China Travel Guide: Zhejiang

Songcheng Scenic Area

Songcheng, or Song Dynasty Theme Park, is located in Zhijiang Tourist Resort, Hangzhou. It is a theme park that features the culture of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Inside the park, visitors can enjoy song and dance performances, as well as traditional folk shows such as acrobatics, magic tricks and traditional folk games. The park has a variety of facilities to make visitors experience the life and culture of the ancient dynasty that lived 1,000 years ago.

As the first theme park reflecting the cultural connotation of the Song Dynasty, Songcheng receives more than 10 million visitors every year.

Lingyin Temple

Lingyin Temple, situated to the west of Hangzhou's famous West Lake, stands at the foot of the Beigao Peak and faces the Feilai Peak across a stream.

Built by the Indian monk Huili in AD 326 during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420), the temple was named Lingyin Temple for its beautiful and serene environment, suitable for the "retreating of souls".

In its prime, this temple used to be a large monastery with over 1,300 rooms housing 3,000 monks. The temple has experienced approximately 1,700 years of cyclical prosperity and decline, due to wars and natural calamities, until its last restoration in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

With its many old trees, bamboo groves and quiet and beautiful surroundings, the temple is believed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Hangzhou, and now receives more than three million people a year.

Wuzhen, Tongxiang

Wuzhen, lying in the northern part of Tongxiang city, Zhejiang province, is a typical ancient town in southern China. It is about 80 kilometers from both Hangzhou and Suzhou, and 140 km from Shanghai.

As one of the six most-renowned ancient towns in the southern region along the Yangtze River, Wuzhen Water Town boasts more than 1,300 years of history.

Many modern cultural activities, including the annual Wuzhen Theater Festival, take place in the ancient water town.