Beigao Feng (North Peak) Trail

Beigao Feng (North Peak) is a stone-step summit trail rising behind Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou's Xihu District, reached by Bus 7 or Y2 to the Lingyin stop and then a 30-40 minute walk past the temple complex to the trailhead behind Laohe Mountain; there is no dedicated parking area, so most visitors arrive by public transit or taxi and walk in from the temple grounds. The round trip covers 4-5 km with a moderate ascent to a summit of approximately 300 m (985 ft), taking about 2-3 hours at a steady pace. The path is built almost entirely of stone steps and stone-paved switchbacks, with forested, shaded lower sections giving way to more open, exposed rock outcrops near the top. There is no technical scrambling required, but the sustained stair climbing makes it more strenuous than a flat walk. Key landmarks along the way include Lingyin Temple at the base, a series of viewing platforms partway up with views back toward Feilai Feng and the temple rooftops, and the summit itself, which offers panoramic views over the surrounding Xihu hills and, on clear days, glimpses of West Lake in the distance; most hikers treat the summit as the natural turn-around point before descending the same route. There are no huts or shelters along the trail and no water sources beyond the temple area at the base, so hikers should carry their own water. Small vendors near the Lingyin Temple entrance sell drinks and snacks before and after the hike. The exposed summit sections receive full sun, so visitors climbing in summer should expect heat on the upper stretches even though the lower forest is shaded. The trail is best tackled in spring or autumn when temperatures are milder and visibility for the summit views is generally better.