Hangzhou West Lake

Hangzhou lies about 270 km (168 miles) southeast of Nanjing in neighbouring Zhejiang province, and West Lake in Xihu District is its centrepiece, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. G-series high-speed trains from Nanjing South Railway Station reach Hangzhou East or Hangzhou Station in about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes for roughly ¥115-135 in second class. From Hangzhou East, the metro or a taxi reaches the lakeside in about 30 minutes. The lake is ringed by paths, causeways and hills, and the shore can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by boat. Highlights include the Su Causeway and Bai Causeway, the Broken Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda, and the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon on Xiaoyingzhou island. A typical circuit of the eastern and northern shores takes three to five hours on foot, which is why this trip is classed as moderate. An efficient plan is to catch an early train, reach the lake by 09:30, walk the Su Causeway in the morning, and take a lake cruise to the island. Lunch can be Hangzhou cuisine such as Dongpo pork, West Lake fish in vinegar sauce and Longjing shrimp, served in restaurants near Hefang Street and along the lake. In the afternoon, visitors can climb Leifeng Pagoda, walk the Bai Causeway, or visit the Longjing tea villages in the hills southwest of the lake, where tea can be sampled. Spring, from March to May, brings blossom and the new tea season, and autumn brings osmanthus scent and clear skies. Summer is hot and humid, and holiday weeks are very crowded. Access to the lake shore is free, while boats, pagodas and some gardens charge separate fees. Because the day is long and the return trip takes almost two hours, visitors should plan an evening train no later than the last convenient departure and consider staying overnight for a fuller visit.