HANGZHOU’S first English travel guidebook, “Hangzhou at a Glance,” was published earlier this month. Whether you’re on vacation, a honeymoon, or staking out Hangzhou for a business venture, this book has information you need, including listings for entertainment venues, cultural events and not-to-be-missed sightseeing destinations.

Last week, Shanghai Daily delved into what the guide has to offer for historians, nature lovers, pilgrims, entrepreneurs and culture vultures. Today, we delve into sections aimed at food-lovers, party people, shoppers, mind-and-body purists and family travelers.

Foodies

Hangzhou cuisine celebrates fresh ingredients and mild tastes. In the universe of local cooking, it stands in bold contrast to the fiery foods of Sichuan Province and the daring appetites of the Cantonese.

First-timers to the city often describe the food as a bit bland. Rather than presenting overly-seasoned dishes, Hangzhou fare focuses more on natural flavors and unique tastes. Compared with other cuisines, it emphasizes delicate presentations and balanced flavors.

The book includes famous Hangzhou dishes named after celebrities and historical figures. Many of China’s greatest gastronomes of the past — including Su Dongpo, Yuan Mei and Li Yu — cultivated their taste buds in Hangzhou.

Foodies can savor distinctive local dishes at the Chinese Hangzhou Cuisine Museum, like Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, West Lake carp in sweet and sour sauce, beggar’s chicken, black crab in egg yolk, deep-fried stuffed tofu skin rolls, crab steamed in orange and osmanthus jelly cake.

Southern Song Royal Street, Gaoyin Street and the night market at Zhongshan Road offer a wide selection of local foods. Popular time-honored brands like Zhi Wei Guan, Jing Yang Guan and Jiu Zhi Zhai also serve traditional snacks and specialties.

Shoppers

“Hangzhou at a Glance” presents a suggested list for shoppers, with items ranging from handicrafts to the most luxurious silks in the finest shops. The book recommends a series of local specialty items and street markets.

One must-buy Hangzhou product is silk. Local people say that if a man goes to Hangzhou and doesn’t come back with silk, his spouse has every right to be angry with him.

Hangzhou is noted for the hangluo variety of silk, which is characterized by its light, breathable properties which make it the perfect material for a summer cheongsam.

Authentic hangluo can be purchased at Fuxing Hangluo, which still upholds traditional weaving methods. Visitors to the city can also learn about the history of silk in the Hangzhou Silk Museum.

Longjing tea is another not-to-be-missed product while in Hangzhou. Known as the finest green tea variety in China, Longjing features an emerald color, sparrow tongue-shaped leaves, a bittersweet taste and a rich aroma.

Longjing Village is considered the best plantation for this tea variety due to the area’s plentiful rainfall, humid environment, moderate climate, rich soil and hilly terrain. Visitors are welcome to hike through the area’s lush tea gardens and taste this aromatic local beverage for themselves.

Party people

The book introduces a diverse array of nightlife options, including trendy hipster hangouts and cheerful beer pubs to live music joints and elegant cocktail bars.

9 Club and LINEHOUT Stage are fantastic live music venues that have built up large and loyal followings over the years. In May, the popular MAO Livehouse opened its doors to Hangzhou’s growing music scene.

Hangzhou is not short of high-end bars, cocktail clubs and cigar saloons. X-Box Wine and Bar is a fine spot to enjoy a cocktail, while Smoky Whisky Cocktail Bar boasts the city’s best selection of whisky.

Shuguang Bar Street is popular with tourists since it’s packed with lively bars and winds its way to the West Lake’s northwestern shore. Popular bars here include Cicada Bar, 7 Club, Traveller Bar and Old Captain Lounge Bar.

For the family

Hangzhou’s museums, parks, zoos, fairgrounds and aquariums are sure to keep your family entertained.

Taiziwan Park is a fantastic getaway for travelers with families. It’s a great spot for picnicking — and for couples taking wedding photographs — because it’s ablaze with flowers all year around. In spring, tourists come from far and wide to check out its famed pink cherry blossoms.

Xixi National Wetland Park is a sprawling nature reserve blessed with rich ecological resources, a beautiful landscape and cultural heritage. Most of all, it’s a paradise for bird watching, making it a popular destination for parents to introduce their children to nature and local wildlife.

If your kids are more into rides and rollercoasters than nature, they’re sure to enjoy Hangzhou Paradise, the city’s oldest amusement park. Its different sections include a Ferris wheel, rollercoaster, water park and a small beach.

For those who want to partake in a little road trip, Hangzhou’s surrounding areas include family-friendly destinations like Yaolin Fairyland, Daqi Mountain National Forest Park, Longmen Ancient Town and Qiandao Lake.

Mind and body

Hangzhou provides travelers with a variety of options for physical and mental stimulation.

The annual Hangzhou Marathon is one of the most famous races of its kind in China. It boasts one of the most beautiful scenic routes for city running in the country. Course highlights include the West Lake, tea gardens and the Qiantang River. In 2015, the race attracted more than 30,000 participators.

In addition to physical activities, many tourists flock to the city to experience traditional Chinese medicine. Prestigious local TCM pharmacies include Hu Qing Yu Tang, Fang Hui Chun Tang and Tong Ren Tang. These establishments are visited by scores of locals every day, who line up for diagnoses and prescriptions.

Hangzhou also boasts an array of libraries and bookstores. Noted shops Xiao Feng, Feng Lin Wan and Yue Lan Shu are always filled with readers. There’s also Zhong Shu Ge, one of the newest additions to Hangzhou’s book market.

Like many other local bookstores, Zhong Shu Ge provides a large, comfortable seating area where beverages and snacks can be ordered. With its glass ceiling, customers feel as though they are in a sea of books.