Tianzhu Hills Loop (Faxi Temple to Tianzhu Villages)

The Tianzhu Hills Loop runs west of Lingyin Temple through the historic Faxi Temple area and the Tianzhu villages in Hangzhou's Xihu District, reached by Bus Y2 or 7 to the Lingyin stop and then a walk west along Tianzhu Road to the trailhead, about 30-40 minutes from West Lake. The 6 km loop climbs through moderate hill terrain with a cumulative elevation change of roughly 150-250 m (490-820 ft), typically taking 3-4 hours. The route mixes paved temple-approach roads near Lingyin with packed-dirt and stone-paved forest paths further along, offering good shade through wooded sections and more open sun exposure near the village clearings. There is no technical scrambling required, though the sustained rolling terrain makes it more strenuous than the shorter valley walks nearby. Landmarks along the loop include Faxi Temple, one of the historic Tianzhu temple complexes associated with the wider Lingyin-Tianzhu Buddhist heritage area, the Tianzhu villages themselves with their older stone houses and small farms, and several forested ridgelines offering views back toward the Lingyin valley. Most hikers treat the Tianzhu villages as the far point of the loop before curving back toward the Lingyin stop. There are no staffed refuge huts, and facilities thin out considerably past the main temple area, so hikers should carry snacks and water for the middle portion of the loop; small village shops near Tianzhu offer limited refreshments. The trail is quieter than the main Lingyin Temple grounds, making it a good option for visitors seeking a longer, more rural hike still close to the city's temple district, and it is most comfortable in the cooler months of spring and autumn given the sustained hill climbing involved.