Hidden Secrets of Hangzhou

I've been to Hangzhou many times. When I came again in September 2020, I deliberately chose less crowded, off-the-beaten-path spots to revisit. But no matter what, Lingyin Temple is a must. For the first time, I discovered that Feilai Peak has a very ancient charm, even somewhat reminiscent of Angkor Wat. I've been to Lingyin many times but never remembered that behind it lies Yongfu Zen Temple. The temple is built against the mountain, and climbing up to the Mahavira Hall offers a distant view of West Lake. I walked 16,000 steps, 10 kilometers on mountain trails, plus 400 meters swimming—enough exercise for the day.

Interestingly, I met a person dressed as an ancient warrior posing in the scenic area—probably another internet-famous photographer?

I really enjoyed taking the electric cart from Yongfu Temple around Fayu Ancient Village—now the Aman Fayu Hotel—and the nearby Tianzhu Scenic Area. There’s the famous "Seven Star Lake Moon" (though the water is dry now), Longjing Tea Plantations, Hangzhou Buddhist Academy, and the Nunnery Fajing Temple. Listening to the driver share local stories was especially fun: the Hangzhou Buddhist Academy requires at least a bachelor's degree for admission. After graduation, nuns intern at Fajing Temple. The driver originally came from Fayu Ancient Village, but after his house was bought by Aman Fayu, he moved to the Tianzhu area. Now the village has pooled funds to start a tourism company; renting out houses as guesthouses or shops can earn 300,000 yuan annually. The driver is a shareholder, his family owns Longjing tea plantations, and he drives the electric cart daily to take tourists around Tianzhu. It seems Hangzhou locals are as business-savvy as Jack Ma.

Jiuxi Smoke Trees, Shibajian, and Longjing Tea Plantations are all beautiful places with few people, though they require more walking.

South of Nanshan, West Lake is beautiful. It was my first time climbing Leifeng Pagoda; the view from the top is boundless. You can take an elevator up, and the base of the pagoda preserves the original foundation built during the Five Dynasties and the Kingdom of Wuyue.

The Southern Song Imperial Street and Qinghefang Ancient Street are now vibrant parts of modern Hangzhou.

Jiangnan is wonderful, the scenery familiar from old times. Santai Yunshui is my favorite place in Hangzhou; even on my second visit, I still find it incredibly beautiful!

Post by Lewis_12-Scarlett | Sep 28, 2025