Hangzhou
This pavilion was a popular feature in Ming dynasty (1368–1644) paintings of West Lake. Located at the top of Santai Hill, in the West Lake Scenic Area, a…
Must-see attractions in Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Wǔjiān Huāxuān is the birthplace of Dai Yinniang, Siping's most famous historical resident, who became an imperial concubine. Flowery brick carvings hang…
Hangzhou
Accessed via a trail from the road heading east out of Wengjiashan Village, this naturally formed limestone cave features Buddhist statues carved into the…
China National Tea Museum – Lóngjǐng Scenic Area
Hangzhou
This second branch of the China National Tea Museum, which opened in 2015, enjoys stunning views of the surrounding tea plantations and is set amid…
Zhejiang
This busy cobblestone pedestrian stretch is home to several sights relating to Lu Xun (1881–1936), China’s first great modern novelist, who lived here…
Hangzhou
The remains of this historic temple on the western slope of Baoshi Hill north of West Lake only run to a weather-beaten and dilapidated vast stone head of…
Zhejiang
At the jutting point that marks the boundary between One Hundred Step Beach and One Thousand Step Beach, 'Sun-facing' Cave is a small, rarely visited…
Zhejiang
The very small island of Luòjiāshān, southeast of Putuoshan, has its own temples and pagodas and makes for a fun expedition. The ferry (return trip…
Zhejiang
A signature sight, the Wénchāng Hall contains a portrait of Confucius and an adjacent shrine (土地祠, Tǔdì Cí) to the village god (for good harvests)…
Zhejiang
Nicknamed the red house, this intriguing two-faced structure has a traditional Chinese front house and a back one of red brick. It contains baroque-style…
Hangzhou
Near Xiling Bridge (Xīlíng Qiáo) on West Lake, this is the tomb of a 5th-century courtesan who died of grief while waiting for her lover to return. It’s…
Zhejiang
Crouch with an arched back into this magnificent, smoky and mysterious old grotto with a low, head-scraping ceiling to witness its assembly of Guanyins…
Zhejiang
Putuoshan’s largest beach stretches all along the northeast coast of the island – a long unspoilt stretch of blonde sand. Swimming is only permitted…
Zhejiang
This historic hall's brick carving, 'Nine Lions Scrambling for a Ball', is remarkable as much for its detail as for its seemingly impudent use of five…
Hangzhou
On the eastern shore of West Lake, housed in the Chinese Academy of Art (中国美术学院, Zhōngguó Měishùxuéyuàn) is this free art gallery. Exhibitions are all…
Zhejiang
This small museum contains some of the Ming and Qing dynasty relics from Putuoshan's temples, including effigies in bronze and jade and ritual implements,…
Zhejiang
This cave is named after a boy attendant to Guanyin, often seen in Chinese Buddhist temples. He's also known as the 'child god of wealth' and you'll see…
Zhejiang
Less grand than the temples at sea level, hilltop Huiji draws pilgrims who make the climb up Foding Mountain. The temple has a small vegetarian canteen…
Zhejiang
The white and elegant seven-storey Tuányún Pagoda is the definitive image of the village. There is a small pond beside the pagoda.
Zhejiang
Libn Hall is an early Qing dynasty structure with some wood carvings that remain impressively vivid; keep an eye out for the bats (carvings of, that is)…
Zhejiang
Putuoshan's oldest structure is this five-storey, 18m-high stone pagoda, with alcoves carved from the rock sheltering Buddhist statues. Built in 1335, its…
Zhejiang
Nanxun's most famous attraction is this sprawling villa, though its best feature only shines in summer, when the lotus flowers in the courtyard pond…
Zhejiang
This hall is a lovely wood-panelled affair containing intricate and exquisite carvings above its pillars.
Zhejiang
Dedicated to the ancestors of the Ye clan, this peach of an ancestral hall dates back to the Yuan dynasty.
Zhejiang
One of Zhuge’s 18 halls, Shouchun Hall is a long sequence of chambers and courtyards alongside the rectangular Lower Pond (下搪, Xià Táng).
Zhejiang
On the far eastern tip of the island, this cave contains a temple dedicated to Guanyin perched between two cliffs with a seagull’s view of the crashing…
Zhejiang
The most popular of Putuoshan’s beaches has a pretty pagoda perched on terraced rock that always has a crowd. Swimming is allowed between May and August…
Zhejiang
Tianyi Hall is a pretty structure to begin with but what is more fascinating is the garden in the back, with hundreds of potted plants all used for…
Zhejiang
Easily identified by its dramatic winged roof and deep vermilion staining, this Ming dynasty arched wooden bridge was first built in 1570 and later…
Zhejiang
Just 30m west of Beijian Bridge, at the far end of the village, this hall has models and information (in English!) on other noteworthy bridges in the area.
Zhejiang
What Nanxi Bridge lacks in grandeur it makes up for in usefulness: built in 1842, the bridge is more local thoroughfare than tourist attraction.
Hangzhou
Vantage point on Baoshi Hill with a pavilion. The balcony here is a mere 125m high, offering not-so-lofty-views of West Lake.
Zhejiang
This fine Ming dynasty hall features an eye-catching central stone door frame plus an exhibition dedicated to local culture.
Zhejiang
This old hall houses a traditional Chinese medicine museum with lots of jarred specimens. Unfortunately there's no English.
Zhejiang
A restored stretch of old shophouses, several of which now house cafes and teahouses. Look out for rice-wine ice cream.
Hangzhou
Visiting this charming pagoda overlooking West Lake makes for a lovely walk in the hills north of the lake.
Hangzhou
A 100m deep cave located on the slopes of Baoshi Hill. There are three stone Buddha statues on the wall.
Hangzhou
These ancient effigies are carved into the cliff-face not far from Baochu Pagoda.
Zhejiang
This massive old hall contains some impressive carved cross beams in its roof.
