Cultural appreciation

Day 1: West Lake – Hefang Street – Southern Song Imperial Street

West Lake was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2011. The lake covers more than 6 square kilometers and is home to some of the city's most famous scenic spots. You can just walk casually along either Nanshan or Beishan Road, take a ferryboat to the islands in the middle of the lake, or simply sit in a lakeside teahouse and enjoy the picturesque views over a hot brew.

Hefang Street is where you can experience how Hangzhou looked when it was the capital of China and, of course, buy souvenirs. The emperors' palace was once located on the street, making it the economic and political center of the city. Most of the shops there have a history of more than 100 years.

Southern Song Imperial Street stretches more than 4 kilometers. It used to be a major thoroughfare during the Southern Song Dynasty and it's now a celebrated commercial street.