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Perfect places for amorous couples
By Xu Wenwen |
February 11, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IT'S Valentine's Day on Monday and how romantic the date with your loved one will depend a lot on the location. So if you are too familiar with Shanghai's romantic destinations to make it a really memorable Valentine's Day, it could be the time to discover Hangzhou's passion-inspring places. From scenic nature spots to cultural restaurants, Shanghai Daily suggests the 10 best locations to make the day really special.
Duan Bridge
Duan Bridge at West Lake appears in the popular folk tale "Legend of the White Snake," a touching love story about a young man and a girl who is a snake in human form. Several scenes in the story take place on the bridge, including when the couple are reunited after an unexpected separation.
Every year, many come to the bridge not only to enjoy the legendary beauty of West Lake, but also to pray for eternal love, marriage or finding Mr or Ms Right.
Starbucks at No. 6 Park
There are dozens of Starbucks coffee shops in the city, but the one at No. 6 Park is the only one that features a balcony overlooking the charming West Lake, on both the first and second floor.
Xihu Tiandi
Located on the southern bank of West Lake, Xihu Tiandi is a waterside leisure destination set among the trees. It boasts fine restaurants, cafes and bars, which mostly have large windows allowing visitors to admire the stunning natural beauty.
Outside seating allows visitors to view the lake, the brige while enjoying a cup of coffee or ice cream.
Jianghu Huiguan Pavilion
The ancient-style octagonal pavilion built 30 years ago is at the top of Yuhuang Hill, which stands between West Lake and Qiantang River, and therefore the perfect place to get a bird's eye view of Hangzhou - even the people on the Su Causeway can be seen if the weather is fine.
The allure of this spot not only lies in its view of the city, but also on the journey to and from it. The ascent and descent of Yuhuang Hill, a historical attraction with a beautiful natural setting, is enjoyable in itself.
Innocent Age Book Bar
Lying at the middle of Baoshi Hill and the foot of Baochu Pagoda, the book bar is a landmark in Hangzhou's cultural and creative scene.
With a cozy cultural ambience and breathtaking view of West Lake, the book bar offers 7,000 Chinese and English-language collections as well as tea, coffee and food, and is a place for book lovers to gather, read and exchange ideas.
Leifeng Pagoda
This famous Chinese landmark has a strong romantic link despite being a Buddhist pagoda, because it features in the popular story "Legend of the White Snake."
In the story, the couple are separated by an evil old monk with magical powers, who had the white snake imprisoned under the Leifeng Pagoda for years. She is finally rescued by her son who caused the collapse of the pagoda.
In real life, the old ancient pagoda collapsed in 1924, and the new one, reestablished right above the ruins, was open to the public in 2002.
Wansong Academy
Wansong Academy nestling at the eastern side of the Phoenix Mountain is now a park. But many years ago, it served as an academy renowned for the legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai - China's Romeo and Juliet.
In the story of "The Butterfly Lovers," Liang and Zhu meet at the academy as classmates and eventually fall in love with each other, yet Zhu's parents arrange for her to marry a rich man and the heartbroken Liang dies soon after. However, mysterious whirlwinds prevent Zhu's wedding procession and lead her to Liang's grave, where the couple's spirits turn into a pair of beautiful butterflies.
With its romantic history and its own serene environment characterized by the hill, trees, bamboos, flowers and rockery, it is the ideal venue for people to go on a blind date.
Sunrise Terrace
Sentimental experiences can sweeten the relationship between couples, and watching the sunrise or sunset together is a classic example. Sunrise Terrace on the top of Baoshi Hill is the best place to observe sunrise and sunset in Hangzhou. The estimated time of sunrise on Monday is around 6:40am, while sunset should be around 5:50pm.
Taiziwan Park
This large park is known for its enchanting surroundings which include a big meadow, a mini lake, several waterfalls and bridges, a small church as well as plenty of trees and flowers.
The diversified scenery makes it the city's wedding photography base - a large number of couples married in Hangzhou have their wedding photos taken there.
For those aspiring for marriage, a date in the park on Valentine's Day could prove fruitful - seeing so many couples having their wedding photos taken may inspire your lover to propose.
Hubin International Boutique Compound
Celebrating a romantic Valentine's Day often means spending money - on fancy meals and expensive gifts for your loved one. Located on the southeastern bank of West Lake, this retail boast restaurants, cafes, bars and international brand boutiques including Giorgio Armani, Armani Casa and Hermes for those whose budgets allow.
Duan Bridge
Duan Bridge at West Lake appears in the popular folk tale "Legend of the White Snake," a touching love story about a young man and a girl who is a snake in human form. Several scenes in the story take place on the bridge, including when the couple are reunited after an unexpected separation.
Every year, many come to the bridge not only to enjoy the legendary beauty of West Lake, but also to pray for eternal love, marriage or finding Mr or Ms Right.
Starbucks at No. 6 Park
There are dozens of Starbucks coffee shops in the city, but the one at No. 6 Park is the only one that features a balcony overlooking the charming West Lake, on both the first and second floor.
Xihu Tiandi
Located on the southern bank of West Lake, Xihu Tiandi is a waterside leisure destination set among the trees. It boasts fine restaurants, cafes and bars, which mostly have large windows allowing visitors to admire the stunning natural beauty.
Outside seating allows visitors to view the lake, the brige while enjoying a cup of coffee or ice cream.
Jianghu Huiguan Pavilion
The ancient-style octagonal pavilion built 30 years ago is at the top of Yuhuang Hill, which stands between West Lake and Qiantang River, and therefore the perfect place to get a bird's eye view of Hangzhou - even the people on the Su Causeway can be seen if the weather is fine.
The allure of this spot not only lies in its view of the city, but also on the journey to and from it. The ascent and descent of Yuhuang Hill, a historical attraction with a beautiful natural setting, is enjoyable in itself.
Innocent Age Book Bar
Lying at the middle of Baoshi Hill and the foot of Baochu Pagoda, the book bar is a landmark in Hangzhou's cultural and creative scene.
With a cozy cultural ambience and breathtaking view of West Lake, the book bar offers 7,000 Chinese and English-language collections as well as tea, coffee and food, and is a place for book lovers to gather, read and exchange ideas.
Leifeng Pagoda
This famous Chinese landmark has a strong romantic link despite being a Buddhist pagoda, because it features in the popular story "Legend of the White Snake."
In the story, the couple are separated by an evil old monk with magical powers, who had the white snake imprisoned under the Leifeng Pagoda for years. She is finally rescued by her son who caused the collapse of the pagoda.
In real life, the old ancient pagoda collapsed in 1924, and the new one, reestablished right above the ruins, was open to the public in 2002.
Wansong Academy
Wansong Academy nestling at the eastern side of the Phoenix Mountain is now a park. But many years ago, it served as an academy renowned for the legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai - China's Romeo and Juliet.
In the story of "The Butterfly Lovers," Liang and Zhu meet at the academy as classmates and eventually fall in love with each other, yet Zhu's parents arrange for her to marry a rich man and the heartbroken Liang dies soon after. However, mysterious whirlwinds prevent Zhu's wedding procession and lead her to Liang's grave, where the couple's spirits turn into a pair of beautiful butterflies.
With its romantic history and its own serene environment characterized by the hill, trees, bamboos, flowers and rockery, it is the ideal venue for people to go on a blind date.
Sunrise Terrace
Sentimental experiences can sweeten the relationship between couples, and watching the sunrise or sunset together is a classic example. Sunrise Terrace on the top of Baoshi Hill is the best place to observe sunrise and sunset in Hangzhou. The estimated time of sunrise on Monday is around 6:40am, while sunset should be around 5:50pm.
Taiziwan Park
This large park is known for its enchanting surroundings which include a big meadow, a mini lake, several waterfalls and bridges, a small church as well as plenty of trees and flowers.
The diversified scenery makes it the city's wedding photography base - a large number of couples married in Hangzhou have their wedding photos taken there.
For those aspiring for marriage, a date in the park on Valentine's Day could prove fruitful - seeing so many couples having their wedding photos taken may inspire your lover to propose.
Hubin International Boutique Compound
Celebrating a romantic Valentine's Day often means spending money - on fancy meals and expensive gifts for your loved one. Located on the southeastern bank of West Lake, this retail boast restaurants, cafes, bars and international brand boutiques including Giorgio Armani, Armani Casa and Hermes for those whose budgets allow.
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