A Trip to West Lake Shattered My Perception of Spending

One-Day West Lake Itinerary Morning 8:00 - 9:00: Arrive at West Lake It is recommended to get off near Hubin Third Park. This is one of the core areas of West Lake, with convenient transportation and complete supporting facilities. You can choose to travel by subway, bus, or taxi. 9:00 - 10:30: Stroll from Hubin Third Park to Broken Bridge Stroll along the lakeside of Hubin Third Park and enjoy the morning scenery of West Lake. The lake shimmers in the morning light, and the distant mountains appear faintly visible, creating a very pleasant atmosphere. Pass by Liulang Wenying, an excellent place to appreciate the natural scenery of West Lake. You can see large willow trees swaying in the wind, hear the singing of birds, and feel the beauty of nature. Continue on to Broken Bridge. Broken Bridge is one of the famous scenic spots in West Lake. After a snowfall in winter, the sunny side of the bridge melts, while the shady side is still covered with snow. From a distance, the bridge seems to be broken, hence the name "Broken Bridge". Even if it's not winter, this is a good place to enjoy the panoramic view of West Lake. 10:30 - 12:00: Visit Bai Causeway After crossing Broken Bridge, you will step onto Bai Causeway. Originally named Baisha Causeway, it connects Hangzhou city with the West Lake scenic area. The causeway is lined with peach and willow trees, and the grass is lush. In spring, the peach blossoms are in full bloom, and the willow branches sway in the breeze, creating a beautiful scene. Along the way, you can visit Pinghu Qiuyue, one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake and one of the best places to view the entire West Lake. Standing at Pinghu Qiuyue, you can see the lake rippling in the breeze and the distant mountains rolling, which is very pleasing. Noon 12:00 - 13:30: Lunch Have lunch at a restaurant near Bai Causeway and taste Hangzhou's specialties, such as West Lake Vinegar Fish, Longjing Shrimp, and Beggar's Chicken. Lou Wai Lou Restaurant is recommended. It is a time-honored restaurant with a century-old history, authentic dishes, and an elegant environment. Afternoon 13:30 - 15:00: Boat tour of West Lake Take a boat from the pier near Bai Causeway to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. The boat trip allows you to appreciate the beauty of West Lake from different angles and experience its unique charm. After arriving at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, disembark and explore the island. It is one of the iconic landscapes of West Lake, with three stone pagodas arranged in an equilateral triangle. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people light candles inside the pagodas, and the candlelight shines through the holes in the pagodas, reflecting on the lake surface, creating the wonderful spectacle of "thirty-three moons". 15:00 - 16:30: Visit Flower Harbor After returning to the pier by boat, head to Flower Harbor. Flower Harbor is one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, featuring flowers, a harbor, and fish. There is a large red fish pond in the park, where thousands of golden and red carp are raised. Visitors can feed the fish by the pond and enjoy watching them play. In addition to the red fish pond, Flower Harbor also has a peony garden and other flower viewing areas, with different flowers blooming in all seasons, making the scenery very charming. 16:30 - 18:00: Stroll along Su Causeway Starting from Flower Harbor, take a stroll along Su Causeway. Su Causeway was built by Su Shi, a poet of the Northern Song Dynasty, when he was the governor of Hangzhou. He dredged West Lake and used the dredged silt to build the causeway, which has evolved over the years. There are six bridges on the causeway: Yingbo, Suolan, Wangshan, Yadi, Dongpu, and Kuahong. Strolling along Su Causeway, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides of West Lake and experience the charm of the lake and mountains. If time permits, you can also find a teahouse on Su Causeway, sit down, have a cup of tea, take a break, and enjoy a leisurely time. Evening 18:00 - 19:30: Dinner Have dinner at a restaurant near Su Causeway and continue to savor Hangzhou cuisine. Alternatively, choose a lakeside restaurant to enjoy the night view of West Lake while dining. 19:30 - 20:30: West Lake Night Tour After dinner, you can take a walk along the lake and enjoy the night view of West Lake. At night, West Lake is brightly lit, and the buildings and bridges along the lake look particularly beautiful under the lights. You can also choose to take a boat tour of West Lake at night and experience its charm from another perspective. Important Notes Book tickets for scenic spots and restaurant seats in advance to avoid queuing during peak tourist seasons. The West Lake scenic area is large. You can choose to take a sightseeing bus or boat to save energy. Pay attention to environmental protection and do not litter. When visiting in spring, take sun protection measures, such as bringing a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.