Joanna James
The city of Hangzhou will captivate the visitor with its attractions. In Hangzhou, you will have the opportunity to see the West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Fei Lai Feng, Leifeng Pagoda and more.
Undoubtedly, the well-known West Lake would be one of Hangzhou's must-visit attractions. You will see that it is a lovely picturesque lake featuring beautiful manmade islands with an array of interesting attractions such as gardens, temples and pagodas located nearby. Due to its stunning beauty, it has been recognised as one of China's outstanding locations. It has also been identified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. West Lake is especially renowned for its ten scenic sites – known locally as 'Xihu Shi Jing' – with each presenting a mesmerising sight for the visitor. In fact, no visit to Hangzhou would be complete without experiencing this site's beauty.
Another of Hangzhou's foremost attractions would be Lingyin Temple, a place of worship that was established during the reign of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in 326 AD. This historic temple is believed to have been founded by a monk from western India, Master Hui Li. Lingyin Temple is considered to rank amongst China's largest and oldest Buddhist temples. This solemn and beautiful attraction is also renowned for its splendid architecture which presents a captivating sight for visitors. An expansive place of worship, Lingyin Temple features several revered halls such as the Mahavira Hall, Heavenly Kings Hall and Yaowang Hall.
Situated adjacent to Lingyin Temple is Fei Lai Feng, a culturally significant mountain composed mainly of limestone. This 168 m tall attraction is famed for its 345 stone handcrafted Buddha figures which were mostly created during the Yuan, Song and Five Dynasties. You will see that these ancient statues have a solemn and delicate appearance. Interestingly, this mountain is called 'Fei Lai' or 'flying'; this is due to the existence of a folktale which narrates that this mountain actually flew from a distant location and landed at its present position, just as a meteorite would.
The history of this pagoda stretches back to 975 AD, a year which falls into the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. You will see that Leifeng Pagoda is an eye-catching tower situated to the south of West Lake featuring five storeys and eight sides. It is greatly renowned due to a well-known Chinese folktale which narrates that Bai Suzhen, a snake demon was imprisoned in the pagoda for all time by a skilful Buddhist monk. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit Leifeng Pagoda would be Ascott Raffles City Hangzhou, where you will have the opportunity to stay at pleasingly located Hangzhou apartments.
You will find that Xixi Wetland Park is an expansive leisure attraction that will appeal to the nature lover. At this park, you will encounter six principal watercourses, interesting kinds of plants, a variety of wildlife and picturesque scenery that will capture the imagination of those who like spending time outdoors. In fact, you will find several attractive and picturesque sites within this park that will delight and refresh the visitor.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
