See the grandeur of imperial China by witnessing the top 7 places to visit in Hangzhou. Located in the eastern part of China, Hangzhou is the capital of the province of Zhejiang and is bordered by the Hangzhou Bay. The city is still considered a semi-provincial territory even if it is the fourth biggest city in the whole of China. There are several attractions in Hangzhou that magnetize quite a number of tourists but still not comparable to those that visit Beijing and Shanghai. For this reason, Hangzhou remains to be an unexplored city of China.
Before boarding the next flight to China, make sure that you have the necessary documents needed to secure a Chinese tourist visa.
At present, there are about 126 countries with existing mutual visa exemption agreement with China. Although most of these agreements only allow visa exemptions to foreign diplomats, it is still helpful to see the list of countries with this mutual agreement. If you are a passport holder of country with no special arrangements, then you will need to apply for a tourist (L) Chinese visa. Here are the requirements to secure one:
- Valid passport
- Photocopy of the first and last pages of passport
- Application form
- A colored passport photo with light background
- Flight Itinerary
- Itinerary in China
- Hotel Booking
- Certification of Employment (if working)
- Certification of Education (if studying)
- Letter of Invitation (if invited by a Chinese local)
Top 7 Places to Visit in Hangzhou:
The city of Hangzhou itself is quite easy to traverse. Tourists can actually purchase a Z-card which gives access to trains and bike rentals within the city. Only tourists are allowed to get such a card – make sure you have your passports with you when you purchase one plus RMB200 for security deposit. You can refund the deposit when you return the Z card before leaving Hangzhou.
He Fang Jie or Hefang Street:
He Fang Jie or Hefang Street shows a great contrast between the traditional Chinese and the modern Chinese.
The street is lined with quite a number of shops that sell clothes, shoes, bags, traditional Chinese medicine, handmade crafts, and many more. Where else can you find a McDonald’s restaurant surrounded by traditional Chinese noodle restaurants? Only at Hefang Street!
While walking the street, make sure you pass by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum of Huqingyu Hall. Situated in an ancient imperial building, this museum shows visitors of the rich history of Chinese medicine and proves that this tradition is based on sound research and is indeed effective! The Medicine Preparation Hall within the museum explains how the concoction of herbs are measured and prepared to produce a potent medicinal potion. Tourists who are interested to try out traditional Chinese medicine can even go to the museum’s health care clinic.
Confucius Temple:
Located along Laodong Road, the Confucius Temple is a memorial hall built-in the name of the great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, who established Confucianism.
Believe it or not, the entire compound where the temple lies used to be located at the foot of the Fenghuang Hill but was slowly transferred to where it is now. Confucianism became really strong during the Song Dynasty and this temple represents its prominence during the said dynasty. Today, the memorial hall and temple is open to both locals and foreign tourists who wish to either pay respects, pray, or know more about Confucius.
Qian Wang Temple:
Located near the famous West Lake, the Qian Wang Temple is large compound made in memory of King Qian and the Kingdom of Wu and Yue.
Spend an hour or two in this huge complex and marvel at the intricate handmade designs that ornate the old Chinese structures built centuries ago. Some of the displays in the temple are more than 300 years old and these show how rich and colourful Chinese history is. Learn a lot of the ancient imperial China just by walking along the pathways and looking at the memorial halls built within the compound.
Leifeng Pagoda:
Just two kilometres south of Qian Wang Temple is the Leifeng Pagoda. Built by the bank of West Lake, this pagoda was built more than a millennium ago during the Five Dynasty Period.
King Qian named this pagoda after one of his wives, Huang Fei. The pagoda that stands tall today may not be the original pagoda built long ago but the restoration efforts of the local government made sure that the replica remained true to the original architecture of the pagoda.
West Lake:
Most of the historic attractions and top 7 Places to visit in Hangzhou are found in and around West Lake.
If you plan to spend a day or two in Hangzhou, make sure you spend your full day in this lake. Take a lake cruise so you can take all the routine stops to all of the must-see sites at West Lake.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon:
Start your West Lake cruise at Lake Side Park. From the dock, you will be taken to the famous Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.
These are three small pagodas built on islets within the lake that literally mirrors a moon-like image on the lake. When a lit candle is placed in the pagoda, the light shines out the 5 holes and this even creates a moon-like image at night.
Viewing Fish at Flower Pond:
If you want to see schools of kois, gold-fish, and carps in a pond, then stop by the Flower Pond at West Lake.
This top attraction is a great resting point for children and adults who are fond of fish. The pond may seem ordinary but the history behind it is deeper than the lake itself. This flower pond dates back during the South Song Dynasty, when the king asked his men to dig him a pond to raise a variety of fish. Now this pond is filled with red carps and gold-fish.
Top 7 Places to Visit in Hangzhou – Fly to China Now!
Excited for your much-needed oriental vacation? Make sure you have secured a Chinese Tourist Visa before setting foot in China. Should you have any questions or need any assistance is getting a visa or getting an itinerary for the visa application, you may contact us through our website or Facebook page.
Take a trip to the almost tourist-free part of China and see the top 7 places to visit in Hangzhou.
