"Of the thirty-six West Lakes east or west, the West Lake in Hangzhou is the best." As this dictum reveals, China has thirty-six West Lakes – in Beijing, Fuzhou, Guilin, etc. – but none are reputed to be as magnificent as the one in Hangzhou. Originally no more than a shallow inlet, this section of the Qiantong River was dredged and dammed in the eighth century to form the lake that exists today.  » Read more »

Tea is one of ancient China's many inventions. The English word "tea" is derived from the word te, which hails from the southern port town of Xiamen (Amoy). Although it was only introduced to Europe and America in the seventeenth century, human cultivation of tea plants dates back two thousand years in China. In fact, during the Neo-Daoist revival of the ninth and tenth centuries, tea became an integral part of scholastic life. The preparation and drinking of tea symbolized man's potential for harmony with nature.  » Read more »

Lingyin Temple, or the Temple of Inspired Seclusion, was founded in 326 AD by the Indian monk, Hui Li. It quickly became a center of worship for the Chan (Zen) Buddist sect, and once served as home to more than three thousand monks. During its turbulent history the temple has been destroyed and then restored no less than sixteen times with the current structures dating to the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Before reaching the temple however,  » Read more »

Day One  Hangzhou is a city whose reputation for beauty is encapsulated by a famous Chinese couplet: "In heaven there is paradise, On earth there is Hangzhou and Suzhou". You will arrive at your hotel situated by the famous West Lake. Depending on what time you arrive, you may wish to take a stroll around the lake or have a meal, sampling some of the local casserole and seafood delicacies.  » Read more »

The Western view: "Green mountains surround on all sides the still waters of the lake. Pavilions and towers in hues of gold and azure rise here and there. One would say a landscape composed by a painter. Only towards the east, where there are no hills, does the land open out, and there sparkle, like fishes' scales, the bright coloured tiles of a thousand roofs."  (Jacques Gernet, Daily life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion) The Eastern view: "In heaven there is Paradise,  » Read more »