Attractions:      West Lake         Lingyin Temple         Wuzhen

West Lake

Located to the west of the city of Hangzhou, the West Lake is the most beautiful lake in China. The lake covers an area of 5.6 square kilometers and is surrounded by mountains in three sides. As the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, the West Lake is noted for the scenic beauty that blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites. In this scenic area, Solitary Hill, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, the Six Harmonies Pagoda and the Ling Yin Temple are probably the most frequently visited attractions. The "Ten West Lake Prospects" have been specially selected to give the visitor outstanding views of the lake, mountains and monuments. There are the Ten Beautiful Sceneries of the West Lake, namely the Quiet Lake and the Bright Moon in Autumn, the Beautiful Spring Morning in the Su Dike, the Melting Snow in the Broken Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda Setting Sun, the Dusk Bell of the South Reject, the Beautiful Lotus in the Courtyard, View Fish at Flowers Harbor, the Beautiful Willows with Birds in it, the Two Peaks as High as the Cloud.

Lingyin Temple

The Lingyin Temple (Temple of the Soul's Retreat) is one of the best-known Buddhist monasteries in China. The temple is located in the northwest of the West Lake, 9 kilometers away from the Hangzhou city proper. With a large number of old trees, groves of bamboos and its beautiful surroundings, the temple has become one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China.

The Temple was built in 326 AD at the foot of Lingyin Mountain. The main hall, 33.6 meters high, is one of China's tallest one-story buildings, further distinguished by double eaves. There is a statue of Sakyamuni, carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood, standing 19.6 meters high in the main hall. The foremost temple houses a laughing Buddha carved in camphor wood and covered in gold; there is a carved gilt figure standing behind as a guard. Both figures are set under a double-eave wooden canopy decorated in red and gold. Ornate lamps hang on either side. In front of the hall are two stone pagodas built during the Five Dynasties (907-960AD).

Wuzhen

Wuzhen is one of the most famous six ancient towns in Jiangnan (south of Yangtze River). Located in the north of Zhejing province, Wuzhen Town is embraced by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal with rivers and canals crisscrossing the whole town. It is 17 kilometers north of the city of Tongxiang. Wuzhen displays its two-thousand-year history in its ancient stone bridges floating on mild water, its stone pathways between the mottled walls and its delicate wood carvings. And also, Wuzhen makes itself different from other ancient towns with its profound cultural background. According to records, people have lived in Wuzhen for about 7000 years. In 1991, Wuzhen was authorized as the Provincial Ancient Town of History and Culture, so ranking first among the six ancient towns

Wuzhen is 2 kilometers long and is divided into six districts. These are: Traditional Workshops District, Traditional Local-Styled Dwelling Houses District, Traditional Culture District, Traditional Food and Beverage District, Traditional Shops and Stores District, and Water Township Customs and Life District. Wandering along the east-west-east circuit created by these six districts, you will enjoy the atmosphere of the traditional cultures and the original ancient features of the completely preserved ancient town.