New Ten Scenes of West Lake

Ten Scenes of West Lake

Third Selection of Ten Scenes of West Lake

Museums and Memorial Halls Tour

Qinghefang Historic District

Qinghefang is the only relatively intact old urban district remaining in Hangzhou. Walking through it is like walking through the history of the city. It has been a bustling area since ancient times, and in the Song dynasty, when Hangzhou was the capital, it was literally the “imperial city.” The smooth stone rims of the ancient wells in its lanes hint at its long history. Today, it also embodies the folk culture of Hangzhou: there is so much to eat, do and see, from grand, stately merchant houses to the small stalls of folk artisans.

2–3 hours

Xiling Seal Engravers' Society

Founded in 1904, the Xiling Seal Engravers' Society is the oldest and most accomplished society at home and abroad devoted to the study of epigraphy and seal carving, and is known as the "No. 1 Famous Society under Heaven." Its main buildings include Baitang Hall, Zhuge Pavilion and Yangxian Pavilion, where calligraphy and inscriptions by famous figures are everywhere. The society also houses the China Seal Art Museum, which holds more than 6,000 paintings, calligraphy works and seals from successive dynasties.

Free · 0.5–1 hour

Xixi National Wetland Park

At Xixi, you can glide through the reeds on a sculling boat or stroll along the riverside boardwalks on foot. What's special is that Xixi has preserved its village houses, so even if you're far removed from the ancient way of life, you can still photograph its most original rural dwellings. As the sculling boat drifts lazily along, if you get a sense of having been here before, that's the best part. Picture Ge You in the film *If You Are the One*, sipping Longjing tea on a boat just like yours and savouring the story behind "Xixi, Stay a While."

¥80; sculling boat ¥100/boat/hour; electric boat ¥60; electric shuttle ¥10/person/trip · 5–6 hours