Weekend Activities
Trips and tours:
Studying in Hangzhou with Sinoquest also provides you with the opportunity to go on free guided tours of surrounding places of interest -
The Six Harmonies Pagoda
The Six Harmonies (Liuhe) Pagoda lies on Yuelun Hill, on the north bank of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The name "six harmonies" comes from the six Buddhist ordinances, meaning "harmonies of heaven, earth, north, south, east, and west". The pagoda was first built in 970 AD by the King of Wuyue State, who intended to demonstrate his authority by conquering the evil of the river tidal bore of the Qiantang River. The pagoda fell into ruins and has undergone reconstruction many times before being listed as one of the key national cultural heritages in 1961.
Lingyin temple
You will find Ling Yin Temple in a long, narrow valley between Fei Lai Feng (Peak flown from Afar) and North Peak to the northwest of West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The temple is notable as one of the ten most famous Buddhist temples of China. In 1961 the temple was listed for protection as a key provincial historical and cultural site and is considered a leading centre for research related to Chinese Buddhist culture.
Longjing
Longjing tea is grown in the Longjing mountain area of Hangzhou, southwest of the West Lake. The fertile land is both rich in phosphorus and sub-acidic sand. This region prevents the cold current from the north and holds back the warm current from the south, thus the growing area of Longjing tea can be coated by cloud and mist for long periods of time. With such favorable growing conditions, needless to say, Longjing tea is considered the best tea in China.
The tea has a long history of more than 1000 years. Its earliest record may be found in the book named 'Chajing', the first book on tea in the world, written by the Chinese expert of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Lu Yu.
West Lake
"Rippling water shimmering on a sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded by rain;
Plain or gaily robed like Xi zi;
West Lake is always alluring."
These are the words composed by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo (960-1127) when he compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, the most beautiful woman in ancient China. These poetic sentiments leave one in no doubt of the glory of the scenery that inspired them.
Originally a shallow sea inlet created by an accumulation of silt, this six square kilometres (1483 acres) of water became the famous West Lake. Tourists of West Lake can enjoy spectacular views and sights throughout the year.
Wuzhen
Located in the centre of the six ancient towns south of Yangtze River, 17 kilometres (10.56 miles) north of the city of Tongxiang, Wuzhen displays its two-thousand-year history in its ancient stone bridges floating on mild water, its stone pathways between the mottled walls and its delicate wood carvings. Also, setting it apart from other towns, its profound cultural background provides a unique experience to any traveller.
