West Lake Cruise

The West Lake in Hangzhou is associated with bewitching beauty and legendary romance. It is likened to Xi Zi, one of the Four Beauties in ancient China. Cruising on the lake, you will marvel at its beauty, and perhaps feel as if you have stepped into a land of magic and fantasy.

 The West Lake is embraced by hills like a gem. The Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, and Yang Causeway, which are like three ribbons, divide the lake into the West Outer Lake, the West Inner Lake, the North Inner Lake, the Yuehu Lake, and the South Lake. There are also natural lake scenes with beautiful names, such as the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge in Winter, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds, and the Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow. The scenery changes according to the seasons. In spring, trees turn green, and birds fly in the air, chirping and warbling, while in summer the graceful lotus flowers are in full blossom. You can enjoy the tranquil lake in autumn, and smell the fragrant plum blossoms in winter. Everything is so exquisite.

Dragon Boat on West Lake

Rowing Boat

No matter when you cruise, the view of West Lake is breathtaking. Boats can be hired in many wharfs along the lake. There are some unique boats, such as rowing boats modeled after those of the Qing Dynasty (1644- 1911), painted boats with designs of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127- 1279) and Qing Dynasty, and dragon boats from folktales about West Lake. These boats are of classic elegance even if modern conveniences are added. The detailed cruise information is listed below.

West Lake Cruise Map

 

Boats	Wharves to Take the Boat	Price & Time	Destinations
Leisure Boats	Hangzhou Restaurant Wharf; Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor Park Wharf; Qianwang Temple Wharf	CNY 55 per person (including entry ticket of the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon)  8:00- 16:00	Around the lake with a stop at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Painted Boats	No. 2 Lakeside Park Wharf;	CNY 50 per person 09:00 - 16:00	Around the lake
Self-rowing Boats	No. 6 Lakeside Park Wharf	CNY 30 per hour per boat Deposit: CNY 300 08:00 - 16:00	On your own
Self-drive Boats	Broken Bridge Wharf	CNY 30 per 0.5h per boat	On your own
Rowing Boats	No. 1, 2 & 5 Lakeside Park Wharf; Broken Bridge Wharf; Zhongshan Wharf; Hangzhou Restaurant Wharf, etc.	CNY 150 per hour per boat 07:00 - 18:00	Around the lake
Foreign Affairs Boats	Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor Park Wharf	CNY 50  08:00 - 16:00	Around the lake

    

Boats	Wharves to Take the Boat	Price	Route
Painted Boats	No. 2 Lakeside Park Wharf; Children's Palace Wharf	CNY 50 per person	Broken Bridge- Bai Causeway- Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn- Su Causeway- Three Pools Mirroring the Moon- Orioles Singing in the Willows- Leifeng Pagoda - back to the wharf

 
 Tips:
1. Children who stand 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) to 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) in height pay half price; children under 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) in height ride free.
2. The evening cruise boats are for hire from 18:30 to 21:30 during May to August, and from 18:30 to 21:00 during September to November.
3. The boats don't run when it is foggy or rainy.

Wharves	Boats	Location
No. 1 Lakeside Park Wharf	Rowing boats	Crossing of Jiefang Road and Nanshan Road
No. 2 Lakeside Park Wharf	Rowing and Painted boats	Crossing of Hubin Road and Renhe Road
No. 5 Lakeside Park Wharf	Rowing boats	Crossing of Hubin Road and Changsheng Road
No. 6 Lakeside Park Wharf	Self-rowing boats	Crossing of Hubin Road and Jiaochang Road
Children's Palace Wharf	Painted boats	In front of the Children's Palace
Broken Bridge Wharf	Self-drive boats	At the Broken Bridge on the Bai Causeway
Zhongshan Park Wharf	Rowing boats	At the south foot of the Solitary Hill
Temple of General Yue Fei Wharf	Rowing boats to the Yang Causeway	In front of the Temple of General Yue Fei
Hangzhou Restaurant Wharf	Leisure Boats	At the Crossing Rainbow Bridge on the Su Causeway
Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor Park Wharf	Leisure Boats & Foreign Affairs Boats	At the east gate of the Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor Park
Qianwang Temple Wharf	Leisure boats	In front of the Qianwang Temple