5 free things to do in Hangzhou
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 6, 2013
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The West Lake is Hangzhou's bestknown landmark, with numerous free scenic spots around it. Each season brings its own particular beauty to the lake. In spring, romance fills the air as the willow trees bud and peach trees blossom. Savoring a cup of longjing tea in a leisurely fashion is a fine way to admire the wonderful West Lake scenery. |
Resist those otaku (a Japanese term for stay-at-home types) or couch potato tendencies! Get out and about to enjoy the beautiful scenery in Hangzhou. Once you do, you're sure to find something of interest.
When Hangzhou's West Lake was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, the city government promised there would be no charge for visiting the picturesque area. In fact, many tourist spots in the city haven't charged admission fees for more than a decade - a reason why Hangzhou is a such popular destination. Here are some of the city's attractions that needn't cost you a yuan to visit.
The West Lake
The West Lake is Hangzhou's best-known landmark. Located in the west of the city, there are numerous free scenic spots around the lake, such as Bai Causeway, Su Causeway and the Broken Bridge.
If you are interested in Chinese history, you can learn about the area's colorful history and amazing tales, including the famous "Legend of the White Snake."
Walk along Bai Causeway, Su causeway, and then turn to Nanshan Road and No. 6 Park. You are rewarded with a sweeping view in a relatively easy manner. Cycling offers another way to enjoy views of the West Lake.
You can also appreciate the beautiful scenery in less energetic ways. Along the West Lake are elegant cafes or teahouses. Ordering a cup of famous longjing tea, you can savor it in a leisurely fashion while admiring the wonderful scenery.
Zhejiang Art Museum
With poetic West Lake in front of it and Mt Yuhuang (Jade Emperor) to its rear, Zhejiang Art Museum at 138 Nanshan Road can certainly boast a scenic location.
The museum opened in 2009, and visitors can view its collections for free.
Designed by Cheng Taining, one of China's leading architects, the museum is in the style of a local ethnic building.
With a total area of more than 35,000 square meters, it is the biggest art museum in China. The 14 exhibition halls will take visitors roughly three hours to stroll around.
A recent exhibition featured oil paintings by Ukrainian artist Mykhailo Guida.
Xiangshan campus of China Academy of Art
The campus has been a hot scenic spot since Wang Shu, the school's dean of architecture and designer of the campus, won a Pritzker Architecture Prize - considered by many in the field the "Nobel Prize" for architecture.
Although it's in suburban Zhuantang Town, the campus receives hoards of visitors eager to see what all the fuss is about.
The campus covers an area of more than 500,000 square meters and is surrounded by tree-covered mountains and flowing streams.
The combination of natural scenery and the unique architecture makes for an impressive sight.
Most of the buildings are less than five stories tall, featuring square windows that come in different sizes.
These add vibrancy to the design, breaking the rule that they must conform to fixed locations and sizes.
In addition, the buildings are designed so that their contours match the line of the hills in the distance, visually forming a harmonious bond. Corridors and cloisters wind around the campus, softening the overall look.
Wood, stone, bricks and glass are all used to ensure visual diversity on campus. To create an authentic historic feel, six million tiles from demolished traditional houses were used in the project.
And adding a note of natural antiquity, centuries-old trees grow along the banks of ponds around the campus.
The Grand Canal of China
The Grand Canal of China is the general name for several famous canals in the country. It is currently applying for World Cultural Heritage status for its significant role in the history of China.
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