Day 1 · Monday, October 19
From an ancient lakeside legend to the living culture of Longjing tea, our first day introduces Hangzhou through its most poetic landscape.
Your day, at a glance
Times are our guide and may shift gently with traffic, weather, and the rhythm of the group. Tap any cultural highlight to discover its story.
travel
Settle in for our journey to Hangzhou.
Cultural highlight
Our first view of West Lake begins from one of its most recognizable landmarks.
The original pagoda rose in the 10th century during the Wuyue Kingdom. Its silhouette became part of “Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow,” one of the classic Ten Scenes of West Lake, and it remains inseparable from the beloved Legend of the White Snake.
meal
A relaxed, country-style lunch featuring seasonal local flavors.
Cultural highlight
A concise introduction to tea as craft, ritual, trade, and everyday life.
Set among gardens and tea fields on Longjing Road, the museum tells the story of Chinese tea from cultivation and processing to ceramics, customs, and the many ways tea brings people together.
hotel
Arrive at West Lake State Guesthouse and take time to refresh.
Cultural highlight
A concise introduction to the residence, its gardens, and its place in modern Chinese history.
More than a lakeside hotel, West Lake State Guesthouse has been a setting for modern Chinese history and diplomacy. Mao Zedong stayed here 27 times and worked here on the first Constitution of the People’s Republic of China. Richard Nixon and Nelson Mandela were among its notable guests; according to the hotel, the 1972 China–U.S. Joint Communiqué was initialed in its octagonal pavilion.
meal
A simple early dinner before the evening performance.
travel
Please bring a light layer for the lakeside evening.
show
The acclaimed Enduring Memories of Hangzhou—an open-air scenic performance with West Lake itself as the stage.
Music, dance, light, and the lake’s natural setting come together in a performance inspired by Hangzhou’s cultural memory. The experience is less about a single storyline and more about atmosphere, movement, and reflection.
hotel
A quiet close to our first day in Hangzhou.