Live Your Best Lives
Of all the seasons, I still like autumn the most. Amidst the bleakness comes a touch of bright yellow warmth. The air becomes quiet, the wind quietly carries the fallen leaves, and even people become gentler.
Autumn in Hangzhou arrives quickly and fleetingly; before you know it, it's already deep autumn, yet it's also the most beautiful season. To experience its beauty, you definitely don't have to follow the crowds along the bustling Beishan Road to see the shadow of West Lake.
A beautiful autumn day is slow and gentle, not rushed or crowded. So where should I go? I think Xixi Wetland is the best choice.
"Winding waters meander around, surrounded by mountains, famous gardens and ancient temples follow one after another, and there are many reeds and sandbanks." Someone once praised Xixi Wetland in this way, which shows its beauty.
Today, Xixi covers a total area of approximately 11.5 square kilometers, divided into three parts: east, middle, and west. Xixi Wetland boasts a sparsely populated area, stunning scenery, and convenient transportation. Just 6 kilometers from Wulin Gate in Hangzhou's main urban area and 5 kilometers from West Lake, it truly is a rare Jiangnan dreamland.
"Xixi Wetland is all about water." Water is the soul of Xixi. Approximately 70% of the park's area is comprised of rivers, ponds, lakes, swamps, and other water bodies. Therefore, a boat trip is a must-do when visiting Xixi.
In the season when sweet-scented osmanthus is fragrant, take a rowboat through the tranquil river of Xixi Wetland, with beautiful scenery on both sides.
Ten Scenic Spots of Xixi
One of them is Qushui Xunmei, one of the three major plum blossom viewing areas in Jiangnan, with more than 1,500 plum trees;
The second one is the misty fishing village, where you can see the two-story wooden houses where the water village residents live, arranged in an orderly manner;
The third is "Autumn Reeds Flying Snow", deep in the reeds, surrounded by streams on all sides, covered with reed flowers, with the autumn wind, it is very beautiful;
Its Siliantan Heron Shadow is a paradise for wetland animals and a major bird watching area;
The Five Reeds Floating in the Moonlight is more suitable for visiting in autumn, with the beauty of yellow oranges, red persimmons, purple water chestnuts and fragrant tea;
The performance of "Listening to Music at Liuhezhu" once appeared in Lu Xun's novel. The stage was built on the water, symbolizing the unique living habits of Jiangnan.
Qigaozhuang, the villa of Fujiqi in Xixi during the Qing Dynasty, is very suitable for taking ancient-style photos;
Its Bahuo Shi Yingbo, with more than 4,000 old persimmon trees, creates a unique beauty;
The lingering charm of Jiuhong Garden is that the Hong family was a prominent Qiantang family during the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. In his later years, Hong Zhong, the Shangshu of the Ming Dynasty, chose to retire to Xixi. It can be seen that the scenery here also gives people a sense of tranquility.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a special event every year during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Xixi Wetland has its own special rowing boat experience project. You can visit it at dusk in Xixi and enjoy the wildness of the forest with tired birds returning to the forest and insects chirping. You can also book an exclusive candlelight dinner and release a river lantern for blessing.
I usually watch aerial photos and marvel at the beauty of the "God's perspective". This time in Xixi, I really tried the "God's perspective" with my naked eyes.
Located in the Xixi Wetland Slow Life District, the "Sky Rover" sightseeing helium balloon is the only manned sightseeing helium balloon independently developed and manufactured in my country, and the only high-altitude helium balloon experience in Hangzhou. The massive hot air balloon, perched within the district, boasts a volume of 6,000 cubic meters, can accommodate up to 25 people, and rises to a maximum height of 150 meters.
Tips:
Helium balloon operation hours: 8:00-17:30
Charge standard: The retail price is 180 yuan per person
Time: 10-15 minutes
*Helium is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable and non-explosive inert gas, which fully guarantees the safety of sightseeing balloons.
*Helium balloon operations are easily affected by weather. Please call to confirm whether the balloon is operating on the day of the experience.
Consultation hotline: 0571-88106688, 88106696.
There is also a special wetland museum in Xixi Wetland. It is the only national wetland museum in China approved by the State Forestry Administration. It integrates collection, research, display, education and entertainment.
The museum is built on a hill with a very unique shape. It was designed and built by Japanese design firm Arata Isozaki. The main venue covered with green is buried "underground", and only the mushroom-like observation tower stands on the hill.
There are four main halls in the museum, namely the introductory hall, the wetland and human hall, the China hall and the Xixi hall. The entire exhibition area is also well designed, and it looks beautiful in any photo.
This is the Jiangcun Market Slow Life District, a place whose name perfectly captures the atmosphere it evokes. The cobblestone streets, unique to Jiangnan, are lined with exquisite little shops, all owned by those who love life. Cafés, teahouses, sundries, clothing stores...any of them is a delight.
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Gou, once wanted to build a temporary palace in Xixi, but due to lack of funds, he gave up, leaving behind the regret of "staying in Xixi". Therefore, if you want to experience the true charm of Xixi Wetland, you must stay here for 1-2 nights.
Xixi Paradise in the southeast corner of Xixi Wetland is the perfect choice. Here are many five-star and modern art-themed resort hotels. Each hotel has its own characteristics, and there is bound to be one you like.
About 300 meters away from the Lotus Beach Bird Watching Spot, the core nature reserve of Xixi Wetland, is the Xixuan Hotel, a hotel designed by a well-known domestic designer.
The simple and clear design gives Xixuan a literary and artistic atmosphere. In fact, it is also a hotel with quite artistic atmosphere.
There are cultural activities every month, movie screenings every week...especially their unique modern art library - Xixuan Zhuanxiang Library, which has three floors and a large book collection space. There are floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, and the sunlight pours in leisurely. You won’t get bored even if you sit here for most of the afternoon.
Everyone's probably familiar with the Sheraton, but the Sheraton in Xixi embodies even more Jiangnan characteristics. Surrounded by numerous ponds, streams, and rivers, the hotel's vast reedbeds and ecological zones offer a rich urban wetland landscape, fully embodying the style of China's traditional Jiangnan water towns.
The Sheraton Hotel has 380 spacious guest rooms and suites, each with a balcony where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Xixi while lying down. The rooms also feature Sheraton's unique sleep experience.
Restaurants are a hallmark of Sheraton, with four distinct restaurants and bars. The most noteworthy is the signature restaurant, Feast, whose design draws inspiration from traditional Chinese theory of the Five Elements: faceted black gold stone walls reflect dappled sunlight – gold; another area's walls are entirely clad in logs – wood; overhead lighting evokes the flow of clouds and water – water; a scale-like wall undulates in the wind, bringing flame patterns to life – fire; and the natural brick and stone flooring evokes a rustic feel – earth.
A wide variety of dishes, homemade desserts... The price of the buffet is extremely cost-effective. Even if you don’t stay here, you would like to come and try it once!
The Sheraton's fitness room features equipment from past Olympic Games official suppliers. It not only tracks and records your health data, but also offers a variety of fitness options. A workout here might be the closest you'll ever get to the Olympics.
When staying at the Sheraton, a must-do is the spa. Surrounded by plants, the Sheraton Spa has seven treatment rooms, all featuring wall-to-wall paintings.
The moment you step into Banyan Tree, you're transported to a painting. The design here embodies the charm of Jiangnan, from the corridors decorated with oil-paper umbrellas to the elegant and tranquil courtyards.
Banyan Tree isn't built into the landscape; it becomes the landscape itself. It's a garden brimming with Jiangnan-style charm, complete with pavilions, towers, willow trees, and small boats. The guest rooms and activity areas are exquisitely decorated, creating a breathtaking scene at every turn.
There is also a villa area here, where each group of guests has their own independent room and courtyard, allowing them to truly live in nature.
Another thing that must be mentioned about Banyan Tree is its Banyan Tree Spa, which uses Japanese Onsen therapy to provide a peaceful, tranquil and relaxing environment for your body and mind with comprehensive care.
Banyan Tree has another hotel in Xixi, which is the Angsana Xixi Resort Hotel. The price is lower than that of Banyan Tree and the cost performance is very high.
The hotel boasts over 60 comfortable guest rooms, decorated in hibiscus red and lapis lazuli blue. Wall photographs of the Xixi Wetland and carved wooden latticework create a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. The hotel also boasts meticulously designed Jiangnan landscapes. If you find the Banyan Tree a bit pricey, this is a good option.
Ticket price: 80 yuan
Boat tour (battery boat) ticket price: 60 yuan
Address: Entrance of Zhoujia Village, No. 518 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province (South Gate 1)
Business hours: varies according to the season
April 1st to October 31st
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
November 1st to March 31st of the following year
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Due to the large area of the park's attractions, ticket sales and admission will stop one hour before closing time.
After a week's work, pick a nice day to go to Xixi Wetland, live in nature, and take a walk in the sun. It's the perfect way to make the most of your autumn weekend. 🍂
