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Shanghai
3
0
0
$$$
ITINERARY (Full Day)
Beigaofeng Suodao Cable Car
Lingyin Temple
Le Parfum
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
If you are coming on the train, purchase your tickets in advance (passports required). The comfortable train ride takes about one hour from Shanghai. We also recommend to book a car transfer from the Hangzhou train stations (there are two, so check your tickets) because taxis can be hard to get in Hangzhou. It is an approx. 30-minute car journey from the train station to the scenic area.
Good to know
This is an ideal two-day overnight trip (although you could cram it into one day). The road you have to walk from the Pins de La Brume Hotel to Lingyin Temple can be busy. Be cautious of road traffic as the sidewalk/pavement goes missing in some sections.
Recommended time of the year
Hangzhou is a popular tourist destination, so try to avoid Chinese public holidays, as it gets very crowded (and expensive) during holidays. The shoulder seasons of April to May and September to November are great, as summer is very hot and humid, which makes walking around uncomfortable.
Save Money
For kids under 120 cm (3.9 ft) height (such as our almost 7-year-old), admission is free for most public attractions (such as temples, museums, etc.).
About This Day
How often do you get to wander around tea plantations, explore stunning Buddhist temples and ride a cable car to a mountaintop scenic spot? All within an hour train journey from busy Shanghai? Experience scenic Hangzhou with kids and visit the Lingyin Temple (Temple of Soul's Retreat), as it is incredibly preserved and full of nature and history. Start your day with a beautiful and filling breakfast at Pins de la Brume Hotel, and then walk along tea plantations to the Lingyin Temple scenic area. Ride the cable car to Beigaofeng (North Peak) for an amazing vista of the West Lake. Afterward, visit the quaint Temple of Wealth and enjoy views of the perfect rows of surrounding tea plantations on the way down. Let the kids scoot up to the Lingyin Temple, sampling some local teas along the way. Then come back to the Pins de la Brume Hotel for a contemporary Chinese meal and a subsequent nap or a lap in the outdoor swimming pool.
Beigaofeng Suodao Cable Car
Lingyin Road, Hangzhou Shi
$$$
Kids will love to jump into the gondolas and soar up the mountain. The short ride to the top also provides a beautiful view of the surrounding rows of tea plantations. Enjoy the scenic view of the West Lake from the observatory at the top, and then visit the Temple of Wealth for a small fee. The temple is picturesque and does not seem to get too busy. Explore the various sections and spot the ''surfing Buddha" in the back wall bas-relief.
DIRECTIONS
Take a taxi to the scenic area entrance of Lingyin Temple (Temple of Soul's Retreat), or walk approx. 15 minutes from the Pins de la Brume Hotel along a scenic country road (be cautious of road traffic, as the sidewalk/pavement goes missing in some sections). The entrance for the Beigaofeng Suodao (North Peak) cable car is signposted and on your immediate right as you enter the park.
TIP
You will need to leave your strollers and micro scooters at the entrance of the cable car (the staff will mind them for you), so it is a good idea to pack a baby carrier for little ones. When planning this itinerary with older kids, you could trek up the mountain (estimated 1-hour walk) and ride the gondolas down.
Lingyin Temple
Ling Zhu Lu, Hangzhou
$$$
Lingyin Temple (Temple of Soul's Retreat) is one of the largest Buddhist monastery complexes in China. As you walk towards it, enjoy the greenery and some beautiful traditional tea houses and craft shops along the way. The temple itself is stunning and well worth dedicating a few hours to explore. Our nuggets loved to run around and explore the carved grottos. As you exit the temple, walk up the road and take an immediate right turn to enjoy a beautiful traditional garden, dotted with red lanterns and pagodas.
DIRECTIONS
After the cable car ride, take a leisurely walk up to the temple. You can't miss it.
TIP
Pack your kids’ micro scooters or roller skates and a baby carrier. The area is mostly tarmacked and pedestrian, but, as ever when traveling with kids in China, be very careful of road traffic, bikes and mopeds in some sections of the park.
Le Parfum
Ling Yin Zhi Lu, 杭州市
$$$
Le Parfum is an upmarket Chinese restaurant, with a stunning decor that mixes contemporary and traditional Chinese touches. The food is fantastic, although on the pricey side. They do not appear to have a menu in English, but you will always find a member of the staff to help translate. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy the terrasse for tea or coffee, while the kids run around the beautifully landscaped grounds (but be careful with the water features and young babies). If you are a hotel resident, take a well-deserved post-prandial nap or bring the kids to the outdoor hotel pool when in season.
DIRECTIONS
After all your morning exploring, walk back to the Pins de la Brume Hotel, where you can enjoy traditional food in a stunning modern decor at the hotel’s Le Parfum restaurant.
TIP
There is no kids menu, but as ever in China, the staff will suggest kid-friendly options such as fried rice and dumplings to share. Western food options are also available upon request (and beautifully executed).
Pins de la Brume Hotel
Ling Yin Zhi Lu, 杭州市
$$$$
WE LOVEDThis hotel is Chinese contemporary style, beautifully done. Rooms are spacious, stylish and very comfortable. The hotel grounds are landscaped and great for kids to run around. The on-site restaurant is excellent. It is also within walking distance to the scenic area of Lingyin Temple.
WE DIDN'T LIKEThere are no interconnecting rooms, unfortunately.
TIPBefore your arrival, book a car transfer from the train station. It’s a 30-minute car journey to the hotel from the Hangzhou train stations. When booking the car transfer, check your ticket for which train station you will be arriving since there are two train stations in Hangzhou.
STAYED13 May, 2017 with 2 year old, 4 year old, 6 year old
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