What to See in Hangzhou
If it is only from a tourist perspective, you will love that you are going to spend a longer amount of time here, because there is so much to see and so much to do that a simple trip never seems to be enough.
As one of the ancient cities of China, Hangzhou has bulk of history to showcase around, but its uniqueness also comes from the beautiful landscape and some of the particular water towns, like Wuzhen, that are located on the Grand Canal and are certainly worth a visit.
As always, it is not easy to pick the most important attractions, so this should definitely not be used as an exhaustive list. However, when you think of China, one of the first three things that comes to mind would definitely be silk, so a visit to the largest silk museum in the world, located in Hangzhou, is a must (and it is also a free must, with no entrance fee charged).
The museum is an exhaustive presentation of China’s 6,000 years long history of silk manufacturing and includes relics from different periods, including a piece of material that is more than 5,500 years old, explanations on the different production techniques (including dyeing and weaving) and silk products made by famous weavers. You could easily spend a day here, especially since the museum boasts free audio guide that you can use on your journey through the history of silk.
One of the forefront attractions in Hangzhou is the West Lake, a beautiful natural landscape that made it a favorite with generations of Chinese Emperors and an imperial retreat.
Several activities can fill a full day on or around the lake, including a cruise on one of the dragoon boats. Around the lake, pick several views of the most famous ones from which to admire the landscape, including the Evening Bell at Nanping Hill and the Spring Dawn at Su Causeway.
Another important attraction in Hangzhou is the Lingyin Temple, known as the Temple of the Soul’s Retreat. Several halls, pagodas and temple buildings are worth visiting, most richly decorated with Buddhist ornaments and motifs. The Feilai Feng is part of a complex of grottoes with amazing stone carvings where you should definitely stop as part of your trip here.
Finally, one of the ancient towns on the Grand Canal, like Wuzhen, is worth a day trip: you will enjoy the specific atmosphere and many of the water houses.