Hangzhou Private Tour: West Lake, Linyin Temple, Tea Plantation & West Lake Show

Hangzhou is located 200 kilometers southwest of Shanghai and is the capital of Zhejiang Province, as well as one of the seven ancient capitals of China. Hangzhou is also known as one of the most romantic cities in China because of its West Lake. Hangzhou was an important city in China’s history because it was the southern terminus of the Grand Canal, which led to its trade flourishing.

First thing in the morning, will bring you to the West Lake, Hangzhou’s most famous site. The West Lake is a fresh water lake that is divided into five sections, and covers a total of 3,323 hectares. Along its banks are several temples, pagodas, garden, and islands. The lake was added onto the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2011, and continues to bring inspiration to Chinese and international garden designers, poets, authors, and painters because of its incredible sceneries. You’ll be able to take a short cruise ride on the lake to enjoy these inspirational sceneries.

After that, we will visit the Linyin Temple. Founded in 328 AD by an Indian monk Hui Li, this temple translates as ‘Temple of Inspired Seclusions.’ It is one of the largest Buddhist temples in China, and once served as a home to over three thousand monks. Located in front of the temple is a limestone peak called FeilaiFeng, “The Peak that Flew Here”, so called as Hui Li remarked that it looked exactly like one in India and asked when it had flown over to Hangzhou. Between the 10th and 14th centuries, this peak's surfaces were carved with over three hundred Buddhist statues. One of the most famous is that of the Laughing Buddha, or more correctly known as the Maitreya or the Buddha of the Future.

Following these sites, we will visit a local restaurant to have lunch to fuel up for the rest of the day. After lunch we’ll bring you to the Dragon Well Tea Plantation, at the southwestern end of the West Lake.

To end the day tour, enjoy Zhang Yimo’s Impression West Lake Show (not available due to cold weather from the end of November to the middle of March) . Created by acclaimed director Zhang Yimou (who also created the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2008 Olympic Games). Impression West Lake is a breathtaking spectacle of light, music, and dance that is staged on the lake itself, on a stage built 3cm below the surface. The story is based on local legend, incorporating hundreds of performers in their elaborate costumes and the amazing backdrop of West Lake.