Day 1

Hangzhou in spring offers its residents and visitors the best time to appreciate the reputed ‘misty March scenery of Jiangnan’ and even a stroll in the lush greenery of the city can, at this time of year, trigger the fondest of memories. So meandering along Longjing Tea Plantation together with enjoying the flowers in Prince Bay Park should be at the top of your sight-seeing list during one of Hangzhou’s most colorful and blossoming seasons. 

Our local hangzhou tour guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby in Hangzhou or the Hangzhou train station with a welcome sign" Hangzhou Private Tour", then starts the Hangzhou day trip as below: 

The first stop is Solitary Hill, otherwise known as Solitary Island, is another highlight for Hangzhou visitors. It is so named because it’s surrounded by water on all sides, standing solitarily in West Lake. With Bai Causeway on its east, Xiling Bridge on its west, the Outer West Lake on its south, and the Inner West Lake on its north, Solitary Hill is the largest natural island in West Lake. 

A bird’s-eye view of the dreamy lake can be seen on the southern hill slope, where there are high and low rockeries and piled rocks, full of irregularities of ups and downs as well as twists and turns, arranged in picturesque disorder. Odd-shaped peaks, winding walls, flat terraces and mysterious caves as well as trees and flowers combine to create a world of fascination.

The plum blossom in Solitary Hill is aplenty and resembles a picture postcard with the verdant mountains and crystal-clear waters as its backdrop. 

Later, walk on Two Causeways (One is enough). Su Causeway and Bai Causeway are the two most famous causeways of the West Lake. The spring view of the weeping leaves of the willow trees will remind you of an entry in the Book of Songs and the peach flowers planted along the causeways once inspired Cui Hu, a famous poet, to write “the peach blossom are as lovely as a sweetheart’s cheek". 

Next, drive to Prince Bay Park. Lying against Nanping Hill (???), the Prince Bay Park occupies 0.2 square kilometers. The name of the bay dates from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), when it was a shallow bay. Due to its serene, peaceful, and solemn environment, it was chosen as the burial place for two princes of the Southern Song. That’s why it was called the Prince Bay Park. The Prince Bay Park is famous for its tulips which were imported from Netherlands in 1992, and it has held annual tulips exhibition ever since. Normally, the exhibition lasts from late March to late April for a period of 20 days. During the period, over 300,000 blooms create an exotic mosaic of color and beauty. It is a must-see highlight for tourists who visit Hangzhou in April. In addition, with its pretty scenery and lucky name, the Prince Bay Park has made itself the earliest park for the wedding, a park specially designed for the Western- and Chinese-style wedding. 

After lunch, drive to Yangmeiling Village. Yangmeiling Village is situated half way up a mountain in the west of Manjuelong Village. It’s not as famous as Meijiawu Village and Longjing Road which, therefore, makes it the perfect spot in which to enjoy Hangzhou’s spring views in peace.

There is nothing more pleasurable than cycling in Yangmeiling Village on its flagstone road. If you are tired, you can find a nearby teahouse and savor a cup of China’s finest green variety whilst enjoying the surrounding scenery.

At last, visit the Dragon Well(A date with tea). One of the‘Top Ten Views of West Lake’ and ranked as one of the ‘Top Three West Lake Springs’, Dragon Well is hidden amid dense forest of Phoenix Hill off the southern shores of the West Lake.

Legend has it that the area got its name from a well that supposedly contains relatively dense water which after the rain the runoff carves through the soil, twisting down the hills in a formation that resembles a dragon. Others believe that in ancient times during droughts local people would visit the well to pray for rain and when the rain came this made people believe that a dragon must live there (In Chinese culture, dragon is worshipped as the god of rain). Also when stirred with a stick, the well’s water forms ripples in the likeness of a dragon’s beard. 

According to the locals there are three must-dos in Dragon Well: appreciate the ripples of the Dragon Well, drink its spring water and sip a cup of Longjing’s finest. The well’s nearby teahouse, converted from a 1050-year-old Buddhist temple and set in a beautiful grove of bamboo, pine and wisteria,is a popular place for enjoying Hangzhou’s finest green brew. 

After the tour, our tour guide and driver will drive you back to your hotel in Hangzhou or the hangzhou train station and your trip ends. 

Other Recommended Seasonal Hangzhou Tours:

Recommended Hangzhou Day Trip in Summer (Jun.- Aug.)

Recommended Hangzhou Day Trip in Autumn (Sep.-Nov.)

Recommended Hangzhou Day Trip in Winter (Dec. - Feb.)

Price Per Person in US Dollars