The main draw of the beautiful Chinese city of Hangzhou is its majestic West Lake. This naturally-occurring tourist attraction draws in visitors from both China and overseas to the city. Its beauty has been praised by poets and emperors alike.
The West Lake has an intoxicating charm and has many hidden spots that can be enjoyed at all times of the day. It hosts many pathways around the lake to be enjoyed on foot or by bike, but do be careful as smaller walkways do not allow bikes and you will have to cycle on the road around the lake for some sections.
That being said, you would be hard-pushed to find more beautiful roads - surrounded as they are by trees and perfectly tarmac-ed - which makes them a cyclist's dream.
We made the mistake of borrowing bikes from our hostel to explore the lake, which did not turn out to be the best idea. We wish we had taken advantage of the many public bike rental stands that are dotted around the place, which allow you to pick up and drop off your bike when it is convenient to do so. This would have allowed us to explore some of the tighter scenic spots, without the nuisance of having to wheel a bike through crowds of pedestrians.
Another great way to see the West Lake is by taking to the water. You can join a boat tour on a larger vessel, or charter a cute gondola and experienced sailor to navigate the peaceful waterways.
It is also the perfect spot to see the sunset and many people flock to the east side of the lake to see the day end over the water.
There is not a corner of the West Lake which is not filled with peaceful pagodas, quaint gardens or hidden walkways and yet the lake is barely a stone’s throw from the city centre in many places. It really is no wonder that Hangzhou is one of China's top attractions.
Check out my video here about Hangzhou….
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