//
Photo: Takashishin, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hangzhou's most famous scenic sight. It is traditional to see the 10 Scenes of the West Lake and 10 New Scenes, and thousands of the visitors dutifully do so every year. However, these particular sites are overrated, and often seasonal (Snowfall Over Broken Bridge, etc.). Rather than make a checklist and walking back and forth looking for them, simply spend a clear day wandering the circumference of the lake and the causeways, take a ferry to the islands, and you will probably cover most of the sites anyway. The lake is quite large: the walk around it is about 12 km long.
West Lake, also known as Xihu and by other names, is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. Situated to the west of Hangzhou's former walled city, the lake has a surface area of 6.39 km2 (2.47 sq mi), stretching 3.2 km (2.0 mi) from north to south and 2.8 km (1.7 mi) from east to west. In the lake are four causeways, three artificial islands, and Gushan, the only natural island. Gentle hills surround the lake on its north, west, and south sides, with the Leifeng and Baochu pagodas standing in pair on the south and north banks. Several famous temples are nestled in the mountains west of the lake, including Lingyin and Jingci Temples.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
雷峰夕照 Léifēngxīzhào
The pagoda (see below for full description) is lit up at night. It is best viewed from across the lake, for example from the spot indicated here.
Lesser Yingzhou Isle, 三潭映月 Sāntányìngyuè
Built in the early 1600s, this is the largest island on the lake. When there is a full moon, candles inside the pagodas are lit, and in the candle light it appears as though you see the moonlight (if you are romantic enough to see it), hence the name.
花港观鱼, Huagangguanyu
Its famous points are fishes, flowers and ponds.
南屏晚钟, Nanpingwanzhong
A powerful bell in a temple on a mountain, rung at dusk. One does not need to visit the bell, it can be heard across the lake.
柳浪闻莺 Liǔlàngwényīng
A large park at Qingbomen (清波门), when orioles can be heard singing.
Huxin Pavilion
Built in 1552, it is the oldest island in Hangzhou. There is an inscription by the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong.