Zhejiang Attraction Guide
Zhejiang is the postcard of Jiangnan — Hangzhou's West Lake, lantern-lit water towns, a Buddhist island rising from the sea, and volcanic peaks like classical paintings. The province holds 19 national 5A scenic areas, including West Lake, Mount Putuo, Mount Yandang, Wuzhen, and Xitang. Plan 5–7 days to combine Hangzhou, one or two water towns, and either Putuo or the mountains.
Hangzhou (杭州)
The provincial capital, built around West Lake — a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape that has been painted and written about since the Song Dynasty.
- West Lake (西湖): Free to enter. Walk or cycle the Su Causeway (苏堤) and Bai Causeway, and tick off the classic Ten Scenes: Broken Bridge (断桥残雪) at dawn, Su Causeway in Spring Dawn (苏堤春晓), and the boat trip to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月) — the image on the back of the 1-yuan note.
- Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔): The rebuilt five-story pagoda on the lake's south shore — ride to the top for the best panoramic view of West Lake, especially at sunset.
- Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺): A 1,700-year-old Buddhist temple in the forested hills west of the lake; the Feilai Feng grottoes outside hold hundreds of stone Buddhas carved into the cliffs. The temple's vegetarian lunch is famous in its own right.
- Xixi Wetland Park (西溪国家湿地公园): China's first national wetland park — a maze of ponds, streams, and villages west of the city, best explored by electric boat.
- Meijiawu Tea Village (梅家坞): The home of West Lake Longjing tea — sip freshly picked spring tea in a farmhouse courtyard.
- Hefang Street (河坊街): The historic snack-and-shopping street at the foot of Wushan Hill — street food, tea houses, and traditional crafts.
Water Towns (水乡古镇)
Zhejiang's canal towns are the most polished in China — black-tiled roofs, whitewashed walls, and stone arch bridges, all an easy trip from Hangzhou or Shanghai.
- Wuzhen West Scenic Zone (乌镇西栅): The larger, more atmospheric half of the 1,300-year-old town — stay overnight and the lantern-lit canals after 9 PM are magical. Night sculling-boat rides are the highlight.
- Wuzhen East Scenic Zone (乌镇东栅): The smaller, more traditional half — folk workshops (blue calico printing, wine distillery) and a lively daytime street scene. A combined ticket covers both zones.
- Xitang (西塘): Famous for its covered corridors (廊棚) — roofed walkways along the canals — plus the narrow Shipi Lane. Livelier and more nightlife-oriented than Wuzhen.
- Nanxun (南浔): The quieter, grander water town built on silk-merchant wealth — the Little Lotus Villa (小莲庄) and the fusion-style Zhang Shiming residence, with far fewer crowds.
Zhoushan & Wenzhou (舟山 · 温州)
Zhejiang's sacred island and its dramatic southern mountains — the spiritual and the sublime, respectively.
- Mount Putuo (普陀山): One of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, on an island in the Zhoushan Archipelago — the "Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea," reached by ferry from the Zhoushan mainland.
- Puji Temple (普济禅寺): Putuo's principal temple, the island's spiritual center — arrive early morning to see the chanting ceremonies.
- South Sea Guanyin Statue (南海观音): The 33-meter bronze Guanyin standing on a lotus above the East China Sea — Putuo's most photographed sight, best with the sea as backdrop.
- Fayu Temple (法雨寺): The hillside temple known for its yellow-tiled halls and Nine-Dragon wall carving, reached by cable car or a scenic walk.
- Yandang Mountain (雁荡山): A UNESCO Global Geopark of eroded volcanic peaks in southern Zhejiang — jagged granite spires, the Big Dragon Waterfall (大龙湫), and the famous night views of Lingfeng Peak (灵峰夜景), where rock silhouettes turn into "couple peaks" and "eagles" after dark.
Beyond (其他)
Film studios, China's oldest private library, and the "Thousand Islands" lake — Zhejiang's rewarding detours.
- Hengdian World Studios (横店影视城): The "Hollywood of China" near Jinhua — full-scale replicas of the Forbidden City and the Qin palace, all open to visitors.
- Tianyi Pavilion (天一阁), Ningbo: Asia's oldest surviving private library — a Ming-dynasty garden complex housing over 300,000 ancient books. Take the guided tour to make it worthwhile.
- Thousand Islets Lake (千岛湖): 1,078 islands scattered across a vast reservoir in Chun'an County — boat tours between the islands make a relaxing 1–2 day escape from Hangzhou.
Practical Tips
Best season: March–May (spring flowers, tea-picking season) and September–November (cool autumn air). Summer is hot and rainy; winter is damp and cold. Booking: Wuzhen and Xitang sell timed tickets; West Lake itself is free but the Three Pools boat ride and Leifeng Pagoda charge separately.
Frequently asked questions
Wuzhen or Xitang — which water town should I pick?
Wuzhen is more polished, with the unbeatable Xizha night scene — best if you stay overnight. Xitang is livelier, cheaper, and has the famous covered corridors. With two days, do both; with one, choose Wuzhen for the night views.
Is Mount Putuo worth the long trip?
Yes, if you have two days to spare and an interest in Buddhist culture — the island's sea-and-temple atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in China. It's about 3.5 hours each way from Hangzhou, so don't try it as a day trip.
Sources
- VisitCN — Zhejiang Travel Guide: https://visitcn.com.cn/en/provinces/zhejiang
- The China Journey — Zhejiang Travel Guide 2026: https://www.thechinajourney.com/zhejiang-travel-guide/
- TravelChinaGuide — Zhejiang Travel Guide: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/zhejiang/