Temple of Soul’s Retreat or Lingyin Temple lies in the long and narrow valley between Peak Flown From Aftar or Fei Lai Feng and the North Peak to the northwest of the West Lake in Hangzhou in the Zhejiang Province. It is a premier showpiece in the environment of West Lake and it is among one of the tem most famous Buddhist temple in China. In the year 1961, it was listed for protection as a key historical and cultural site and considered as one of the leading centers for the research related to Chinese Buddhist culture.

Laughing Buddha at Temple of Soul's Retreat

This temple is present on this site since the Eastern Jin Dynasty when according to the belief of people a local legend, Huili who was an Indian monk came here and he was inspired by the spiritual nature of the scenery found at this place. In his mind there was a thought that it is dwelled by the immortals so he had named this temple as the Temple of Soul’s Retreat.

This temple gained much importance during the period of Five Dynasties when the king of Wu Yue State initiated a very large scale development of this temple as a sign of his devotion to Buddhism. Presently, this temple has nine buildings, seventy seven palaces, eighteen pavilions and halls having more than thirteen hundred rooms which provide accommodation to around three thousand monks. Such a large monastery is very much difficult to imagine. However, it has been subjected to many changes due to war, natural calamities and religious suppression. The main building present today is a result of the restoration that was being carried out in the year 1974 when there was ten year after the Chinese Culture Revolution. You can see the tablet inscribed with words which was penned by the Emperor, Kangxi of Qing Dynasty. He was very much inspired by the sight of the temple and named it as ‘Cloud Forest Buddhist Temple’ as temple was shrouded in the mist amongst trees.

Temple of Soul's Retreat

Meijianwu is a village community in Hangzhou which is basically a tea culture leisure area and has the many features of tea village. Besides, it is an ideal place for drinking Longjing Green Tea and having the rural meals. Meijiawu Tea Cultural Village has been tucked inside the greenery of mountains and waters which make it a wonderful tourist place. Tea houses join each other at the Snaking tranquil creek and the fragrance of the tea is always in the air.

Meijiawu Tea Plantation

Meijianwu Tea Village is very much reputed for the history of serving the exquisite tea. This village will enable you to experience the pleasures f having a perfect cup of tea and watch many ceremonies of tea which are very much elaborate, sophisticated and interesting. You can select the tea under the supervision of professionals. Chinese teas come in many varieties you might or might not require advice on choosing a particular brand. Dragon Well tea or Longjin Tea is known as the best green tea in china and it is one of the best qualities of tea in China. The agricultural fields are picturesque in China just like the terraces and rice paddies. The plantation of tea in the Meijiawu village is just as good as then if not the best. Neat row of tea bushes are planted along the hillside. Meandering soil paths, just look like brown thread which sew the pieces green together. Villagers pick up the tea sprouts in their widely brimmed straw hats.

Meijiawu Tea Plantation

The Langdang Mountain, the Premier Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall and Ligeng hall are some of the cultural demonstrative venues in the village and the Zhou Enlai Memorial hall has been renovated carefully. Ten miles Langdang lane has also become tidier and wider. The 11 stone bridges represent the traditional culture of Chinese atmosphere in the Meijiawu as well.

Beijing-Huangzhou Grand Canal or the Grand Canal is the oldest and longest canal of the world and surpasses the Suez and panama Canals which are the next two giant canals. This canal stretches from Beijing in the North to the Hangzhou which is the capital of Zhejiang Province in the South. In its journey, it flows through Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang Provinces and the way for interconnecting the five rivers that are Yellow, Haihe, Qiangtang, Huanhe and Yangtze Rivers.

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand canal

This Grand Canal was one of the greatest engineering projects of ancient China. It is also very precious human heritage which is left by the ancestors. In the year 604 AD, the Emperor of Sui Dynasty, Yangdi left his capital city of Changan which is today known as Xian. He cruised to the Luoyang City which interested him and the next year he moved his capital to Luoyang and ordered to build the Great Canal. After six years and efforts of thousands of laborers, many small canals were connected to form the Great Canal which is about 1,764 kilometers in length. Since then, the Great Canal has played significant role in the history, transportation of goods and foods from south to north China and promoted the defense as well as administration of China and strengthen the cultural and economical exchange between the North and South in China.

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand canal

The Grand Canal illustrates the advance technologies of shipping and water conservancy of ancient China and has given birth to many famous towns and cities. Along with the Great Wall of China, it is very much reputed and one of the two magnificent projects of the ancient China and thus it is renowned worldwide.

If you want to enjoy the attractive scenery of this Great Canal then you can take a boat from the old Chinese Canal. You will get the landscapes of the typical river towns of southern China as well as stone bridges and ancient dwellings of traditional designs and historic relics. You can also get the some delicious foods and experience the great culture.

According to the Chinese people, unless you visit the Great Wall of China you have not been to China. So, if you are visiting south of the Yangze River then you should not miss the Water town of Wuzhen.

It is located in the centre of the six ancient town which is to the south of Yangtze River and approximately 17 kilometers to the north of the city of Tongxiang. This water town has over two thousand years of history having ancient stone bridges floating on the mild water and stone pathways between dedicate wood carvings and mottled walls.  It is a unique water town and has profound cultural background.

Wuzhen Water Town

It is also said that the people have been living here for more than seven thousand years and over time it has produced a number of talents. Mao Dun, one of the outstanding writers of modern China was born here and ‘The Lin’s Shop’, one of his masterpieces describes the vivid life of this area. Wuzhen, in the year 1991 has been authorized as the Provincial Ancient Town of Culture and history and also ranked first among the other six ancient towns of the south of the Yangtze River.

The layout of this town makes it unique and it is tow kilometers long and has been divided into six districts. They are Traditional Local Styled Dwelling Houses District, Traditional Workshop District, Traditional Food and Beverage District, Traditional Culture District, Traditional Stores and shops District and Water Township Customs and Life District. You will enjoy the original ancient and traditional cultures while wandering along the east-west-east Circuit that have been well preserved till date.

Wuzhen Water Town

Some of the noted sites to see there are Former Residence of Mao Dun which was the former residence of the revolutionary writer of China, Mao Dun and the Fanglu Pavilion which is famous for tea.

The six Harmonies Pagoda is situated on the Yuelun Hill which overlooks the Qiantang River and lies to the south of West Lake. It is one of the masterpieces of the architecture of ancient China. This pagoda was originally built during the period of Northern Song Dynasty by the ruler of Wuyue state and a part of which became the Zhejiang Province. The name Liuhe comes from six Buddhist ordinances and it is believed that this pagoda was build in order to clam the tidal waters of the Qiantang River for aiding navigation. In the year 1121, this pagoda was completely destroyed in a battle.

Six Harmonies Pagoda

The pagoda present today was constructed using woods and bricks during the period of Song dynasty and subsequently during the Ming and Qing dynasty. Additional exterior eaves have been added to this pagoda. It is in the shape of octagon and about 60 meters or 196 feet in height and it appears like being a thirteen storey structure although it has only seven interior stories. There is one spiral staircase which leads to the top floor and each of the seven ceilings are painted and carved figure which includes flowers, animals, characters and birds. Each storey of this pagoda includes four elements that are exterior walls, zigzagged corridor, a small chamber and the interior walls. When viewed from outside, this pagoda appears to be layered bright on the supper surface and being dark underneath which reflects the harmonious alteration of light as well as shade.

Six Harmonies Pagoda

You can have the spectacular view of the Qiantang River Bridge while ascending the pagoda which spans the surging tides of this river. The Six Harmonies Pagoda nearby is an exhibition centre which details the ancient pagodas in China which was set up in the recent years upon the Yuelun Hill. So, you can visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda and learn the various architectural styles of ancient Pagodas which are found within China.

Xitang is a very popular town having history of more than thousand years. It lies in the Jianshan County in the City of Jiaxing of Zhejiang Province. It dates back to the Period of Spring and Autum and the Warring States. This town was the place of strategic importance on the boundary of the Yue and Wu states. It has a flat terrain which is marked by natural and quiet environment with the rivers running through it. You can get the bird eye view of the whole town and blue water sparkling in the every point the eyes reflections and touch of the houses in water. The handsome Bridges, quiet water, and reflections in the rosy sunset and early morning with fishing boats and glistening lights in the evening forms the amazing picture. A full sense of poetry can be observed when the south lower reaches the Yangtze River.

Xitang Water Town

There are many well preserved buildings of the Ming dynasty and Qing Dynasty in this town. They have a very high artistic quality and research value. These are famous for various corridors, bridges and lanes.

The covered corridor is one of the most beautiful scenes of this town. It offers very distinctive features and is historic as compared to other water towns. It has many sections and the whole covered corridor is more than thousand meters long which attracts visitor from all over the world due to its charm. It is tile roofed which is built along the riverside and provides the shelter to the people for avoiding the hot sun and rain. So, you will never be caught in the sun or exposed to the hot sun while visiting this wonderful town. One of the sections of this corridor is very elegant and it has carved decorative patterns which are praised by a large number of tourists due to its artistic perfection. There are high back davenports on the one side of the covered corridor where you can take rest along the river.

Xitang Water Town

Su Dangpo, a famous Poet of Song Dynasty has compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, the most beautiful women of ancient chain in his composition. These poetic sentiments leave no one in doubt about the glory of the scenery of West Lake which inspired them.

West Lake was originally a shallow inlet of sea and due to the lying down of the silt the area of about 5.68 km has become the famous lake. The cultural landscape of this lake was initiated in the ninth century and it took its shape in the 13^th century and has been thrived since 18^th century. It has been the home of the Chinese culture, paradise of all strata of Chinese people and a famous lake in china for over ten centuries and has longest history and biggest influence. It was also listed in the World Heritage List in June 2011 by the Committee of 35^th World Heritage Conference in Paris.

West Lake

This lake has an average depth of five feet and comprises of five distinct sections. The largest part is called Outer lank which is bounded by the Yuehu Lake, North Inner Lake, Lesser South Lake and West Inner Lake. It is surrounded by hilly peak on its three sides and has been a center for attraction for centuries. The lake an its environment has all the elements of a traditional Chinese garden on a grand scale. The natural and strange shaped peaks, springs, forests, dense foliage and blossoms especial in the spring time are enhanced by the treasures of architectural and sculpture features.  All over the year, the panorama is very much pleasing to the eyes and the weather is intoxicating.

There are various features of this lake which are worthy to be noted. There is a man made island to the south of the centre of the Outer Lake which is known as island of Little Oceans enclosing four small lakes. You can get the views of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon at the night and when the night candles are lit you can see the impression of the reflection of three moons. The North Inner Lake and Outer Lake are ideal spots for admiring the vistas. The Tow Peaks Embracing the Sky is another sight when you will cross the lake by boat.

West Lake

If you have ever wanted to escape from the noisy metropolis then you can go to the Thousand Islets Lake or the Qian Dao Lake for experiencing something special and something new.

Thousand Islets Lake is a pure lake having clean and fresh air and more than 80 percent of the area covered with forests. It is relatively a new lake which was formed in the year 1959 due to the construction of a New Anjiang Hydroelectric Power Station. This is a beautiful lake which is having 1078 islets which shows different views in different seasons. It is a rich lake which is abounded with fish and surrounded by the trees of tea, mulberry and fruits. This lake is a delightful lake for many activities, enjoying the natural scenery, observing the wild animals and local culture.

Thousand Islets Lake

Thousand Islets Lake lies in the Chun’an County, which is about 150 Km to the west of Hangzhou City and 140 km to the southeast of Mt. Huangshan. It is like the pearl in the route of the Hangzhou-Thousand Islet Lake-Mt. Huangshan and very famous all over the world.

Thousand Islets Lake is popular for mountains, exotic caves, crystal clear water and strange stones. The scenic area can be divided into mainly six sections based on the geographical locations i.e. Southeast Lake District, Central Lake District, Southwest lake District, Northeast Lake District, Northwest Lake District and Fuxi Stone Forest. Each one of these is having its own striking and unique landscape.

Thousand Islets Lake

The best time for visiting this lake is during the autumn and winter when there is less rainfall. The fine weather, fresh and cool air and clean water are most enjoyable at that time. You can also taste some of the distinctively cooked seafoods as well as local foods. You can also take some souvenirs like hemp embroideries, inkstones and products made from pearls to home.

Thousand Islet Lake is the largest forest park in China currently. It has also been awarded with many titles and received appreciation from both domestic and international tourists which makes it a place worth visit.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is also known as the Grand Canal and is the longest and earliest artificial river in the world. This canal is about ten times to that of the length of Suez Canal and about twenty two times to that of Panama Canal. It originates in the north near Beijing and ends in Hangzhou to the south. Five river systems and six provinces are connected by this canal. In history, this canal served as the artery of communication between north and south.  For over 2500 year, many rich historical relic sights have been discovered along this river. Like the Great Wall of China, this canal is regarded as one of the greatest project of Chinese ancient time.

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand canal

This canal is divided into mainly seven parts having different names- Tonghui River, North Canal, South Canal, Lu Canal, Middle Canal, Li Canal and Jianganan Canal. Each of these canals lies in the different province of China. Scenery along each of these sections of the canal is very charming and worth visiting. However, the sceneries in the Hangzhou Province are most attractive and marvelous. More than 40 sites can be admired and they include various museums, squares, parks, bridges, temples and local residences.

Beijing-Hangzhou Grand canal

You can take a cruise on the Grand Canal in the section where it passes through the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. The first ever cruise line on Grand Canal was launched in the Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province in the early 1980s. it has attracted a lot of visitors from worldwide. The line later was expended to more cities which include Changzhou, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Yangzhou.

There are Cruise Ships available on this canal from Yangzhou to Suzhou. In the section of Hangzhou, you can find many Hydro-busses leaving from different wharf offering visitors a chance for admiring the scenery of canal in less than two hours.

The poem of A Night Mooring near Maple Bridge was written by the Zhang Ji, who was a poet of Tang Dynasty. In this poem, Zhang has described that the midnight bell ringing of the Hanshan Temple or The Cold Mountain Temple. Since that time, this temple has become very famous and especially for its Buddhism culture and bell rings.

This temple is situated at about three miles or five kilometers from the Fengqiao Old Town of Suzhou. It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, a famous monk Han Shan had came to take the charge of the temple and hence this temple was named after him. It was originally built during the Liang Dynasty and was repaired in the following dynasties. It covers an area of about three acres or 10,600 square meters and represents the architectural style of Qing Dynasty. It includes Sutra Collection Building, Grand Prayer Hall, Fengjiang Pavilion, Bell Tower and Tablet Corridors. In the year 1995, a five storey Buddhism pagoda which is about 138 feets in height and called as Puming Pagoda was erected. It became the symbolic building of this temple. There are many other historical relics in this temple like statue of han Shan, the stone tablet inscription of A Night Mooring near Maple Bridge poem and few other tablet inscriptions written by some famous intellectuals of ancient China.

Hanshan Temple

Hanshan Temple is one of the most famous temples in the Chinese history and often boasts about its bell rings. This bell was modeled in the year 1904 which is not on the tower. Every year on the Eve of New year of Chinese lunar calendar, this bell is tolled for praying for the safety and happiness of the coming New Year and this festival attracts hundred of tourist from domestic and abroad.

The Hanshan Temple is a Buddhist Temple and the statue of Buddhist Patriarch Sakyamuni is there for people for making offerings in the Hall of Grand Prayer. There are bronze statue of three eminent monks in the Hongfa hall which are Xuang Zang, jian Zhen and Kong hai. This temple is the place where most important Buddhism activities are held.

!–EndFragment–> y steles and tablets, paintings and calligraphies in this garden including some precious artworks from Ming Dynasty.