Joanna James
An ancient city that translates on the senses as a poetic ode to the Song Dynasty, China's original capital steeps in nature-kissed glamour and imperial grandeur, allowing you to decadently sample each moment like a timeless work of art. Here's all you cannot miss when in Hangzhou.
A dreamy cityscape full of time stamps taking visitors through 2,200 years' worth of enriching history, Hangzhou still holds the whimsical remnants of its commercial and cultural stardom as a bygone hub of trade in coveted commodities like teas, silks, and medicine. While there are plenty of eclectic allurements characterising this oriental fantasyland, from picturesque traversing picturesque canals by waterbus and drinking in the old-world city and getting lost in jewel-toned market streets to exploring antique dynastic mansions complete with Sino-Western adornments, rare artwork, and luxuriant gardens featuring a lake and the largest artificial cave in China, your first moments by Hangzhou should be spent discovering the UNESCO-listed West Lake. This cinematic waterfront is a visionary symphony of nature-kissed beauty from sunrise to sunset, whether it's catching floating blossoms, gliding across Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, or gazing at breathtaking panoramas from Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds.
While the nature hikes and strolls across blossom-clad pond bridges and causeways should not be compromised, the whimsical and eccentric enclave of Qinghefang Street, with its odes to ancient imperial city life, is a must-visit for every calibre of traveller. From traditional shops and curio stands to puppet theatres and vintage tea houses, this elegant avenue has the lyrical dreaminess of a well-beloved memory.
Whether it's watching the gracefully touching performances on the lake, rowing in a forest-clad fisher boat across the scenic wetlands or gaping at the medley of the unique heritage and futuristic architectural marvels, Hangzhou holds plenty of enticements to steal your breath away. The National Silk Museum is another spot of brilliance and beauty, a UNESCO-recognised wonder comprising over 50,000 square metres of themed galleries dedicated to China's proud heritage of intricately ingenious craftsmanship.
While there's much culinary bliss in store for you in Hangzhou, from sweet and sour West Lake fish to Beggar's Chicken wrapped in lotus tea, you can't miss out on sampling the delicate jade liqueur of the Longjing tea and roam the exquisite tea terraces surrounding the Hangzhou National Tea Museum. If you're looking for sophisticated apartments in Hangzhou proffering superior access to its diversely wonderful allurements, venture no further than Somerset IOC Hangzhou.
Whether getting deliciously lost in lush field endowed with tranquil lotus springs and lyrical mountains pillaring the sky, binging on comfort food at riverside eat streets and cosy 'grandma-style' kitchens, or sipping Longjing tea at a chic waterfront café, sensory indulgence is Hangzhou's forte. But if you'd fancy entering a portal into richly vibrant Old-world China with only the barest hints of the modern day to be found, Hefang Street, with its iridescently hued hawker stalls, boutiques, and tea houses, is where you can admire everything synonymous with artisan antiques and atmospheric tradition.
While Hangzhou is undeniably beautiful in all its seasons, it won't hurt to venture off the beaten and explore the spectacularly Instagrammable floating towns surrounding it, from captivating Wuzhen Water Town, with centuries-old echoes preserved in its gracious architecture, museum, and martial art performances to Xitang Water Town; a soulful canvas of jewel-toned boutiques, flagstone courtyards, and waterside gardens.
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