Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page B8

January 6, 2016

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Finding the best travel sights each month

By Wu Huixin | January 6, 2016, Wednesday | Print Edition

LAST week, we recommended six trips to Hangzhou that are best taken during a certain time of the year. From picking fruits in the countryside and celebrating Spring Festival in the ancient town to cycling around the lakes and strolling through vibrant blossoms in orchards, Hangzhou is best enjoyed with the right season in mind.

Six seasonal trips remain for the second half of 2016, so read on and get your holiday planner ready.

July: Tianmu Mountain

As temperatures soar in the summer, the cooler heights of Tianmu Mountain are alluring to many visitors. The mountain boasts an average temperature of below 22 degrees Celsius due to its geography and forest cover.

More than 99 percent of this more than 1,000-hectare protected region is covered by vegetation. The region became part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program in 1996. Since then, multiple measures have been introduced to enrich biodiversity and expand vegetation cover.

In addition to being a natural reserve, Tianmu Mountain is also a cultural epicenter where an abundance of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian relics can be found.

 

How to get there: Hangzhou-Rui’an Expressway — 313 National Road

August: Yaolin Xianjing

Yaolin Xianjing is considered one of the most extraordinary caves in China. The name literally means “fairyland.” Yaolin features wonderful stalactites and stalagmites, which were formed millions of years ago and take on colorful shades when lights are cast on the walls.

A clear stream runs through the cave and porcelains and pottery are scattered around, likely dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220).

The cave was noted as early as the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was recorded in “The Historic Record of Tonglu.” In 1991, it was officially selected as “one of the 40 best tourist sites in China.”

 

How to get there: Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway — 208 Provincial Road

September: Qianjiang tide

As the tide rushes into the mouth of Qianjiang River from Hangzhou Bay, it creates the world’s largest tidal bore, a natural phenomenon that sees the bore rise to a height of up to 9 meters. The tide of Qiantang River allures thousands of visitors and is best viewed in September, as the tide hits highest due to astronomical constellations. Viewing the tide has been a tradition for centuries and could date as far back as to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) when Hangzhou was the empire’s capital.

In addition to the tide, visitors can also see the nearby temple, which was built to commemorate Wu Zixu, a statesman in the Wu Kingdom during the Southern Song Dynasty. Wu was seen as the incarnation of tides since he dredged rivers and built dams to help reduce floods and stimulate local development.

 

How to get there: Desheng Road — Jiangdong Avenue — Guanshiwu Road

October: Persimmon Festival at Xixi Wetland

Persimmon is a favorite with Hangzhou locals, who say that the juiciest persimmons are found at the Xixi Wetland National Park. In October, the fiery fruits hang from the trees, adding a colorful light to the yellow autumn.

Xixi boasts more than 4,000 persimmon trees that were cultivated 100 years ago. Every year, when they get ripe, parent-child activities are held to allure visitors to pick the fruit.

In addition, the park is crisscrossed by water courses and dubbed “the lungs of Hangzhou,” visitors can paddle a boat to go through the wetland and view flowers that are still in bloom.

 

How to get there: Wensan Road — Gucui Road — Tianmushan Road — Zijingang Road

November: Changle Forestry Farm

The forestry farm was established in 1910 and was turned into a pilot project to plant imported tree species since the 1950s. A large variety of trees now stretch over the 400-hectare-large area.

During fall, the fiery red, vibrant yellow and orange leaves are a big draw for tourists.

 

How to get there: Wenyi Road — Yunxi Road — 207 Provincial Road

December: Broken Bridge

Broken Bridge covered with snow is one of the 10 best views at the West Lake. Due to the romantic legend of the Madam White Snake, the bridge always attracts a large crowd of tourists on snowy days.

As the legend goes, a scholar named Xu Xian from Hangzhou met a beautiful woman by the Broken Bridge. The lady was in fact a 1,000-year-old white snake that had taken on human form. They fell in love and got married, but were later separated by a monk who said that the laws of nature forbid a human and a spirit to fall in love.

 

How to get there: Take bus No. 7 and then get off at Children’s Palace stop.

Hangzhou


 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend