Xianghu Lake is located in Xiaoshan District. Compared with the bustling West Lake, Xianghu Lake is like a delicate beauty, suitable for tourists who like tranquility. At present, it is divided into several areas such as Kuahuqiao Scenic Area, Xiasun Cultural Area, and Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park (Xiaoshan Children’s Park). Strolling by the lake or taking a boat tour around the lake to enjoy the scenery is a pleasant thing.
Overview of Xianghu Lake: Although separated from the West Lake by the Qiantang River, Xianghu Lake can now be directly reached by subway. The lake surface is roughly gourd-shaped. The main scenic spots are concentrated in the north of the lake. Tourists usually get off at Xianghu Lake subway station and then start their tour from the place near Xianglifang in the north. The entire Xianghu Lake scenic area is very large. If time is tight and you want to enjoy the entire scenery of Xianghu Lake, it is recommended to take a boat tour. Individual tourists generally participate in the lake tour and return to the departure dock after enjoying a circle around the lake. In addition, you can also take an electric vehicle for transportation. If you have a bicycle, you can also ride around the lake. Visiting ancient villages and simply strolling by the lake is also very nice. Scenic Spots: The Xiasun Cultural Area is not far from Xianglifang and is an ancient village with white walls and black tiles. This place was once the settlement of Sun Quan’s descendants and is now a cultural landscape worth seeing in Xianghu Lake. You can enjoy Huizhou architecture along the way. The exteriors of Sun’s Ancestral Hall and the stage are quite antique. Looking up, the decorations on the roof are also very exquisite. In addition, the Xianghu Lake Cultural Exhibition Hall and Xianghu Lake Art Museum in the cultural area have many exhibitions of famous calligraphy and paintings, local products, and traditional handicrafts, which are also worth a visit. Walking counterclockwise along the lake to the south, passing the Yuewang City Ruins and Lotus Flower Village, about 2 kilometers away is the Kuahuqiao. This long bridge spanning the lake is the landmark landscape of Xianghu Lake. Standing in the distance and taking a panoramic view of the Kuahuqiao, against the lake water and the small hills behind, its beauty is no less than that of the Broken Bridge on the West Lake. A canoe dating back 8,000 years and the quite historical ‘Kuahuqiao Culture’ were discovered nearby. In the Kuahuqiao Site Museum on the small island south of the bridge, you can see many Neolithic cultural relics on display such as painted pottery and bone implements unearthed back then, as well as the restored archaeological site, which is suitable for taking children to gain knowledge. The Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park and Bird Language Forest at the east end of Kuahuqiao are also deeply loved by children. You can visit lovely animals from distant oceans in scenes themed on polar regions, rainforests, and deep seas. Continuing south from Kuahuqiao, if it is summer, you can take children to dig sand and play in the water at the Golden Sand Beach by the lake. At around 19:45 at Hushan Square, a ‘water show’ will be staged. Many tourists come here especially by car to enjoy the music fountain performance here. Opening Hours: Open all year round from 09:00 to 16:00. 16:00 is the last departure time for boats and sightseeing buses. Preferential Policies: For children: For boats and sightseeing buses, children with a height of 1.Children under 2m (not including) enter for free; free admission. Xianghu ‘Water Show’ tickets: Children under 1m (not including) enter for free (without a seat). Free admission; Children between 1.2m (including) and 1.5m (including) can purchase a half-price ticket for a boat tour around the lake for 30 yuan/person, and a water route premium tour for 40 yuan/person. A full-day tour around Xianghu (including hiking, cycling, and tea tasting) is offered at a discounted price of 120 yuan/person. Children between 1.0m (including) and 1.3m (including) are eligible for a half-price ticket for the Water Show at 10 yuan per seat. Seniors over 70 years old (not including) with a senior citizen card can purchase a half-price ticket for a boat tour around the lake for 30 yuan/person, and a water route premium tour for 40 yuan/person. A full-day tour around Xianghu (including hiking, cycling, and tea tasting) is offered at a discounted price of 120 yuan/person. Active military personnel can purchase a half-price ticket for a boat tour around the lake for 30 yuan/person, and a water route premium tour for 40 yuan/person. A full-day tour around Xianghu (including hiking, cycling, and tea tasting) is offered at a discounted price of 120 yuan/person. Supplementary notes: The above are preferential policies for boat and sightseeing car services within the scenic area, for reference only. Please refer to the daily disclosures of Xianghu Tourism Resort for specific information. Service facilities parking lot: [Xiangli Fang Parking Lot] Reference price: ¥10/entry; Address: No. 2555 Fengqing Avenue, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province; Capacity: 100. Transportation within the park: The cost is included in the Xianghu sightseeing car tour around the lake (Phases I and II). Nursing room: Located at the visitor center, it is available for free for feeding, caring for babies, and changing diapers. Essential tips: Xianghu boat operation times are approximately from 9:00 to 16:00, with a boat departing every half hour.
