West Lake (Xihu), Hangzhou

UNESCO World Heritage Site (West Lake Cultural Landscape Of Hangzhou, 2011); National 5A Tourist Attraction · Hangzhou, Zhejiang

The lake that taught China what a landscape should look like: a willow-fringed basin against wooded hills in Hangzhou, arranged over twelve centuries of causeways, islands, pagodas and temples into the UNESCO-listed cultural landscape whose Ten Scenes have been painted and quoted since the Song dynasty. Free to walk in its entirety, circled by 15 km of lakeside paths, and crossed by the Su and Bai causeways. Leifeng Pagoda rises on the south shore, Longjing (Dragon Well) tea grows on the hills to the west, and Lingyin Temple lies in the forest beyond. It is at its loveliest in spring blossom, summer lotus season and the autumn osmanthus bloom.

Hubin Road, West Lake District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

The lake, causeways and shoreline parks are open 24 hours, free. Boats run roughly 8:00-17:00 (later in high summer); Leifeng Pagoda roughly 8:00-19:00 seasonal; night illumination from dusk.

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