A Spring Rendezvous: Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring West Lake

Pre-trip Preparations Before you leave, check the Hangzhou weather forecast 🌤 and pack some comfortable sneakers 👟 for strolling along West Lake. Book your hotel near West Lake in advance. We recommend the area around Hubin Yintai, which is convenient for both sightseeing and shopping 🛍. Must-See Attractions 1. Broken Bridge: While there's no snow on the Broken Bridge in spring, the weeping willows on both sides of the bridge 🌿 sway their tender green branches in the wind, like spring messengers waving to visitors. Standing on the bridge, you can take in the panoramic beauty of West Lake, with rolling mountains in the distance and shimmering waters below. 2. Bai Causeway: Walk along the Broken Bridge and you'll arrive at the Bai Causeway. During peach blossom season, the soft pink blossoms 🌸 contrast beautifully with the emerald green willows, creating a picturesque scene. The Bai Causeway bustles with visitors, all reveling in the beautiful spring scenery. 3. Su Causeway: Su Causeway stretches across West Lake from north to south. In spring, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, pear blossoms, and other flowers bloom along the causeway 🌼. Stroll along the path, enjoying the gentle breeze carrying the delicate fragrance of flowers, and watch the leisurely boats gliding across the lake 🚤. 4. Quyuan Fenghe (Curved Yard and Lotus Pond): Although the lotuses haven't bloomed yet in spring, the lotus leaves are starting to emerge. The weeping willows by the pond and the fresh green grass 🌱 create a refreshing scene. 5. Huagang Park (Flower Harbor): This is a great place to enjoy flowers in spring, with red, pink, and yellow blossoms vying for attention 🌷. The park also has large lawns, perfect for family picnics. Don't forget to visit the fish pond, where schools of red carp swim playfully 🐟. Culinary Delights 1. West Lake Vinegar Fish: This sweet and sour dish, featuring tender fish, is a Hangzhou specialty 🐟. 2. Longjing Shrimp: The refreshing aroma of Longjing tea infuses the tender shrimp, creating a unique flavor 🍤. 3. Dingsheng Cake: This soft and glutinous cake has a subtle sweetness and embodies the essence of Jiangnan cuisine 🥧. 4. Cong Bao Hui: This crispy snack consists of a thin pancake wrapped around a youtiao (fried dough stick) and scallions, brushed with sweet bean sauce 🌯. We recommend trying these delicacies in Hefang Street, savoring the flavors while experiencing the charm of the old street. Getting Around West Lake is vast. You can explore it on foot, by bike 🚲, or by boat. Walking allows you to experience the attractions up close; cycling offers more freedom to enjoy the scenery along the way; and boating provides a different perspective of West Lake's beauty. Public transportation, including buses and the subway, is also convenient. Download the "Hangzhou Subway" app or use the Alipay transit code for easy travel. Suggested Itineraries - One-day tour: Broken Bridge - Bai Causeway - Su Causeway - Huagang Park (lunch) - Quyuan Fenghe - Hefang Street (dinner and night market) - Two-day tour: Day 1: Broken Bridge - Bai Causeway - Solitary Hill - Xiling Seal Society - Yue Fei Temple - Lou Wai Lou Restaurant (West Lake Vinegar Fish and other delicacies); Day 2: Su Causeway - Huagang Park - Boat tour on the lake - Three Pools Mirroring the Moon - Hubin Yintai (shopping and dinner)