"Boats in the Mist, Orioles Singing Among Willows—The Twelve Hours of West Lake"

📍 Location: West Lake is located at No. 1 Longjing Road, West Lake District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. 🚗 Transportation: · Electric carts: Stops along the lake, flag one down to hop on and off easily to visit the main attractions around West Lake. • Boats: Board at lakeside piers to cruise West Lake, enjoy the scenery, and visit islands like Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. • Bicycles: Multiple rental points around West Lake, perfect for visitors who prefer independent travel and enjoy cycling. 👍️ Must-visit attractions: 1️⃣ Broken Bridge Snow: One of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, located at the eastern end of Bai Causeway, legendary meeting place of Xu Xian and Lady White Snake. 2️⃣ Three Pools Mirroring the Moon: The largest island in West Lake, also featured on the back of the 1 yuan banknote. 3️⃣ Spring Dawn at Su Causeway: A long causeway crossing West Lake from north to south. In spring, peach blossoms and willows alternate along the path, with lush grass and bird songs creating a poetic landscape—the perfect place to enjoy West Lake's spring scenery. 4️⃣ Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard: Located on the west side of West Lake, in front of Yue Fei Temple. 5️⃣ Evening Bell at Nanping Hill: Jingci Temple sits at the foot of Huiri Peak on Nanping Hill. In the evening, melodious bell sounds echo through the valley, adding a sense of tranquility and Zen to West Lake. 6️⃣ Leifeng Pagoda: One of West Lake's iconic landmarks, with rich historical and cultural heritage and beautiful legends. 7️⃣ Yue Fei Temple: A memorial to national hero Yue Fei, featuring his tomb, statue, and inscriptions by historical figures. The solemn atmosphere allows visitors to experience Yue Fei's patriotic spirit and learn about Chinese history and culture. 8️⃣ Xiling Seal Society: Located on Solitary Hill, this famous academic organization studies seal carving and stone inscriptions. With elegant classical architecture, the garden houses many stone inscriptions and seal works by famous artists, creating a rich cultural and artistic atmosphere. 9️⃣ Nine Creeks and Misty Trees: Commonly known as "Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies," where streams, tea gardens, mist, and forests intertwine to create unique natural scenery. 1️⃣0️⃣ Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds: South Peak and North Peak rise high, with Buddhist pagodas built on both summits. 🎟️ Ticket Information: 1. Leifeng Pagoda: 40 yuan. 2. Lingyin Flying Peak: 45 yuan. To visit Lingyin Temple, you must purchase both the Flying Peak ticket and a 30 yuan incense offering ticket. 3. Wu Hill City God Pavilion: 30 yuan. 4. Guo's Villa: 10 yuan. 5. King Qian's Memorial: 15 yuan. 6. Six Harmonies Pagoda: 20 yuan, additional 10 yuan to climb the pagoda. 7. Yue Fei Temple: 25 yuan. 8. Yellow Dragon Cave: 15 yuan. 9. Jade Emperor Hill: 10 yuan. 10. Wansong Academy: 10 yuan. 11. Hupao Park: 15 yuan. 12. Yunqi Bamboo Path: 8 yuan. 13. Hangzhou Zoo: 20 yuan. 14. Hu Xueyan Former Residence: 20 yuan. 15. Hangzhou Botanical Garden: 10 yuan. 16. Mulan Mountain Tea Garden: 4 yuan. 17. Hangzhou Children's Park: 15 yuan. 💗 Other tips: ⭐️ Transportation: Some areas have traffic restrictions on weekends and holidays. Follow the "Hangzhou Traffic Police" WeChat account for restriction updates. If driving, the Provincial Government parking lot is relatively inexpensive. Metro is also convenient—Longxiang Bridge Station is crowded, Ding'an Road Station is more convenient, or if you're energetic, exit at Yellow Dragon Cave Station on Line 3 and hike to the scenic area. ⭐️ Boat options: For Three Pools Mirroring the Moon Island, choose boats that include island admission (75 yuan). Public tour boats charge by section, 70 yuan for a full lake circuit, with ticket sales ending at 15:30. Hand-rowed boats and paddle boats cost 150 yuan/hour and 180 yuan/hour respectively, available at the Flower Harbor Fish Viewing pier. Choose the Turtle Pond route, but note that service ends early—board before 3 PM. ⭐️ Dining recommendations: The Lakeside commercial area has many dining options. For authentic Hangzhou cuisine, try Ye Ma in Kerry Center. Lakeside restaurants tend to be expensive; alternatively, visit Zhongshan Road or Hefang Street food streets for Hangzhou dishes and specialty snacks. ⭐️ Photography spots: West Lake's most beautiful corner for photos is on Xiling Bridge, Guo's Villa has a "Pillow Lake" photo spot, Long Bridge area has a "Lake View" photo spot, and Leifeng Pagoda offers the best bird's-eye view of West Lake. ⭐️ Itinerary suggestions: Don't plan West Lake and Lingyin Temple on the same day. Instead, combine West Lake with Wu Hill Plaza and City God Pavilion.