Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies (Jiuxi Shiba Jian)

Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies (Jiuxi Shiba Jian) is a valley walking trail in the hills south of Longjing Village in Hangzhou's Xihu District, roughly 20-30 minutes by taxi or DiDi from West Lake, or reachable on Bus K4 or Y3 to the Jiuxi Yanshu stop. The trailhead sits at the Jiuxi Yanshu (Nine Creeks Misty Trees) entrance on Jiuxi Road; there is a small entry fee and a paved area near the gate, with no technical permit required. The route follows a network of stone-paved and packed-dirt paths that thread along and repeatedly cross a shallow stream fed by numerous small tributary creeks, covering 5-7 km depending on which fork is taken, with a gentle cumulative elevation change of roughly 100-200 m (330-660 ft) over 2-3 hours. The surface is mostly flat stone flagging with some sections of packed earth and stepping stones across the water; shade from bamboo and tea-hill forest covers most of the walk, and exposure is minimal throughout. Key landmarks include the Jiuxi Yanshu pavilion near the entrance, several small stone bridges over the creek crossings, and clusters of tea bushes on the surrounding slopes near Longjing Village; most visitors turn around at the upper end of the valley near the old Fangyuan'an temple ruins before looping back. There are no staffed refuge huts along the route, but rest pavilions and benches are spaced along the main path, and small tea houses near the entrance and exit sell drinks and light snacks. Water fountains are limited, so visitors typically bring their own bottled water. The trail is particularly atmospheric during misty or light-rain weather, when the creek volume rises and the forest canopy holds moisture, and during the spring tea-picking season of March and April when the surrounding hillsides are dotted with pickers. Because the stream crossings use flat stepping stones, the surface can be slick after rain, so footwear with reliable grip is recommended. The trail is a popular alternative to the more crowded West Lake shoreline paths for visitors seeking a quieter nature walk within a short drive of the city center.