
Arrival bus
Park 1: K25, K291, K102, K514, K12, Y9, 809, K504, K60, K4
Yongjinmen: K102, K12, Y9, K850, 809, K4
Qingbo Gate: K291, K102, K12, Y7, J9, J5, Y9, K514, 809, K504, 315
Qianwang Temple: K102, K38, K12, Y9, K850, K25, K4
Wansongling Intersection: K514, J9, Y9, Y6, K822, K808, K12, K4
The halls and shops of Hangzhou are the most dazzling sights at night, not only on West Lake but also in the entire city. The innovative and fashionable architecture of the Famous Brand Street has won numerous international architectural design awards. The West Lake Music Fountain, not far from the Famous Brand Street, is a must-see. Set against the backdrop of the dreamlike, illuminated Baoshi Mountain, the brightly lit Beishan Road, and the star-lit West Lake at night, it adds a touch of romance.
Address: No. 235 Qingchun Road, Xiacheng District
Fountain Time:
Daytime hours:
Once at 10:00 and 15:30, each lasting 10 minutes.
Night time:
Monday to Friday, 19:30-21:00, every 30 minutes, each session lasting 10 minutes;
Saturday and Sunday: 19:00-21:30, every 30 minutes, each lasting 10 minutes.
Transportation: Take bus No. Y2 to Qingbomen