Boat ride in West Lake Hangzhou is a must-do, this will enable you to see the stunning view of the surroundings. West Lake is huge and there are many wharves where you can choose to get on a boat ride. You can either choose to do your own self-rowling boats or rowing boats with a professional rower.
There is a wharf near Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway where you can board on a rowling boat. As you know Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway is one of the top sites to visit in West Lake. After your visit for both Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway, my advice to you is to try the boat ride. That way you get to see the Broken Bridge from the water and get to see the architecture of the bridge better.
We choose a rowing boat with a professional rower as we only have limited time to spend. If you are having lots of free time and want a romantic boat ride in the West Lake, choose the self-rowing boat ride instead.
Some people may think the boat looks shabby and old fashion but I think the boat looks just great and match well with the surrounding ambient.
Our boat can ride can sit up to 8 people and the boatman is very skillful, it didn’t look too much effort for him to row one big round of West Lake. Everything seems so easy. The water is calm and the boatman introduces the surrounding attractions for us.
The boat we ride on is called hand rowing boat 摇橹船, it has some special characteristics, that is it has a shelter. I am glad that it has a shelter as it was drizzle during our boat ride.
You can see Leifeng Pagoda from here
From the water, you also get to see Leifeng Pagoda from afar.
Leifeng Pagoda is located in Leifeng Peak of Sunset Hill, this is another top attraction in Hangzhou. Whenever the sun sets, the pagoda casts a shadow on the lake creating a picturesque view.
The pagoda is associated with a love story between a white snake, Bai Niang Zi, and a mortal man, called Xu Xian. If you have not read the “Legend of the White Snake”, it is better to do so before you reach Hangzhou.
One of the cultural relics in West Lake is the little stone pagoda in the water. On the boat ride, you will be able to view the stone pagoda from near. The tower is only 2.5 meters high and 2 meters above the water. It consists of a base, a round tower body, a six-sided pavilion, and a gourd roof. If you watch closely, you will be able to see the tower body is kind of hallow and has five small circles around the body. The holes are decorated with relief patterns. The stone tower was originally a boundary tower built by poet-writer Su Shi or Su Dong Po in the Song Dynasty. It was then rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty and evolved into a landscape tower. At night the lights and candles lit up the place. It should be a beautiful view at night.
The RMB 1 Yuan background patterns were shown with three lakes in the West Lake which also include the Baochu Pagoda and the Broken Bridge.
Now the cultural relics are the resting points for the sea birds.
Fees for different types of boats.
Snacks in West Lake
This is tofu in hot sauces, please note that payment is all done by Alipay or WeChat.
Fried Beehoon and potatoes.
Kanto Cooking 关东煮 is similar to Japanese oden. It is originated from Japan.
Dongpo Pancake 东波烧饼
Final tips:
I have a few suggestions for you to decide how to choose what type of boat rides in West Lake.
- Couple with lots of free time – Try the self-rowing boat which takes as long as possible and row on your own pace and own route.
- People who are in a hurry – Do a boat ride with a boatman, takes only an hour to complete the route.
- Good weather – take a boat without shelter, that way you can see better and enjoy the sun and air from the lake.
- Bad weather – take a boat with shelter, you are still able to see the view clearly.