Insights
- Walking from Wushan Square to the Shores of West Lake in HangzhouFor Australian travellers landing in Hangzhou after the long flight from Sydney or Melbourne, the city's blend of lakeside calm and historic alleyways offers a…
- How to Hike Around the Dragon Well Tea FieldsThe Dragon Well, or Longjing, tea fields spread across the hills south-west of Hangzhou, where narrow paths pass tea terraces, bamboo groves, village lanes and…
- A Relaxed Picnic Guide To Gushan Island On West LakeGushan Island, or Solitary Hill, is one of the most rewarding places around West Lake for a slow outdoor meal. The island combines willow-lined paths, historic…
- A guide to the Hangzhou Academy of Painting and its open studiosThe Hangzhou Academy of Painting offers a quieter way to encounter the city’s artistic life beyond the major museums and famous views of West Lake. Known in…
- How to attend a traditional Chinese opera performance at Xiaobaihua TheaterA visit to the Xiaobaihua Theater in Hangzhou offers a close look at Yue opera, or Yueju, one of Zhejiang’s best-known performing arts. The style is recognised…
- A guide to Hangzhou’s city walls and Fengqi Gate ruinsHangzhou is often introduced through West Lake, Longjing tea and the elegant gardens of the former imperial capital. Yet the city’s older story is also visible…
- Planning a photography tour through Xixi’s water villagesXixi Wetland lies on the western side of Hangzhou, a short journey from the city’s famous West Lake. Its waterways, reed beds, stone bridges and village lanes…
- The Most Authentic Hangzhou Street Food Stalls Near the UniversityHangzhou’s university districts offer a useful middle ground between famous sightseeing areas and ordinary local life. Around Zhejiang University’s Yuquan and…
- How to photograph the West Lake Broken Bridge in winter snowSnow at Hangzhou’s Broken Bridge is an uncommon and highly atmospheric sight. The white rooflines, dark branches and calm water can transform a familiar West…
- The Hangzhou Children's Library and Its Storytelling SessionsFamilies from Sydney and Melbourne have quietly started treating Hangzhou as more than a stop on a broader China itinerary. The city rewards children as…