Established by artificial means in the 8C on a branch of the River Qiantang, the West Lake became an immediate success, where palaces, pagodas, temples, kiosks, paths and gardens on its banks and islands have created an enchanting picture-postcard si..

Founded in the 4C by a Buddhist monk from India, the Temple of the Soul’s Retreat has been destroyed and rebuilt on no fewer than 16 occasions, either as a result of war or earthquake. The present building is a restoration of the temple built during ..

The Broken Bridge of the Melting Snow provides access to the eastern end of the Bai causeway: when the bridge is covered in a layer of snow, the first rays of sunlight make the white reflections on the sunny half of the bridge disappear, giving it ..

Small in size but particularly prosperous and fertile, Zhejiang province has enjoyed a long and eventful history which is highlighted in this museum. Through its extensive collection of exhibits and relics (ancient pottery, engraved jade disks, furni..

Created in the 17C, the Small Mountain of the Immortals Island, the largest of the lake’s three islands, encircles four lakes separated by four bridges which are connected with each other on a central islet. In summer, the ponds are covered with lotu..

Built in the 10C, this medieval pagoda has a long history. Standing opposite the estuary of the River Qiantang, it acts as a lighthouse, guiding boats along the river, as well as an observation post providing warning of the tidal bore which comes up ..

It’s interesting to note that tea, which comes from China, was originally used as a medicinal plant. With its warm, damp climate, the Hangzhou region produces excellent tea, which is strong but not bitter in taste, and is grown around the Dragon spri..

Housed in a delightful traditional medicine shop (1874), the Museum of Chinese Medicine occupies the rooms adjoining the inner courtyard. Engraved wood portraits of the major masters of Chinese medicine hang in the entrance staircase, while the bust ..

Lined by gardens to the west, the Su causeway forms a long north-south promenade planted with birch and peach trees and linked by six arched bridges. The memorial at its southern end is dedicated to the governor who built it, Su Dongpo (1037-1101),..

The Middle Kingdom made its fortune from silk, the trade in which it long enjoyed a monopoly. In this museum, visitors will learn all there is to know about the various forms of this precious fabric – wild, raw, washed and even brocade – from the ver..

It was the Chinese who invented porcelain, which reached its zenith under the Southern Song dynasty from the 12C onwards. The Dragon Kiln, a 40m-long gallery, was one of the most important sites for the production of this highly sophisticated, transl..

Situated on the road leading to the summit of Wu Hill, the Hangzhou History Museum retraces the history of the town through a fine collection of exhibits accompanied by explanatory notes in English. The collection includes the mausoleum of Kang , a ..