2023 Hangzhou Year of the Rabbit Spring Festival Trip
⛴️Day 1: A Hidden Gem of Xianghu Lake✨
📍Xianghu Scenic Area (No. 2758 Fengqing Avenue, Xiaoshan District)
Viewing Xianghu Lake from Wanghu Pavilion, the scenery is like a painting unfolding before your eyes.🏞 Xianghu Lake, the sister lake of West Lake 🌅 Less crowded, more beautiful scenery 🍃
Actually, this is our third trip to Xianghu Lake in Hangzhou, but our first time visiting the Xianghu Scenic Area…
On our first visit to Xianghu Lake, we checked out the Kaiyuan Senbo Resort Hotel, a highly recommended popular family-friendly hotel. It was also the first time we'd heard of Xianghu Lake; a glimpse from the car felt like seeing a "mini West Lake."
On our second visit, we stayed at Xianghu Xiaoyao Manor, but unfortunately, a typhoon hit, ruining our plans to explore Xianghu Lake 😭 It was the height of summer, and we only had time for a quick visit to Lianhua Manor and a few photos.
This time, we're revisiting Xianghu Xiaoyao Manor, determined to fully appreciate the beauty of Xianghu Lake 💕
Daytime: Lake cruise + Yue Wang City Ruins hike
🚢 Hangzhou Xianghu Lake Cruise: 27 RMB/person
In 2017, we took our two-year-old daughter, Tangtang, to Hangzhou, and the most enjoyable way to experience it was by boat; many years later, the little girls on the boat have grown up! On the day of our trip to Xianghu Lake, we unfortunately encountered a severe weather warning. The wind was strong along the lake, making us shiver. The tour boat, however, perfectly avoided the wind, allowing us to sit in the cabin, basking in the sun, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Xianghu Lake, and listening to the guide explain its historical changes!
🏯 Yue Wang City Ruins: Free visit to the ancient city ruins of the Spring and Autumn Period (Wu and Yue Dynasties)
I've heard the story of "King Goujian of Yue enduring hardship and humiliation" since childhood. Studying Chinese history, I have a basic understanding of the feud between King Goujian of Yue and King Fuchai of Wu. Now, I was fortunate enough to see the relics left behind from 2500 years ago, the result of King Goujian's struggle against the Wu army. Wonderful! This was Tangtang and Tiantian's second time climbing a mountain. Surprisingly, the two little ones climbed up very easily and then pulled us all the way down! Impressive!
We stayed overnight at 🏨 Hangzhou Xianghu Xiaoyao Manor
Xianghu Xiaoyao Manor is nestled in the Xianghu Scenic Area, built against the mountains and beside the water, offering an elegant and tranquil environment! The architectural style is reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty, showcasing the beauty of classical Chinese architecture. Every step reveals a new scene, making it a place you'll want to linger!
Last year during Singles' Day, I didn't hesitate to choose Xiaoyao Manor again, a successful second visit! Last time it was the height of summer, this time it was the dead of winter, right in the middle of the Spring Festival, and the hotel was filled with a strong festive atmosphere 🏮
🌈Day 2: Art and Museum Day🌈
Morning: Kuahuqiao Site Museum (978 Xianghu Road)
Free reservation 9:00-16:30 (Closed Mondays)
The Kuahuqiao Site is located in the scenic Kuahuqiao Scenic Area on the south bank of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou. It is a Neolithic site dating back 8,000 years.
The local government invested 100 million yuan to build the Kuahuqiao Site Museum, which exhibits the world's oldest dugout canoe discovered to date. This artifact proves that China is one of the earliest countries in the world to make dugout canoes.
Such a precious artifact was a must-see for someone like me who has recently become quite interested in history! Seeing it with my own eyes… though now just a piece of rotten wood, it embodies the wisdom of our ancestors from 8,000 years ago.
Chinese civilization has a long and rich history…
Afternoon: Zhejiang Provincial Museum of Modern Ceramic Art
Overwhelmingly artistic! Every snapshot is a masterpiece📸
Evening: Hangzhou Binjiang Baolong City + Encounter Museum
🌿Day 3: Stroll along the Tea-Scented Ancient Street🌿
Morning: Longwu Tea Village
A reunion with my best friends🎀 After 8 years, we met up again in Hangzhou. The group has grown from 8 to 8+5. Hoping the joy continues and our friendship lasts forever!
Climbing up the mountain along the path, surrounded by lush greenery 💚 - perfect for photos 📸
Afternoon: Southern Song Imperial Street + Qinghefang + Dajing Lane 🏮
Qinghefang Street: Highly not recommended. It's packed with people, the legendary pedestrian street that's supposedly the same all over China, full of fake Instagrammable spots 🤐
Personally recommended: Dajing Lane, which hides many trendy shops. I recommend [Metal Hands Coffee Factory] and [Hidden Stone Restaurant].
Southern Song Imperial Street: Worth exploring if you have time. It boasts many time-honored brands, as well as [Jia'ou Tiancheng] and [Cat's Sky City Concept Bookstore].
🏨Stay at Liuyingli Hotel by West Lake
Unlike the grand architectural style of Xiaoyao Manor, Liuyingli is itself a garden, nestled in the "Willow Waves and Orioles Singing" area, enjoying a secluded corner of West Lake, overlooking "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon" across the lake, and also enjoying the "Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset".
Our room was right by the lake. Though small, it was worth it to sit by the window and enjoy a panoramic view of most of West Lake 🏞. As the sun set, a stroll through the garden and the stunning "Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset" (one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake) was breathtaking!
I can't help but praise the hotel's breakfast. The restaurant wasn't large, and the selection wasn't extensive, but the taste was excellent. All the Hangzhou delicacies I could think of were there: scallion pancakes, Pian'erchuan noodles, and Dingsheng cake—everything was there! It was the first time my daughter and I had eaten until the breakfast was over 🔚. Because the hotel is located in the West Lake scenic area, driving is inconvenient. When going to nearby attractions, try to take a taxi or walk!
🌸Day 4 Classic West Lake Itinerary🌸 Morning: Willow Waves Listening to Orioles
Liuyingli is located within the "Willow Waves Listening to Orioles" scenic area. Stepping out of the hotel, you enter the scenic area and immediately feel the crowds at West Lake. Since it was winter, the willows had all fallen leaves, so we couldn't see the willows swaying in the breeze. The same view of the lake was best enjoyed from the hotel alone.
☕Rushi Valley Coffee&Bar: A beautifully hidden coffee shop with a Republican-era courtyard setting by West Lake!
Afternoon: Leifeng Pagoda
An 18-minute walk or 15-minute drive within the West Lake scenic area, we ultimately chose to walk, but we were almost too tired to get back! 🤭 After seeing the sunset at Leifeng Pagoda, how could we not climb it! You can choose to take the elevator, but the queue was too long, so we climbed up to the top floor. The panoramic view of West Lake was absolutely worth it! Finally, we took the elevator down and successfully checked off Leifeng Pagoda, thus concluding our trip to Hangzhou.
🔥TOP 5 Must-Visit Spots🔥
1️⃣ Xianghu Lake Cruise (No. 2758, Fengqing Avenue, Xiaoshan District)
2️⃣ Kuahuqiao Relics Museum (No. 978, Xianghu Road)
3️⃣ Southern Song Imperial Street (Zhongshan Middle Road, Shangcheng District)
4️⃣ Liulang Wenying Park (No. 87, Nanshan Road, Xihu District)
5️⃣ Leifeng Pagoda (No. 15, Nanshan Road, Xihu District)