West Lake, Hangzhou

West Lake in Hangzhou is the most celebrated and romanticised lake in China, a serene expanse of water that has inspired poets and painters for over a thousand years. A UNESCO landscape of classical beauty, it is ringed and crossed by willow-lined causeways, arched stone bridges, islands, temples and pagodas, framed by soft, misty hills. Strolling or boating its shores, with their poetic named views, is the quintessential Chinese scenic experience.

What you actually see

• The causeways - the willow-lined Su and Bai causeways across the lake.
• The pagodas and bridges - the Leifeng Pagoda and arched stone bridges.
• A boat trip - the classic row across to the islands.
• The tea villages - the Longjing green-tea plantations in the hills.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather and classic misty beauty; spring brings blossom and willows, autumn crisp clarity. It is easily reached by fast train from Shanghai. Avoid Chinese public holidays, when it is overwhelmingly crowded.

Honest expectations

It is extremely popular with domestic tourists, so it gets very crowded, especially at weekends and on Chinese holidays, when the causeways are shoulder-to-shoulder; a weekday and an early start help. It is a landscape to stroll and absorb slowly rather than a single sight, and the famous mist that gives it magic is weather-dependent.

Nearby

The Longjing tea plantations and the water town of Wuzhen are nearby; Shanghai is an hour away by fast train.