Vacation in Hangzhou China with Asian Vacations, Inc.

Grand Canal
Constructed during the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD), the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is one of the greatest projects endeavored in ancient China as well as the longest man-made waterway in world. In 604 AD, Emperor Yangdi of the Sui Dynasty made a tour to Luoyang. Two years later, he moved the capital to Luoyang and ordered the construction of the Grand Canal. This task lasted for six years, and involved thousands of laborers. It entailed the joining of many small waterways, thus forming the Grand Canal. With a total length of 1,764km, the canal, interconnects the Yangtze, Yellow, Huaihe, Haihe, and Qiantang Rivers. It flows through Beijing, Tianjing, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang with Hangzhou at its southernmost end. Since most of China's major rivers flow from west to east, the Grand Canal, running north and south, provides an important connector between several minor river systems. It is being restored as a water-diversion conduit. It has played an important role in strengthening economic and cultural intercourse between north and south and promoting the development of the country's economy. Tangqi town in Yuhang county of Hangzhou is a famous ancient town on the Grand Canal. Till today, the 300 year old Tongji Bridge with its seven arches and the ancient streets along the canal are well preserved. To take a boat ride on the Grand Canal here gives one a full view of the landscape of a typical river town in southern China.

Jade Spring
The Jade Spring (yuquan) is in the Hangzhou Botanical Gardens west of the Yue Fei Mausoleum. This spring is about 12m long and 9m wide. Hundreds of pretty little fish live in the pool at the bottom of the Spring and there is a veranda here where swallows make their nests. The Botanical Gardens also have a pine tree which was presented to the city by US President Richard Nixon on his visit here in 1972.

Peak Flown from Afar (Feilai Peak)
Feilai Peak, also named Lingjiu Peak, stands in front of Lingyin Temple. It was said that an Indian monk by the name of Huili, upon his arrival in the valley, was surprised to see a mountain towering in the valley. He wondered aloud "when did a mountain fly all the way from India to this place?" - hence the name. With a height of 209m, Feilai Peak differs dramatically from the surrounding mountains in its composition of pure limestone while the surrounding mountains are of sandstone. Many grotesque stones in the shapes of a charming dragon, a prostrate tiger, a walking elephant, and a scared ape are scattered about the mountainside. Their unusual colors make this mountain distinctive among the nearby hills and mountains. Yuandao, a celebrity of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), praised the Feilai Peak as number one in comparison with all other hills and mountains around the West Lake. The cliffs etched in the mountain are dotted with over 340 stone statues in various gestures: sitting, standing, or sleeping. Many of these stone statues are quite unique and have unparalleled values in the art history. The biggest Buddha image is the Maitreya with cloth bag on shoulder, otherwise known as the Buddha of Joy. With exposed breast and belly, it has occupied a cliff along the brook, laughing since the Northern Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) up to now. According to legend, the mountain had flown all round and destroyed many villages before it settled down in Hangzhou. In order to prevent it from further flying and causing more damage, over 500 Buddha statues were carved out of the stone to suppress the mountain. Feilai Peak is so dissimilar from other hills near West Lake that there is no doubt that it truly is a foreign guest to the landscape.

Solitary Hill
Solitary Hill is located at the northwest corner of West Lake in Zhejiang Province. It is a natural island, about 900m from the bank. It is surrounded by water and is a good place to appreciate West Lake. It is gentle at the north side of the Hill; there is a huge square-shaped stone at the west side; there is a stone hole at the east side; a cliff is at the south side. The Hill is a quiet place in the past. In the water under the cliff, there are large groups of fish. Above the cliff, there is a wooden platform, standing on which, one can see the special scenery of "Fish Kingdom". The platform is called "Platform for Watching Fish". Solitary Hill has an area of 200m and a height of 38m. Although the Hill is the lowest among all the hills in the West Lake, it is the biggest island in the West Lake. Solitary Hill is not only a place of beautiful scenery, but also a place of cultural relics. To the east of the Hill is Bai Bank; to the west of the Hill is Yue Temple. At the north foot of the Hill, there is a pavilion commemorating a poet named Lin Bu of Northern Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD). He had a private life alone on Solitary Hill for a long time. All he did was to raise cranes and plant plums. So there is a saying "Plum wife and crane son". On the top of Solitary Hill, there is a Xiling Printing Society, a study group specializing in seal-engraving in metals and stones. It is also a famous classical garden. Now, this printing society has kept many things from past dynasties like stones with pictures in them. At the west foot of the Hill, there is the tomb of Qiu Jin, a heroine in Chinese history. When she died, she was only 32 years old. The present tomb was built in 1981. The tomb is made of granite with a square seat. A white marble statue of Qiu Jin was built on the seat. The Solitary Hill has green water and lush flowers and trees, and was ever the temporary place for several emperors in the past to live. In order to commemorate Mr. Sun Zhongshan, this Hill was changed to be Zhongshan Park in 1927. Besides, there also has a small garden. There are brooks, flowers, trees, pavilions and bridges inside the garden.

West Lake
An old Chinese saying declares, "There is heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Centuries later, Marco Polo called Hangzhou the most enchanting city in all the world. This is most evident in the West Lake area--the effective, if not geographic, center of Hangzhou. Hills embrace the lake on three sides; the city proper lies to the east. Ancient Chinese people praised the West Lake area as a land of intoxicating beauty. Su Shi, a poet from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), likened the lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra, for its allure. Ten of the most beautiful sites include: Spring Dawn at Sudi Causeway, Melting Snow at Broken Bridge, Sunset Glow over Leifeng Hill, Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake (a lakeside park at the west end of the Bai Causeway), Listening to Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish and Lotus Ponds at Flower Harbor, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds. The West Lake is a like a shining pearl inlaid on the vast land of China, reputed for beautiful scenery, a multitude of historical sites, brilliant cultural relics, and a profusion of native products. Legend has it that the West Lake was a heavenly jewel fallen to earth. Pragmatists insist that it is a mere lagoon on Hangzhou's western fringe. In any case, West Lake has inspired painters for centuries. In ancient times, this place had been an shallow sea gulf before it evolved into a residual lake. The Baidi and Sudi causeways provide access to many parts of the lake. Most of the best known tourist sites lie around and within the lake. With a circumference of 15km, the lake area itself is easy for the visitor to negotiate.

Lingyin Temple
The Lingyin (Souls Retreat) Temple is one of the best known Buddhist monasteries in China. It was built in 326 at the foot of Lingyin Mountain. The main hall, 33.6m high, is one of China's tallest one-story buildings, further distinguished by double eaves. A statue of Sakyamuni, carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood, stands 19.6m high in the main hall. The foremost temple houses a laughing Buddha carved in camphor wood and covered in gold; there is a carved gilt figure standing behind as a guard. Both figures are set under a double-eave wooden canopy decorated in red and gold. Ornate lamps hang on either side. In front of the hall are two stone pagodas built during the Five Dynasties (907-960). In the caves on the Feilai Hill, there are some 300 Buddhist stone carvings dating back to the Five Dynasties, the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD). These elegant carvings are of high artistic value. With magnificent mountains and high trees surrounding the monastery, the Lingyin Temple is a beautiful scenic spot with numerous cultural relics to see.

The Liuhe Pagoda
The Liuhe (Six Harmonies) Pagoda is a famous octagonal pagoda, built in 970, which towers majestically on the Yuelun Mountain by the Qiantang River. The brick and wood structure is a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture - 59.89m high and a total of seven floors. (It only appears to have 13 stories from the outside.) A stone staircase leads to the top, where one can enjoy the beauty of the Qiantang River.

Yellow Dragon Cave
The Yellow Dragon Cave was built in 1985 at the Huangiong Cave at the northern part of Qixia Hill. It is a simple and elegant park imitating the style of the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD). There are luxuriant bamboo groves, tea houses, and public houses. Performers, salesclerks, waiters. and waitresses all wear the costume of the Sung Dynasty. Tourists may enjoy the ancient songs and dances of Yue opera and folk music.

Qiandao Lake
The Qiandao (Thousand Islets) Lake is a huge reservoir covering an area of 580 sq. km on the upper reaches of the Xin'an River, 160km from Hangzhou and Huangshan Mountain. There are 1,078 islets in the lake, which is why it is also known as the Thousand Islets Lake. The lake is embraced by hills with green trees and scores of scenic spots include Huihua Isle, Mishan Isle, Fengping Hill, Bijia Hill, and the Lesser Stone Forest.

Hupao Spring
The Hupao Spring (Tiger-Running Spring) takes its name from legend. The story tells a dream about two tigers who ran to the apparently near desert area and dug a hole which caused the spring to gush forth. The Long Jing tea and the Hupao spring water are reputed to be the "two wonders of the West Lake."

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
There are islands in the lake and there are lakes on the islands. On the south side of the largest of the three manmade islands in the Outer Lake, there are three hollow stone pagodas rising from the water, each with five openings. These stone towers were first built in Yuanyou in the fourth year of the Sung Dynasty (1089). On a moonlit night, the pagodas are reflected on the water, producing the wonderful illusion of one moon in the sky having three reflections in the lake. At this time, local folk will put candles in the hollow tops of the pagodas.

China Silk Museum
The China Silk Museum is located near the West Lake and includes exhibits that explain the 5,000-year-old history of silk production in China: for example, the Front Hall, the Silk Worm Hall, the Filature Hall, the Weaving Hall, the Printing and Dyeing Hall, and the Comprehensive Hall. The museum is also constructed so that there is space for such activities as business talks and fashion shows. Many visitors are sure to enjoy the shopping arcade.

China Tea Museum
The China Tea Museum was built in 1986 and occupies an area of 3,100 sq. m in the Dragon Well Village south of the West Lake. It is composed of four groups of buildings featuring tea-growing areas south of the Yangtze River and includes five halls of exhibits related to tea history--that is, the best tea varieties, tea utensils, tea affairs, and tea customs. Tourists may have fun tea picking here and enjoy various arts of tea making.

Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum
The Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum is the only Chinese herbal medicine museum in China housed in the ancient buildings of the famous Hangzhou Chinese herbal medicine shop. The exhibition halls introduce the origin, development, and application of traditional Chinese medicine and its role in the world history of medicine. Samples of the herbal plants and a hand- processing workshop are among the displays. The museum also includes a clinic and a restaurant for Chinese herbal medicine food.

Mausoleum of General Yue Fei
The Tomb of Yue Fei is set at the southern foot of the Qixia Hill, near the lake. General Yue Fei (1103-1142) was a national hero of the Southern Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) who distinguished himself in battles against northern invaders. He was sentenced to death after he was framed for crimes he did not commit. To the left of the simple tomb, which was built in 1162, is a temple containing a statue of the general; people often come here to pray respects to this heroic martyr. In the two side halls of the temple are 120 tablets; the tablets are engraved with Yue Fei's poems as well as eulogies to him by noted figures.

Qiantang River
The Qiantang River is 410km in length and is the longest river in the province of Zhejiang. Its soaring tides are a marvelous spectacle; only the Amazon River's surging tide can rival it! If you are visiting in September during the autumn equinox, you may be able to see one of the most unusual sights in the world. A tidal bore gathers momentum in the Gulf of Hangzhou, surges through the mouth of the Qiangtang River, and races up the river at a height of up to 30 ft and a speed of more than 15 mph. In ancient times the governors of Hangzhou used to have arrows fired at these waves in an attempt to quell their destructive force. Nowadays more effective methods are used.

Shao Xing City
Shao Xing is about 60km southeast of Hangzhou. The picturesque hills, the magnificent plains, the crisscrossing network of rivers surrounds this ancient small town of Shao Xing. Early in Jin Dynasty, Gu Kaizhi, with an eye of great artist, highly praised the beauty of mountains and rivers in Guiji (mountain at Shao Xing): "Thousands of rocks contend to be splendid and ten thousands of valleys contend to be flowing, bushes and trees above them, something like the clouds singing and dancing." Wang Xizhi, a calligrapher, also greatly honored: "Walking along the Shanying (in Shao Xing), mountains and rivers go one by one, so many scenic things more than one can simply enjoy."

The China Silk Town
The city of Hangzhou, on the bank of West Lake in Zhejiang Province, has long been called the Capital of Silk. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), the city had many silk workshops, and in recent years, along with the rapid economic development of the city, the China Silk Town was established here. The Silk Town, in fact, is a pedestrian street, several hundred meters long, with buildings in the traditional style of the regions south of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. More than 600 silk enterprises have stores and sales outlets here, offering the same silk and silk products that sell well all over China and in many other parts of the world. The salesclerks offer satisfying service and take the initiative to introduce their silk capes, ties, pajamas, handicrafts, and other items- some traditional, some stylish - all in beautiful designs and colors and reasonably priced. The Silk Town helps wholesale businessmen know the trends of the silk market and provides tourists with inexpensive and fine-quality silk clothing with a Chinese flavor. It is also a museum, where people can learn about the history of silk. Silk, along with West Lake, has become the trademark of Hangzho.

Tiantaishan Mountain
230km from Hangzhou, Tiantaishan Mountain is famous for its beautiful scenery and noted as the home to Chinese, Korean and Japanese followers of the Tiantai Buddhist Sect. Among its many Buddhist monasteries, Guoqing Monastery, built in 598 AD in the Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD), is the most famous one and home base of the Tiantai Sect. The mountain is not very high, with its summit, Huadingfeng reaching only 1138m. The Red Stones of Chicheng, Shiliang Waterfall and Huadingfeng are considered the best natural landscapes on the mountain.

9 Creeks & 18 Gullies
This pretty area known as "Nine Streams and Eighteen Gullies" is approximately a 20 minute walk from the Lingyin Temple. Despite the name, this is actually a pretty series of paths about 20 minutes west of the pagoda. Walk up a small lane away from the lake side until the Longjing Tea Plantations. It is a lovely walk and usually quite peaceful. It makes a nice break from the lake and you wander past tea terraces on the route up to the Dragon Spring. There are some quaint places to stop off along the way too, including a lagoon and a small pavilion which has been converted into a great tea and snack house.