West Lake 5A

A timeless landscape of pagodas, causeways and misty hills that has inspired Chinese poetry for centuries.

West Lake-About this place

About West Lake

Just west of downtown Hangzhou, West Lake is ringed by green hills and threaded with historic causeways. The classic Ten Scenes — from Spring Dawn on Su Causeway to Sunset over Leifeng Pagoda — are best explored slowly, on foot or by bicycle.

Best time: March to May, or crisp October days
Don't miss: A sunrise ride along the lake and a sunset view from Leifeng Pagoda
Getting there: Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then a 10-minute walk