Zhejiang Province Attractions
Zhejiang Province Articles
A Brief Introduction to Ningbo
A View of Ningbo’s City Skyline from Moon Lake
...
A View of Ningbo’s City Skyline from Moon Lake
Located in Zhejiang Province about an hour and a half from the Provincial capitol, Hangzhou, lies the beautiful city of Ningbo. Nestled on the junction of three rivers, Ningbo is one of China’s often overlooked, yet treasured tourist destinations. It is a beautiful, clean, pretty and modern city, dotted with tourism gems that attract like diamonds on a velvet cloth.
Often simply regarded as a launching point for visiting the nearby Buddhist Mecca of Putuo Shan, Ningbo is a little slice of China that should not be missed. With a history dating back 7,000 years to the Neolithic Hermudu, Ningbo is steeped in culture and Chinese heritage, yet with all the facilities of any modern city to attract and hold your attention and interest.
It is a city of contrasts: water and parklands; history and culture; modern shopping plazas and the relics of western influence in Laowaitan and beautiful churches; wonderful restaurants, both Chinese and international; International supermarkets alongside traditional Chinese ones; and accommodation to suit all tastes and prices.
Easy day trips can take visitors to a multitude of tourist venues around the city. Alternatively, visitors can easily spend a few days exploring this fascinating city by strolling along the many waterways and parks, admiring cultural relics, looking for bargains, shopping till you drop, tasting the flavors of China, or partying to your heart’s content.
Whether you are looking at a place to rest and recover or seeking the excitement of exploration, Ningbo offers it all.
Picturesque Hangzhou
A short two hour train trip from Shanghai lays the Provincial capital of Zhejiang (浙江) Province, Hangzhou (杭州)....
A short two hour train trip from Shanghai lays the Provincial capital of Zhejiang (浙江) Province, Hangzhou (杭州). While the streets of Hangzhou are probably as traffic filled as those of Shanghai, Hangzhou still offers a wonderful weekend getaway by staying anywhere on or around the jewel of Hangzhou, West Lake.
Although surrounded by the normal city crowds of this busy Provincial capital, West Lake is the perfect escape for exercise, sightseeing, bicycle riding, boating or just relaxing with that cooling drink and soaking up the atmosphere of relaxation this beautiful lake encourages.
West Lake is nestled almost in the centre of Hangzhou. While not a big lake compared with Dongqian Lake alongside nearby Ningbo, this lake is dotted with islands and mini lakes within lakes, like a traditional Chinese water garden, but on a grandiose scale. The natural setting of strangely shaped peaks, serene forests and springs, dense foliage and a myriad of blossoms, especially in springtime, are enhanced by a treasury of sculpture and architectural features. The largest part of West Lake is known as the Outer Lake and it is bounded by the North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. The many bridges that connect these waterways add man made beauty to that already bestowed by nature.
If this is not enough, in more recent years the local government has proceeded with the development of the "New" West Lake area, Mao Jia Bu. This is an area of small lakes, streams, gardens and bridges that make a morning or a full day’s stroll, an immensely enjoyable experience. Truly this is a must-see venue for anyone contemplating a visit to Hangzhou.
There are many starting points for viewing and travelling on West Lake, but perhaps a nice place to start is to head to Xihu Tiandi. Anyone who has been to Xintiandi in Shanghai will recognise this name. Xin in Chinese means "new" while Tiandi is "world", thus Xihu Tiandi is West Lake World. Dotted with bars and restaurants, this is a trendy area for both tourists and locals and is beautifully lit by fairy lights at night.
Strewn on the shores of West Lake are many other tourist venues, including Sun Yat Sen Park, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, the beautiful Buddhist temple of LingYin, Tiger Pawing Springs, and the Six Harmonies Pagoda. For $40 rmb you can hop on an electric cart trip around the lake foreshore, just flag one down.
But Hangzhou is not just West Lake. There are also the two most prestigious products of Hangzhou, silk and Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, perhaps one of the most famous teas in China.
Located on the southern bank of West Lake is the Chinese National Silk Museum, the world’s biggest silk museum, with eight exhibition halls, including a display of a piece of silk brocade dating back more then 5,600 years, the oldest piece of silk still in existence. The China National Silk Museum is a museum equipped with modern facilities and is dedicated to providing convenience for tourists. It offers free guide, free audio guide, free pamphlets on silk information, and even free wheelchairs for the disabled. People can also choose their favourite silk goods in the museum shop and relax in the teahouse. Admission is free and visitors can catch local buses 12 and 809 or Tourist Bus No 3.
A similar museum is dedicated in homage to tea. Located at the West Lake Dragon Well Tea Plantation, the National Tea Museum provides a fascinating insight into the history and production of Chinese tea. The Dragon Well itself is a small modest looking well in nearby LongJing, but the name is famously associated with the LongJing green tea grown on the nearby hillsides. You can fairly easily organise a taxi to take you there and introduce you to one of the local tea houses of LongJing. Negotiate with the driver, but $50 to $100 rmb is a reasonable price. Unless you are a connoisseur of tea, be careful not to be ripped off by tea merchants. Unfortunately there are little enforced legal controls on tea selling, so buyers beware.
If you have done all this and still want more, then a trip to Song City should complete your getaway. This enclosed village replicates life in the Song Dynasty some 900 years ago. The Song City is located in the south of Hangzhou a short taxi trip from the main railway station.
Accommodation in Hangzhou’s West Lake area ranges from the 5 Star lakeside Shangri La Hotel and the luxurious Sofitel for $180 US and $250 US respectively, to the more modest 4 star Ramada Plaza ($100 US) or for the more money conscious the 3 star Lily hotel ($50 US). These hotels are all located on or near beautiful West Lake. Weather in Hangzhou is hot and humid in summer and cold in winter, best visiting times are spring and autumn (fall).
Ningbo, China
Ningbo (宁波), Zhejiang Province, unlike neighbouring Hangzhou (杭州) and Shanghai (上海) to the north, is a quiet city by comparison. Ningbo is a welcome respite to the traveller who seeks some peaceful time out in a clean and attractive environment....
Ningbo (宁波), Zhejiang Province, unlike neighbouring Hangzhou (杭州) and Shanghai (上海) to the north, is a quiet city by comparison. Ningbo is a welcome respite to the traveller who seeks some peaceful time out in a clean and attractive environment. The city is just a short trip from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai and the heavy tourism of Hangzhou. Any traveler to China who finds time to visit Hangzhou and the beautiful West Lake (西湖), should also be sure to spend a few days enjoying Ningbo and its proud culture.
Top Zhejiang Province Tours
$238 Per Day
Private Hangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train
Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.
...Read more
Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.
This is a private, full-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After you are picked up in your hotel lobby in the early morning, you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou. This is the fastest way to Hangzhou and you can experience train speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Your tour begins at one of Hangzhou's signature sites, the West Lake. Enjoy a lake cruise to see the top ten West Lake scenic views. You will then be taken to experience the wonderful cuisine of Hangzhou at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit Faxi temple, a well-known Temple dating back to the Jin Dynasty. See its famous wooden Buddha. Here, you will see fewer tourists and more locals. Finally, enjoy a cup of green tea when you visit the famous Longjing village to see wild fields of Longjing tea bushes where the locals produce the world famous green tea- Longjing Tea. In the village, all locals are tea farmers and you will see the entire procedure of making the famous tea and will get the chance to taste the best quality emperor tea. Afterwards, you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai and you will be returned to your hotel.
$80 Per Day
Water town Wuzhen
tour route: Hangzhou( Or leaving from Shanghai, Suzhou) to Wuzhen water town one day tour
Tour description:
Wuzhen is located between Hangzhou and Shanghai. Travelers go and come between Shanghai and Hangzhou， and unavoidably go by Wuzhen.
...Read moretour route: Hangzhou( Or leaving from Shanghai, Suzhou) to Wuzhen water town one day tour
Tour description:
Wuzhen is located between Hangzhou and Shanghai. Travelers go and come between Shanghai and Hangzhou， and unavoidably go by Wuzhen.
Wuzhen is a typical water town of Jiangnan region, and well preserves the original look of water towns in late Qing Dynasty and Republic of China. The whole town is built along the river, and the internal street network makes the whole scenic area impressive very much.
tour itinerary:
pick up service by your tour guide and driver at 8:00am
Wuzhen water town -sightseeing (5 hours)( not included the cruise ticket)
local restaurant-lunch (1 hour)
drop-off service at your hotel before 5:00pm
included in tour price:
hotel pick-up & drop-off service,
english-speaking tour guide.
Your private sedan, van or bus (within 2 years vehicle)
entrance tickets to the attractions as listed in the itinerary.
chinese lunch
note: tips is highly appreciated but not requested.
$620 Per Day
3 days tour in east china Shanghai area: Shanghai city、Hangzhou west lake & Suzhou water town !
3 days tour in east china Shanghai area: Shanghai city、Hangzhou west lake & Suzhou water town !
Deposit pay to Paypal account: [email protected] OR [email protected]
first day: At 8:30 am pick all of you in Shanghai airport OR hotel, then go to Suzhou Water Town,
about 10:00 am reach Suzhou,
...Read more3 days tour in east china Shanghai area: Shanghai city、Hangzhou west lake & Suzhou water town !
Deposit pay to Paypal account: [email protected] OR [email protected]
first day: At 8:30 am pick all of you in Shanghai airport OR hotel, then go to Suzhou Water Town,
about 10:00 am reach Suzhou,
1/. visit Oriental Venice water town;
2/.At 11:30 go to grand canal enjoy a boat; 3/.12:30 go to enjoy lunch;
4/. 2:00 pm go to a typical private style garden;
5/. 3:30 pm grand canal silk factory;
6/.4:30 pm go to lake fresh water pearl site;
7/ 6:00 pm perfect local performance: SU SHOW!
8/7:30 Go to supper dinner;
9/.8:30 back to one Suzhou Hotel: live in Suzhou;
Second day: At 8:30 Pick up all of you at Suzhou one hotel, then drive to Hangzhou;
about 11:30 reach Hangzhou;
1/. lunch time: Go to a restaurant ;
2/. 1:00 pm visit west lake;
3/. 3:00 pm go to Tea bush village;
4/. 4:30 pm go to visit SONG DYNASTY CITY;
5/. 6:00 Supper dinner inside;
6/ 7:00 Hangzhou perfect local SONG DYNASTY CITY performance show !
7/ 8:00 Go back to one Hangzhou hotel;
Third day: At 8:30 Pick up all of you at Hangzhou one hotel, then drive to Shanghai;
About 12:00 reach Shanghai;
1/. Lunch time;
2/. 1:30 pm Go to Shanghai the highest building: the world financial trading center &
Shanghai Oriental pearl TV tower;
3/ 5:30 pm Go to the famous bund: enjoy the big river boat cruise,& Shanghai beautiful night lights;
4/ 7:00 Supper dinner time;
5/ 8:00 Back to one Shanghai hotel;
Important: your hotel in Shanghai、 Suzhou、 Hangzhou ：
We can order for you, will be better & cheaper a lot than order by yourself;
Upside USD 620/one person just included vehicle(car) & guider, the Hotels、scenery spots tickets etc., not included inside..