Hangzhou is stunning, but I honestly don’t recommend going in July because............

Hangzhou: The Millennia-old Romance and Modern Poetry of the Picturesque Jiangnan Keywords: Ten Scenes of West Lake, Zen Tea Village, Song Dynasty Elegance, Digital New City Transportation: Nationwide high-speed trains directly reach "Hangzhou East Station/Hangzhou Station," or fly to "Xiaoshan International Airport." Within the city, combine metro + shared bikes/taxis, ideal for a 3-5 day leisurely trip. 1. Must-Visit Attractions: Wandering Between Classic and Modern 1. West Lake (Free, open 24 hours) The ultimate aesthetic of a World Cultural Heritage site: Ten scenes (Su Causeway in Spring Dawn, Quyuan Lotus in the Breeze, Pinghu Autumn Moon, etc.) are beautiful all year round. Recommended to explore deeply by "cycling + walking." Route: Classic route: Broken Bridge in Snow → Bai Causeway → Pinghu Autumn Moon → Solitary Hill → Xiling Bridge ("the most beautiful corner of West Lake"). Su Causeway in Spring Dawn → Flower Harbor Viewing Fish → Leifeng Pagoda (climb the pagoda for a panoramic view of West Lake). Hidden gems: Maojiabu: a wild wetland, a "water forest" away from the crowds. Guozhuang: a model of Jiangnan gardens, using "borrowed scenery" framing West Lake. Night tour: Take the "West Lake Cruise" (70 RMB/person) to watch the live show "Impression West Lake" (directed by Zhang Yimou). 2. Lingyin Temple (Feilai Peak ticket 45 RMB + Lingyin Temple incense voucher 30 RMB) A millennium-old Zen Buddhist holy site: the place where Ji Gong became a monk, with yellow walls and gray tiles complementing the cliff carvings of Feilai Peak. Route for blessings: Pray for career at the Mahavira Hall → health at the Medicine Buddha Hall → academic success at the Huayan Hall to Manjushri Bodhisattva. Hidden spot: Taoguang Temple at Lingyin Temple’s back gate, overlooking the sea of clouds over Hangzhou. Faxisi Temple (ticket 10 RMB): a popular yellow wall photo spot, known for effective matchmaking blessings. 3. Longjing Village (Free) Slow life in the tea mountains: hike the "Ten Li Langdang," pick spring tea, taste Longjing tea, and experience the elegance described in "The Classic of Tea." Experience: Tea culture workshop: learn tea frying from tea farmers (50 RMB/person), take home self-picked tea leaves (pre-Qingming tea about 800 RMB/jin). Food: "Longjing Caotang" private kitchen (500 RMB/person): dishes infused with tea, recommended Longjing shrimp and tea-scented chicken. 4. Songcheng (Tickets from 320 RMB) An immersive theater crossing a thousand years: the grand musical "Songcheng Eternal Love" is spectacularly staged, and the market street recreates Song Dynasty life. Experience: Hanfu rental: rent a Song-style ruqun (80 RMB/day) and take photos in the live scene of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." Night tour: Intangible cultural heritage performances like iron flower throwing and water fire shows, experiencing the magnificent scene of "thousands of flowers blooming on a windy night." 5. Xixi Wetland (Free area + paid area combined ticket 80 RMB) A green fairyland in the city: filming location of Feng Xiaogang’s "If You Are the One," take a punt boat through the reed marshes. Experience: Intangible cultural heritage: learn to make oil-paper umbrellas at "Hong Garden" (120 RMB/person), or join the "Xixi Dragon Boat" experience. Food: "Xixi Bieyuan" creative Hangzhou cuisine (150 RMB/person): recommended crispy chicken and plum-flavored roasted ribs. 6. Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins (Ticket 60 RMB) Proof of China’s 5,000 years of civilization: explore the "Water City" ruins, see the 5,000-year-old rice farming civilization and jade culture. Experience: Archaeological simulation: dig pottery shards in the "Archaeological Experience Area" (30 RMB/person), suitable for families. Light and shadow show: night tour "Light of Liangzhu," 3D projection recreates the ancient city’s grandeur. 2. Food Map: The Elegance of Jiangnan on Your Tongue 1. Classic Hangzhou Cuisine Lou Wai Lou (Gushan Road branch): century-old brand, must-order Dongpo pork (28 RMB/piece), West Lake vinegar fish (198 RMB/fish, recommend grass carp). Grandma’s Home (nationwide chain): best value, tea-scented chicken (48 RMB/portion), Song’s wife fish soup (18 RMB/bowl), authentic and affordable. Guiyu Shan Fang (Hupao branch): Black Pearl two-diamond rating, Hupao spring water beef (398 RMB/portion), extremely elegant. 2. Street Snacks Hefang Street/Dama Alley: Scallion pancake wrapped with fried dough sticks (10 RMB/pair) at Grandma Wushan’s, thin and crispy scallion oil pancake wrapped around youtiao. Dingsheng Cake (5 RMB each): sticky rice cake with mildly sweet red bean paste, not greasy. Wushan Su Oil Cake (8 RMB each): thousand-layer crispy pastry sprinkled with sugar powder like "snow falling on golden mountains." Wulin Night Market: Quzhou baked cake (6 RMB each): preserved vegetable and meat filling, crispy and fragrant. Crispy rice cake (8 RMB/skewer): brushed with sweet and spicy sauce, crispy outside and glutinous inside. 3. Tea and Desserts Zhiweiguan·Weizhuang (Yang Gongdi branch): Cat’s ears noodles (22 RMB/bowl), Pian’er Chuan noodles (25 RMB/bowl), paired with Dingsheng cake for afternoon tea. Lakeside Tea House (Hubin branch): 188 RMB/person Longjing tea set, includes lotus root starch and mung bean cake, watch the West Lake sunset while sipping. 4. Souvenirs West Lake Longjing Tea: look for core production areas "Shifeng Mountain" and "Longjing Village," pre-Qingming tea about 2000 RMB/jin. Wang Xing Ji Fans: black paper fans (from 150 RMB), silk fans (from 50 RMB), intangible cultural heritage handicrafts. Lotus root starch: "Sanjia Village" hand-shaved lotus root starch (30 RMB/bag), crystal clear after brewing. 3. Deep Experience: Live Like a Jiangnan Local for a Day 1. West Lake Cycling (Free) Route: Yang Gongdi → Maojiabu → Turtle Pool → Yuhu Bay (about 8 km total). Highlight: pass through "Nine Bridges and Eighteen Holes," feel the poetry of "riding a bike in a painting." Bike rental: near Hubin/Broken Bridge (30 RMB/day), shared bikes offer more freedom. 2. Canal Night Tour (Boat ticket 50 RMB) Experience: take a caofang boat from "Wulinmen Pier," pass Gongchen Bridge and Xiaohe Straight Street, watch the lights reflecting on the water. After disembarking, stroll through "Qiaoxi Historic District," visit the China Knife, Scissors & Sword Museum and Umbrella Museum. 3. Tea Village Life Meijiawu: during tea picking season (March-April), go up the mountain with tea farmers, learn the "two leaves and one bud" picking standard. Farmhouse meal: eat "tea-scented chicken" (88 RMB/whole), smoked with Longjing tea leaves. 4. Song Dynasty Culture Deshou Palace Ruins Museum (Free, reservation required): digitally restored Southern Song royal palace, free guided tour wearing Song-style Hanfu. China National Silk Museum (Free): see Ming Dynasty dragon robes, French haute couture dresses, experience tie-dye workshop (80 RMB/person). 4. Accommodation Recommendations: Live Inside a Jiangnan Painting 1. West Lake Scenic Area (500-2000 RMB/person) Hangzhou Xizi Lake Four Seasons Hotel: garden-style design, rooms face Yang Gongdi, private enjoyment of West Lake morning mist. Xishang·Hupao 1934 Hotel: renovated Republic of China villa, soak in private hot springs among blue bricks and black tiles, 10-minute walk to Hupao Spring. 2. Canal Side (300-800 RMB/person) Hangzhou Conrad Hotel: 50th-floor sky lobby, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Qiantang River and canal junction. Hidden Jiangnan·Canal Elegant Courtyard: white walls and black tiles Jiangnan courtyard, offers Hanfu experience and tea ceremony classes. 3. Artistic Homestays (150-400 RMB/person) West Lake White House·Hidden Residence: Republic of China old house on Beishan Street, window views of Baoshu Pagoda, suitable for couples. Canal Yard·Wuta Xinshe: Japanese wabi-sabi style by the canal, rooftop terrace to watch cargo ships pass by. 5. Practical Information: Must-See Before You Go 1. Best Seasons Spring (March-May): peach blossoms on Su Causeway, tulips in Prince Bay. Autumn (September-November): Osmanthus rain in Manjuelong, plane tree avenue on Beishan Street. Avoid: hot and humid summer (35°C+), cold and damp winter (no heating). 2. Transportation Guide Metro: covers major attractions, download "Hangzhou Metro Ride Code" for scanning. Bus: "West Lake Loop" (Routes 51/52) connects ten major spots, 5 RMB/person. "Canal Water Bus" (3 RMB/person), from Gongchen Bridge to Wulinmen. Taxi: traffic jams common around scenic spots, metro + shared bikes recommended. 3. Notes Beware of "free flower giving" and "photo fees" scams around West Lake, ignore them. Lingyin Temple and Faxisi Temple require advance booking on the "Hangzhou Temple Visit Reservation Platform." Hangzhou cuisine tends to be sweet; when ordering, you can request "less sugar" or "more spicy." The romance of Hangzhou is the orioles singing among willows by West Lake, the curling tea smoke in Longjing Village, and the thousand-year dream in Songcheng. Here, there are no hurried steps, only the calm of "both light and heavy makeup suit each other perfectly." Bring a copy of "Dream Pool Essays," and in the fragrance of tea and poetry, understand the gentleness and spirit of this "paradise on earth."