Joanna James
A whimsical legend riddled with modern-day twists; Hangzhou is a stimulating old-word hub immersed in the majesty of untouched nature. Here are some insights into this atmospheric provincial capital.
One of those rare dreamscapes that stimulate innovative brainwaves and poetic odes to history alike, Hangzhou graciously satiates every inkling of wanderlust. However, you can’t escape the imperial glamour of this anciently pivotal port city in the Three Kingdoms, known for being the premium supplier of lush silks, fine porcelain, and fragrant tea to countries as far away as Persia and the Arabian Peninsula, full of gorgeous vestiges of its eventful 2,200-year-old history. The best way to drink in the ambience is to cycle around the quaint neighbourhoods and blossom-adorned lake settings, with even more picturesque vantages to be enjoyed via boat or waterbus.
While the jewel-toned market enclaves, regal mansions with their Sino-Western motifs, vintage tea houses, and vibrant curio shops are enough to fill your days with diverting wonder, there’s no denying that the cinematic West Lake is the crowning jewel of the city. From the theatrical romance of Songcheng Park and lyrical phenomena like the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon to breath-stealing panoramas atop the Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds and the blossoming vintage causeways of the UNESCO-listed lake and Grand Canal, there is no shortage of tranquil nature-kissed escapes to dip into. If time permits, a visit to the surrounding water towns will thrill you to your core, with restored old homes spilling into glittering waterways, leaping bridges, flagstone streets, secret gardens, and charming galleries.
Despite its entrancing portals into old-world culture, tradition, and history, Hangzhou is also fast modernising into a tech-savvy cityscape and is the world's largest ‘cashless city’ that has almost exclusively switched to mobile payments. Alongside its dreamy lotus springs, mountain passes, and bright culture-rich neighbourhoods, you can enjoy more contemporary diversions like the Hangzhou Tower Shopping City and the MIXC Mall with its international upmarket boutiques and indoor skating rink. If you’re looking for ideal apartments in Hangzhou proffering prime access to its enticing hotspots, venture no further than the likes of Somerset IOC Hangzhou.
Dubbed the ‘House of Silk’ and credited by Marco Polo as being the world’s “most splendid and luxurious city”, this effervescent dynastic Capital retains its bygone opulence in its majestic museums, from the UNESCO-recognised National Silk Museum, with its 50,000 square metres of elaborately themed galleries showcasing different aspects of the world-renowned Hangzhou silk trade and artisanship, to the classically beautiful Hangzhou National Tea Museum surrounded by flowering tea terraces. Mejjawu Tea Village is a peaceful pastoral gem that will enrapture beauty lovers and tea connoisseurs alike, not to mention the history buffs who can’t get enough of the delicious heritage tidbits and expressive architecture.
Whether it’s the delicate jade-tinted liqueur of Dragon Well (Longjing) tea that tastes of buttery roasted chestnuts, the sweet and sour succulence of West Lake Fish, or the mouth-wateringly luxurious Beggar’s Chicken wrapped fragrant lotus leaves, culinary bliss is another facet to anticipate when visiting this timeless lake city.
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.
