Known as “paradise on earth” for captivating landscapes steeped in tradition, past dynasties sprawling Hangzhou remains a quintessential lake town destination drawing scores of domestic tourists. I recently spent five leisurely days soaking up this city’s postcard-perfect sights built to harness nature’s splendor and man’s ingenuity. My days were filled wandering forested walking trails surrounding UNESCO World Heritage West Lake and sampling freshly plucked green teas in nearby plantation villages like Longjing. In this post we talk about 5 Days Hangzhou Getaway – Westlake & Longjing Village.
Strolling Lakeside Promenades & Pagoda Paths
I based myself at a stylish boutique hotel in a renovated historic building facing West Lake’s northern banks – mere steps from renowned Sunrise on Broken Bridge in Hangzhou’s well-trodden central district. Fueling up my first morning on steaming pork dumplings, I soon found myself wandering stone paths circling placid waters passing hundred-year-old gazebos and weeping willows bowing gently towards blooming lotus patches. Everywhere I turned framed yet another mesmerizing lakeside scene with red wooden causeways stretching out to island pagodas like Leifeng Pagoda towering eight stories tall. By lunchtime under sunny spring skies, I caught glimpses of painters capturing the nostalgic tableaus and tourists clamoring aboard swan-shaped pleasure boats for mid-day lake cruises.
Tea Tasting Among Longjing Village Plantations
On day two with a full belly and sturdy walking shoes on, I took a 40-minute bus ride with new friends from Beijing to famed UNESCO-listed Longjing Village celebrated for harvesting some of China’s most prized green teas. There we met a local tea master who walked us through neatly packed rows of low bushes with tender green leaves cultivated on terraced slopes using time-honored organic farming traditions spanning eight centuries! Our guide taught us how to gently roll freshly plucked tea between palms to release aromatic essential oils then allowed everyone samples of the final products ranging from nutty to vegetal flavors. I was even able to purchase rare first-day-of-spring harvest tea leaves as the ultimate aromatic souvenir gift.
Hiking Forested Trails with Hidden Temple Surprises
While Hangzhou overflows with manicured gardens and pavilions designer for admiring nature’s spectacle reflecting upon West Lake’s rippling mirror-like canvass, I yearned for complete immersion inside wilderness beyond the city’s edges on day four. Luckily I discovered Meijiawu Tea Plantation and Village located just 15 kilometers north of my hotel, accessible by cheap public bus in under 60 minutes. Alongside residents foraging bamboo shoots and mushrooms, I followed dusty trails cutting through dense bamboo groves and around hillsides blanketed in tea bushes. Deep inside I happened upon the must-visit Lingyin Temple with majestic rock formations and carved Buddhist statues peering out from lush forest. Struck by a sense of serenity, I found an empty rock perch overlooking the valley to sit quietly watching sunlight dance through swaying treetops as birds serenaded from invisible branches for over an hour.
Key Takeaways from My Time Around Hangzhou
– Pack comfortable shoes! Foot paths around West Lake and surrounding scenic areas add up to over 15+ kilometers.
– Visit teahouses and learn proper gongfu ceremonial preparation to discern quality green tea leaves sourced nearby.
– For unique cultural glimpses, venture just outside the city into Longjing and Meijiawu historic village landscapes.
– Savor Hangzhou regional specialties like braised Dongpo pork, West Lake sour fish stew, shelled shrimp with Longjing tea and sweet Osmanthus delicacies.
– Mix idyllic waterfront strolls with hiking forested hills or you’ll only experience half of Hangzhou’s revered natural allure.
Conclusion
Some may hastily travel directly to Hangzhou’s unquestionable showstopper – mist-veiled West Lake immortalized by poets and painted through millennia. Yet beyond bustling pedestrian streets packed with lively markets and restaurants lies peaceful hiking and cycling routes traversing tea-carpeted slopes. Have your breath taken away equally by both the tranquil patches of untouched wilderness and the marvels of human ingenuity coexisting just minutes apart. Find blissful travel equilibrium enjoying Hangzhou’s harmonious contrasts at the colorful crossroads of old and new China. I hope this 5 Days Hangzhou Getaway – Westlake & Longjing Village post helps you.