Insights
- Photographing Leifeng Pagoda at the best time of dayLeifeng Pagoda rises from the southern shore of West Lake like a layered exclamation point against the Hangzhou skyline, and for visiting photographers it…
- Planning a self-guided walk around Six Harmonies PagodaThe Six Harmonies Pagoda area occupies a scenic stretch of southern Hangzhou beside the Qiantang River. It combines a major Song-dynasty monument with wooded…
- How to Use Hangzhou’s Grand Canal Ferry SystemHangzhou’s Grand Canal ferry system offers a relaxed way to travel between the city centre and the historic northern canal district. Usually known locally as…
- The best times of day to visit Lingyin Temple for fewer crowdsLingyin Temple is one of Hangzhou’s most rewarding cultural sights, but the experience changes dramatically with the clock. The complex, set among wooded hills…
- A guide to the West Lake Museum's permanent collectionHangzhou has long drawn visitors with its willow-lined shores, temple bell-rings, and a tea culture that feels worlds away from the espresso bars of Sydney or…
- How to Plan a Self-Guided Tour of Hangzhou's Modern ArchitectureA self-guided walking route through Hangzhou's contemporary skyline offers a different side of a city most travellers know only for classical gardens and tea…
- Rooftop Gardens Offering Panoramic City Skyline Views in HangzhouHangzhou has spent the past decade reshaping what travellers expect from a Chinese city break. Beyond the willow-lined shores of West Lake and the misty tea…
- A guide to the Hangzhou Cultural Center's free eventsTucked into the northeastern edge of Hangzhou, not far from the northern shore of West Lake, the Hangzhou Cultural Center occupies a cluster of restored…
- How to take a calligraphy and painting class at a local studioA calligraphy and painting class offers a quieter way to experience Hangzhou beyond West Lake’s famous viewpoints. In a small local studio, visitors can learn…
- A guide to the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre's public toursHangzhou tends to enter Australian travel plans as a soft add-on to Shanghai or Beijing, slotted in for a long weekend of West Lake wandering and Dragon Well…