Renowned in medieval China as an earthly paradise, Hangzhou became the splendid capital of the Southern Song Dynasty between 1138 and 1279. The capital flourished and its glories were extolled by Marco Polo, who allegedly visited Hangzhou at the height of its prosperity and described it as “the City of Heaven, the most magnificent in all over the world.” Later, when the conquering Mongols chose what is now Beijing as their new capital, Hangzhou continued to be a thriving commercial city. West Lake is the most famous scenic spot in Hangzhou.

West Lake

Long considered one of the scenic wonders of China, covering over 8 sq km, West Lake (Xi Hu) is situated at the heart of Hangzhou. Surrounded by gentle green hills, the lake’s willow shaded causeways and fragrant cover of lotus blossoms have long been an inspiration for artists. Originally the lake was an inlet off the estuary of the Qiantang River, becoming a lake when the river began to silt up in the 4th century. The lake had a tendency to flood, so several dykes were built, including the Bai Causeway and Su Causeway. Hiring a private boat from the eastern shore for an afternoon on the water is highly recommended, as is a leisurely stroll along the shady causeways.

Lingyin Si (Lingyin Temple)

The hill area known as Feilai Feng (The Peak that Flew Here) is home to some of the city’s main sights, including Lingyin Si. Founded in AD 326, this temple once housed 3,000 monks who worshiped in more than 70 halls. Though now much reduced in size, it is still one of China’s largest temples. It was damaged by fire in the 20th century. Still, some parts of the temple are ancient, such as the stone pagodas on either side of the entrance hall, that date from AD 969. Behind this hall is the Great Buddha Hall, with an impressive 20-m statue of the Buddha carved in 1956 from camphor wood.