Important Update:The City Guide web experience will be sunsetting on April 28, 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more.West Lake
(西湖)
Lake and Historic and Protected Site
杭州市
"... are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands within the..."(2 Tips)
"awesome view very romantic!!"(7 Tips)"Very very pretty best to come on weekdays and during mid autumn"(2 Tips)
"It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011"(2 Tips)
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66 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- scenic views
- fresh air
- pagoda
- biking
- quiet
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Dave McSeptember 3, 2018If you live in Shanghai, West Lake is one of the weekend getaways that you have to become familiar with. Spend the day, ride a bike around the lake without any plan at all. 🚲
Upvote28Downvote- MESJuly 13, 2013Magnificent! West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout the ages for its natural beauty and historical relics. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011Upvote24DownvoteUpvoted Mar 24
Alfonso CastilloJuly 28, 2013True beauty not known by international tourist in my opinion. It's amazing to see the diversity of places all over the shores of the lake: restaurants, hotels, jogging paths. Don't come in summer: 41°
Upvote17Downvote- Dave McSeptember 3, 2018Really a wonderful place to get out of the hustle & bustle of the city and take a soothing walk with your significant other. 👩❤️👨
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Christine HaMay 2, 2017UNESCO world heritage site. Get Birdseye view at pagoda top. Take rowboat ride to islands. Eat pan-fried soup dumplings at nearby Yaobude Gaozu Shengjian 🛶Upvote2Downvote- Nam Nắn NótNovember 24, 2016U can hire 2 kind of boat(2-4people) to hangout around West Lake,Boat A 150rmb/1hours,Boat B 180rmb/hours.
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Tim DengMay 30, 2019A beautiful lake to walk around. Fountains and light shows at night, though it’s very pretty during the day too
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José João MartinsJanuary 9, 2015Wow! It's a great one-day trip from Shanghai. Regular speed trains, metro in Hangdhou just walking distance from lake. Wait for sunset. Do the tour anti-clockwise (easy) from noon until sunset. LovelyUpvoteDownvote
Lotso LiliusOctober 16, 2014A truly romantic lake city. Stroll along Duan Qiao Bridge at night to see the colorful lights reflecting off the rippling water. Avoid Chinese public holidays - it WILL ruin your experience!Upvote2Downvote
Ali VaseghniaApril 5, 2015I could walk along this lake the whole day and still enjoy it. A bit crowded, but that's just part of what West Lake is.Upvote1Downvote- Nam Nắn NótMarch 10, 2014West Lake is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou,capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands within the lake.Upvote1Downvote
Francy ZhaoMarch 17, 2016It's my favorite city in China for sure! Can't get enough from it
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Nico PitneyFebruary 17, 2015Take the high-speed train and enjoy the most famous city lake in China. Walk around. Nighttime is wonderful, great sunset photos. Avoid holidays.UpvoteDownvote
Peggy WangSeptember 26, 2014West Lake is the top ten famous scenic sites in China and the only lake heritage. It is not only famous for its natural scenery, but also for its human landscape.UpvoteDownvote
David ChinaAugust 8, 2014This is a world-famous cultural landscape, and a site of the world cultural heritage list. The West Lake is the landscape of the Chaptel, when you open the door or the window.
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胡椒June 5, 2012There is a lot of place you can borrow a bicycle from here,and some are for two people to ride together,if you are a couple ,you really should try this!Upvote1Downvote
💁🏻 SrKeedaApril 21, 2021Don’t miss out the West Lake Museum which is located near Qianwangci Pier!
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H. RosnerFebruary 26, 2015Hangzhou's main tourist attraction. Beautiful during the day and at sunset. Gets incredibly packed with tourists during holidays.UpvoteDownvote
Alice FangJune 25, 2015So crowded over the summer, but beautiful! Good thing there's popsicle stands! Great for people watching.Upvote1Downvote
Cédric FouillartFebruary 21, 2015Very nice and peacefull place, I live in this city during 4 years and sometimes I miss this place, but I recommend itUpvoteDownvote
- AHSAN UDDINMarch 25, 2018Very very pretty best to come on weekdays and during mid autumnUpvote1Downvote
Dani GarMay 1, 2014Good times in Hangzhou but not many english speakers. A lady told me something I didnt understand while buying my tea. Probably said im the ugliest person alive but at least she did it with a smile.Upvote4Downvote
andre daud wMay 2, 2014visited on an evening, the fountain show was good but very crowded. One of the true historical place in China.UpvoteDownvote
Different landscape it presented everytime I came.
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Angela JosephNovember 29, 2013Beautiful, peaceful place to hang out and enjoy a cup of tea our coffee and the view.UpvoteDownvote
Mert YmzMarch 8, 2015IT is Excellent place. You spend nice time in There.I suggest that you walk aroundUpvoteDownvote
Sandro Di SimplicioNovember 17, 2017If you're lucky and there's no fog is a nice place but otherwise not reallyUpvote1Downvote
怡 黄May 17, 2010Scenery in Westlake is so beautiful! Go to have a walk by the lake, you will have the feeling of arriving at the heaven!!!Upvote9Downvote
JiaJune 15, 2015Mid June wasn't packed with tourists. Do the full walk around if possible.UpvoteDownvote
Matt PNovember 28, 2010Sit and be thankful for life and how beautiful it can be. Think of people who touch your life in a unique way :)Upvote12Downvote
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UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1334
Open (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 24 Hours
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Places inside West Lake
- 8.0
"Great to place to run. Bike rentals available in the middle"
Vincent Tan - 8.0
"Walking is recommended as a slow and beautiful trip. Chairs beside the lake are all along the main road. Good place to rest if you are tired."
Charles LI - 8.4
"Riding ur bike along this causeway is the best way to appreciate the beauty of the west lake and enjoy the brimming leisure of this city"
Vivian
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- 7.5
"In the evenings, everything looks a little more splendid at the lake."
Dave Mc 
"On a clear day in the spring or fall, when the weather is neither too hot, nor too cold, West Lake is pretty hard to beat."
Dave Mc- 7.6
"If you have kids with you, you can never have enough bread or crackers. With an unlimited supply, I don't know who would give up first, the fish or the kids! 🐠"
Dave Mc
Places people like to go after West Lake
- 8.0
"Try the Vegetables in Cheese & Curry - This was a little dish of heaven. So good!"
Magan Hunt - 6.1
"Big mall in the city center, have everything you need (goods and foods) plus free wifi (u need to have Chinese mobile number to get the code). Check Secret Recipe restaurant on Underground floor"
Alexander Maltsev
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