First Time in Hangzhou? Don’t Miss These Must-Do Experiences!

West Lake Cruise: Slow Time in Ink Painting

When driving to the West Lake Scenic Area, it is recommended to park the car in the parking lot on Nanshan Road or Beishan Road and walk to the lakeside pier. Rowing is an excellent way to experience West Lake, where boatmen sway wooden paddles to guide you through the shimmering waves. In the early morning, a thin mist floats on the lake surface, and the Leifeng Pagoda appears faintly in the distance. When the boat passes by the Su Causeway, the dew drops between the lotus leaves reflect the morning light, as if entering the poetry and paintings of ancient people. Remember to book a rowing boat in advance. Each boat can accommodate 6 people, with an average cost of about 100 yuan per person, and the entire journey takes about 1.5 hours. If the weather in Hangzhou is sunny, you can also encounter a stunning sunset on a cruise in the evening, where the golden afterglow turns the Three Pools Moon into a sweet honey color. If you have any questions or would like to customize your trip, please contact us! 

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Self driving Guide to Lingyin Temple: Symphony of Zen and Mountains

Navigate to the "Lingyin Feilaifeng Parking Lot" and arrive before 8am to avoid tour groups. Climbing up along Meiling North Road, one often encounters thin mist in the early morning of autumn and winter. Opening the skylight, one can smell the refreshing fragrance of pine and cypress. Lingyin Scenic Area requires purchasing a Feilaifeng ticket (45 yuan) first, and then entering Lingyin Temple (30 yuan). It is recommended to wear anti-skid shoes and climb up from the Cold Spring Pavilion. The century old Luohansong in front of the Mahavira Hall is worth stopping. Self driving precautions: The roads in the scenic area are narrow, so be careful when passing by. Novice drivers can park their cars in the more spacious Faxi Temple parking lot and walk for 15 minutes to arrive.

Xixi Wetland: A Green Wizard of Oz on the Urban Edge

Starting from West Lake and heading west along Wen Yi Road, it takes about 20 minutes by car to reach the entrance of Zhoujia Village in Xixi. Suggest renting an electric boat (each boat can accommodate 4 people, 100 yuan/hour) to shuttle through the reed marshes and startle the white egrets flying gracefully. The autumn season is the most stunning, with fire persimmons reflecting the waves and reeds flying in the snow. When the boat passes by the Autumn Snow Temple, the cabin is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers. Self driving can be parked in Zhoujia Village or Longjiazui parking lot, remember to bring mosquito repellent. If it rains, strolling along the wetland boardwalk has a unique charm, holding an umbrella and listening to the sound of rain hitting banana trees, just in line with the changing tenderness of the "Hangzhou weather".

Eternal Love in Song City: An Immersive Journey Through Thousands of Years

Drive to Songcheng Scenic Area on Zhijiang Road before 3 pm, and the parking lot is adjacent to the entrance. Highly recommended for the performance of 'Eternal Love in Song City', with over 300 seats surrounding the stage and holographic projection reproducing the prosperity of the Southern Song Dynasty. It is recommended to enter one hour in advance to experience interactive activities such as movable type printing and cuju for free. The night light show is even more stunning, with water screen movies and ancient city walls complementing each other. After finishing the trip, I drove back along the Qiantang River. When the night wind blew on my face, the car stereo played the song "Dreaming Back to Lin'an", perfectly ending my self driving journey in Hangzhou.

The beauty of Hangzhou lies in the fusion of mountains, waters, and culture. Self driving can deeply connect these scattered pearls in the city. From the sound of oars and lights on a West Lake cruise, to the morning bells and evening drums at Lingyin Temple, every experience feels like flipping through the living history of Jiangnan. Suggest reserving 3 days to measure the ancient and modern intersections of this city with wheels, making the 'Hangzhou self driving tour' the most vivid travel memory.