West Lake (Xi Hu)

West Lake is a freshwater lake located in the western area of Hangzhou’s historic centre. The very definition of classical beauty in China, West Lake is utterly mesmerising: pagoda-topped hills rise over willow-lined waters as boats drift slowly through a idyll of leisurely charm. Walkways, perfectly positioned benches, parks and gardens around the banks of the lake offer a thousand and one vantage points for visitors to admire the faultless scenery. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history for its natural beauty and historic relics, and it has also been among the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, described as having "influenced garden design in the rest of China as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries" and reflecting "an idealized fusion between humans and nature".

Pagoda of Six Harmonies

Six Harmonies Pagoda, is a multi-story pagoda located at the foot of Yuelun Hill, facing the Qiantang River. The name of Six Harmonies comes from the six Buddhist ordinances and it is said that the reason for building the pagoda was to calm the tidal bore of the Qiantang River which is one of the world's largest tidal waves and served as a lighthouse. It was originally constructed in 970, destroyed in 1121, and reconstructed fully by 1165, during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). After the current pagoda was constructed of wood and brick during the Southern Song dynasty, additional exterior eaves were added during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644–1911). The pagoda is hexagonal in shape, some 59.89 metres (196.5 ft) in height and it has 13 stories, each embellished with beautiful paintings and wall carvings.