What are the must-see attractions in West Lake Scenic Area?

📅 Opening hours ◾️West Lake Scenic Area: An open scenic area, open all day (some paid attractions have independent opening hours). ✅Opening hours of paid attractions (for reference only, subject to actual conditions): ◾️Leifeng Pagoda: 08:00-19:00 (extended to 20:00 during peak season). ◾️Lingyin Temple: 07:00-18:15 (no admission after 17:30). ◾️Yuewang Temple: 07:30-17:30. ◾️Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Island in the Lake): 08:00-17:00 (the last return boat trip is at about 16:30). ◾️Qianwang Temple, Liuhe Pagoda: 06:30-17:30. 🎫 Ticket information 📌West Lake free areas: the lakeside walking area, Baidi, Sudi, Gushan, etc. Paid attractions (some require reservation): 1⃣ Lingyin Temple: 30 yuan ticket (need to purchase Feilai Peak Scenic Area ticket 45 yuan first). 2⃣Leifeng Pagoda: 40 yuan. 3⃣Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (including cruise): 55-70 yuan (prices vary slightly at different piers). 4⃣Yuewang Temple: 25 yuan. 5⃣Liuhe Pagoda: 20 yuan (additional 10 yuan for climbing the tower). ✔️Reservation method: Tickets for some attractions can be purchased through the "West Lake Tourism" WeChat official account or on-site. 🚇 Transportation Guide ▪️Metro: Line 1 to [Longxiang Bridge Station] or [Fengqi Road Station], walk 10 minutes to the West Lake. ▪️Bus: Bus No. 4, No. 7, No. 1314 (Internet celebrity love bus), etc. go directly to the vicinity of West Lake. ▪️Shared bicycles: The first choice for cycling around the lake. There are a large number of shared bicycle parking spots near the West Lake. ◾️Cruise boat: ▪️Motor boat: You can take a boat to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon from the Lakeside, Huagang Fish Viewing and other docks. ▪️Hand-rowed boat/sculling boat: 150-300 yuan/hour (can share a boat), recommended niche routes (such as Maojiabu and Wuguitan). ▪️Self-driving: There are traffic restrictions around West Lake and the parking fee is high (20-30 yuan/hour). It is recommended to stop at Huanglong Sports Center and transfer to the bus. 🗺️ Recommended tour route Classic one-day tour route (check in at the ten scenic spots of West Lake) 1⃣ Lakeside Pedestrian Street (starting point) → Broken Bridge with Snow → Baidi Bridge → Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake → Gushan (Xiling Seal Society, Zhejiang Provincial Museum). 2⃣Yuewang Temple →Quyuan Fenghe (lotus viewing in summer) →Su Causeway Chunxiao (walking or cycling tour). 3⃣Watching fish at Huagang → Leifeng Pagoda Sunset (climbing the tower to overlook the West Lake) → taking a boat tour to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. 4⃣Evening: Stroll along Nanshan Road or Beishan Street to enjoy the night view of West Lake. 📌In-depth two-day tour route ▪️Day 1: Ten scenic spots around the lake + Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. ◾️Day2: Lingyin Temple + Feilai Peak → Longjing Village (tea tasting) → Jiuxi Misty Trees → Songcheng Night Tour (optional). 🌟Must-see highlights ◾️Ten scenic spots of West Lake: Spring Dawn on Su Causeway, Lotus in Winding Courtyard, Autumn Moon over Calm Lake, Snow on Broken Bridge, Orioles Singing in Willow Waves, Fish Watching in Flower Harbor, Sunset over Leifeng Pagoda, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Evening Bells of Nanping, and Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. ◾️Cultural relics: Yuewang Temple (Yue Fei's Tomb), Wenlan Pavilion, Xiling Seal Society, and Leifeng Pagoda ruins. ◾️Natural scenery: Three Islands in the Lake (Xiaoyingzhou, Lake Pavilion, Ruangongdun), Maojiabu Wetland, and Yanggongdi Secret Realm. 🈯️Special Experience: ◾️Early morning jogging or cycling around West Lake. ◾️Take a rowboat to explore the small waterway of West Lake "Inner West Lake". ◾️Try tea in Longjing Village and enjoy the scenery of the tea mountains. 🍽Food recommendations ▪️Hangzhou cuisine: Louwailou (West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork), Zhiweiguan (xiaolongbao), Waipojia. ▪️Snacks: scallion-wrapped cypress, Dingsheng cake, Pianerchuan, and lotus root starch. ▪️Internet-famous coffee: Lakeside Tea House, Beishan Street Retro Coffee House. ⚠️ Notes ✅ Clothing: Lightweight sports shoes, as the walking distance around the lake is long. ✅ Anti-mosquito and sun protection: There are many mosquitoes near the lake in summer, so you need to prepare mosquito repellent and sunscreen. ✅Holiday crowds: There are a lot of people on weekends and during the Golden Week, so it is recommended to leave early and return late to avoid the peak hours. ✅ Cruise time: Pay attention to the last return time to avoid being stranded on the island in the middle of the lake. ✅Environmental protection: Do not feed birds or litter at will. 📸 Photo Tips 🔘Best time: before and after sunrise (Broken Bridge, Lonely Hill), sunset (Leifeng Pagoda, Jixian Pavilion). Classic camera position: 🔘Photographing the reflection of Leifeng Pagoda in Changqiao Park. 🔘Photographed at Xiling Bridge, "the place in West Lake that looks most like the sea". 🔘Autumn scenery of Wolong Bridge at Yanggong Dike, "Little Jiuzhaigou of Hangzhou". 🔘Night view of the lakeside music fountain (one show at 19:00 and 20:00 every night). 🍃Surrounding joint play 1⃣Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak: A sacred place of Buddhist culture, experience the thousand-year-old cave statues. 2⃣Songcheng Scenic Area: Watch the performance of "Songcheng Eternal Love" and immerse yourself in the customs of the Song Dynasty. 3⃣Xixi Wetland: Take a rowboat through the reed marshes, about a 30-minute drive from West Lake. 4⃣Wuzhen/Shaoxing: If you have enough time, you can arrange a 1-2 day tour of the surrounding water towns. 💡Tips ✔️Free attractions: Taiziwan Park (spring tulips), Orioles Singing in the Willows, Baoshishan (overlooking the panoramic view of West Lake). ✔️Bicycle tour tips: There is a red plastic bicycle track beside the West Lake. The Su Causeway-Yanggong Causeway-Nanshan Road loop is recommended. ✔️Night Tour of West Lake: The lakeshore outlined by lights has a unique charm and can be enjoyed by boat or strolling. ✔️Special stamping: West Lake Scenic Area Post Office, Xiling Seal Society, etc. provide free stamping check-in.