Hangzhou

Is Hangzhou worth visiting?

Hangzhou is one of the most beautiful cities in China, worth visiting when visiting nearby Shanghai. It offers visitors colorful and picturesque landscapes and a variety of cultural and entertainment attractions. Hangzhou is famous worldwide for its tea.

Italian explorer Marco Polo described it as the most magnificent and luxurious city in the world. The West Lake Sightseeing Area includes over 60 cultural monuments and several attractions of natural beauty, and a lake cruise is a good option to see these places.

From 1132 until the Mongol invasion in 1276, Hangzhou remained the capital of the Southern Song dynasty and was known as Lin'an. It served as the seat of imperial government, a center of trade and entertainment, and a hub for the main branches of state administration.

Top tourist attractions in Hangzhou

In addition to exploring the city, while walking its pleasant streets, you cannot miss a few places:

• West Lake: The West Lake, with an area of ​​over eight square kilometers, is one of the city's biggest attractions. It offers boat trips and island hopping.
• Qing He Fang Street: The city's main thoroughfare still retains its historic charm with old buildings. It is lined with stalls and handicraft shops offering typical products from the city.
• Lingyin Temple: The Temple of the Soul Retreat (or Hidden Soul) is one of the most famous in all of China. Next door is the Flying Peak, a collection of Buddhas and other figures carved into the rock.
• Six Harmonies Pagoda: Built in 970, the Six Harmonies Pagoda is one of the most famous in China. Its name comes from the principles taught by Buddhism: harmony of body, mind, words, opinions, poverty and abstinence.
• Night Show on the Lake: A light and sound show that takes place every night on West Lake, illuminated with unique colors.
• Visit to Longjing Tea Plantation (Dragon Well) – one of the most famous and best green teas in the world.

Known in the Middle Ages as the “Earthly Paradise,” Hangzhou is one of the most beautiful cities in China and is an ideal choice for a day trip from Shanghai. Romance of Song Dynasty is another must-see attraction in Hangzhou. The musical drama Romance of Song Dynasty is a panoramic style spectacle; along with O in Las Vegas and Moulin Rouge in Paris, it is considered the “Top 3 Famous Shows in the World”. With advanced visual and sound techniques to enhance the stage effects, the millions of spectators who visit the venue each year are never disappointed by the spectacle that unfolds before their eyes.