Hangzhou Amusement 
ParkThe largest facility of its kind in Eastern China, the Hangzhou Amusement Park is an ideal place for all members of the family, with its large and varying selection of attractions aimed at visitors of all ages. The park is split into different sections, among which are the Marco Polo's Journey Theme Park, the Holland Village Theme Park, the Ecological Amusement Park and the Xianghu Green Garden. The park also features a number of live shows, the War of the Sea Rover being one of the most popular. There are fairground rides including an impressive rollercoaster and an artificial lake on which you can paddle around in rubber dinghies. Phone: +86 571 82880222.

Hangzhou Zoo
Parents may not find conditions at the Hangzhou Zoo as favourable as those in western zoos; however, this is a good destination for a day out if you’ve got kids in tow. Besides the large collection of foreign animal species, the zoo has indigenous species such as bears and pandas. A circus-style show airs several times a day and is sure to put smiles on your children’s faces. Phone: +86 571 87970657.

Swimming Pools
Many of the city’s most popular hotels have their own swimming pools which both kids and adults will find a relief on hot summer days. The alternative is to head to one of the many public pools that are located around the city such as the indoor Hangzhou Swimming Pool or the outdoor Guihuacheng Swimming Pool.

Xixi National Wetlands Park
This relatively new addition to the city’s attractions (opened in May 2005) makes for a good daytrip for families with children who enjoy getting back to nature and observing wildlife in a natural environment. The park is generally not overrun with tourists and offers good opportunities to see a variety of indigenous species, among which is a large selection of fascinating bird specimens. Phone: +86 571 88106688

Hangzhou captures all the obvious visual aspects of Chinese culture from lofty pagodas to ornately designed temples. It also offers a good selection of cultural attractions that are entirely unique, with the China National Museum and the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine among the best examples. For a touch of real Hangzhou history, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei and King Qian’s Memorial are must-sees.

Baochu Pagoda
The Baochu Pagoda is constructed in a classic design and though not strikingly different from other pagodas in the city, is worth a visit all the same. Sitting atop Baoshi Hill, the pagoda is surrounded by a series of temples featuring typical Chinese influences. There’s no access to the pagoda itself, but the view across the city from the top of Baoshi Hill alone is worth the climb.

China National Silk Museum
Hangzhou has a long history of silk production and continues to be a key destination in China’s successful silk industry. The China National Silk Museum explores various aspects of silk production through the ages, giving visitors an in-depth insight into the processes involved as well as a look at the progression of silk making techniques. The museum is split into three sections: the Preface Hall, the Relics Hall and the Folk-custom Hall and is unique in that it is the largest of its kind in the world. Phone: +86 571 87062129; website: www.ebwg.sunbo.net/.

Hangzhou Botanical Garden
Occupying a spacious 230-hectare area, the Hangzhou Botanical Garden has been a feature of the city since 1965 and remains one of its most scenic locations. The natural beauty of the gardens is complemented by eye-catching manmade structures and architectural features, ensuring visitors have an aesthetically rich experience. There are two sections in the garden: one devoted to research and the other, known as the Pleasure Gardens, dedicated to displaying a vast selection of fascinating flora specimens. Phone: +86 571 87961908.

Jingci Temple
Dating back to 954 AD, the Jingci Temple is notable for the giant bell housed within. Weighing in at a hefty 10 tons, the bell packs an impressive chime and is consequently used at Hangzhou’s Chinese New Year celebrations, when it’s rung 108 consecutive times to mark the arrival of a new year.

King Qian's Memorial
The earthly remains of five rulers from the Kingdom of Wuyue are housed within the notable landmark that is the King Qian's Memorial, situated off Nanshan road. The bodies of several rulers are buried inside of the structure, making this a site of major historical significance.

Leifeng Pagoda
The Leifeng Pagoda is an especially old structure that dates back to 977 AD. There are relics left of the original building, now enclosed within a glass case to protect them from further weathering by the elements. The pagoda is also famous for the folk tale that surrounds it; known as the Legend of the White Snake, it’s a love story in which two sisters are turned into snakes as punishment for their misdemeanours.

Lingyin Temple
With a name which translates as ‘heart of the soul's retreat’, the Lingyin Temple sits west of the famous West Lake and is part of a working Buddhist monastery that’s one of the most famous of its kind in the country. The temple sits on top of a hill and access to it is available via both stairs and a chairlift. One portion of the hill features an impressive collection of Buddhist statues carved into the rock face.

Mausoleum of General Yue Fei
Covering a four-acre plot situated at the southern foot of Qixia Hill, close to the West Lake, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei is a building of significant historic importance since it houses the remains of this famous warrior who led the Southern Song dynasty in their battle against the armies of the Jin dynasty in the 12^th century. The building has been erected, demolished and rebuilt a number of times, with the current structure dating to 1715. Inside the mausoleum, the Shrine of Remembrance, with its life-size sculpture of General Yue, is the central attraction.

Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Also known as the Huqingyutang Herb Medicine Museum, the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine began life as a Chinese herb pharmacy in 1874. After becoming the most prestigious facility of its kind in China, the pharmacy eventually evolved into this unique museum, which interestingly is the only museum of its kind in the country. The Exhibition Hall, the Medicine Preparation Hall, the Chinese Health Care Clinic, the Restaurant of Medicinal Diet and the Sales Department are the museum’s five different sections, each of which covers a different aspect of Chinese medicine. Phone: +86 571 87027507.

National Tea Museum
With tea and tea production forming such an integral part of life in Hangzhou, it’s only fitting that there should be a museum dedicated to the industry. Anyone with a taste for tea—black, green or with milk—will find this museum fascinating.

Six Harmonies Pagoda
Commonly considered the finest among the buildings in the city’s pagoda and temple collection, the Six Harmonies Pagoda was constructed in 970 AD by a ruler of the Kingdom of Wuyue. The pagoda, which sits on the Yuelun Hill beside the Qiantang River, has seven sides and eight storeys and reaches nearly 60 metres at its highest point. Inside the pagoda, visitors will find a number of inscriptions that date back to the Song dynasty.

Hangzhou is one of China’s top destinations with regards to the excellence of its local cuisine and dining opportunities. Hangzhou’s culinary creations and approach to cooking make up one of the three influences of Zhejiang cuisine, which is considered one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of China.

Local food is prepared by flash-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, simmering or steaming and isn’t excessively oily or overcooked. Dishes are delicately flavoured and pungent spices are uncommon. Bamboo shoots are a common feature of many dishes, while fish is the basis of a large number also. Some of the more famous dishes to come out of Hangzhou include West Lake water shield soup, beggar's chicken, dongpo pork, West Lake sour fish and fish head and bean curd.

The city has numerous eateries ranging from roadside food vendors to upmarket restaurants and everything in between. If you want to sample some of the best local food then head for any of the five branches of Grandma's Kitchen, but be sure to arrive well ahead of regular meal times as these places get busy quickly and you might struggle to find a seat.

As great as the local cuisine is, it’s not obligatory to eat it throughout your stay. Anyone who would like to dine on the food of other Asian countries will find Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian eateries on hand. There is also the usual selection of popular fast food franchises including McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut.

For shopping, visitors will find a plethora of retail outlets, with everything from market stalls selling locally made goods to large stores selling branded and imported products. Silk goods are extremely popular and can be found in many locations, but are best bought from the Silk Market on Tiyuchang road.

For electronic products, the electronics markets on Wensan road are the best place to head. Here you’ll find a whole range of goods including cell phones, desktop and laptop computers, MP3 players and software and computer games.

For more general shopping, try the Night Market off Yan'an road. Here you can buy souvenirs. Yan'an road is also a good place to find clothing, with a glut of shops selling men’s and women’s wear. Wushan and Wulin squares are also good locations for purchasing clothes.

For groceries and everyday consumer goods, Hangzhou has a large branch of Carrefour located on South Yan'an Lu and a branch of Trust-Mart (similar to Wal-Mart) located close to the Yellow Dragon Sports Stadium.

With some fantastic scenery on its doorstep, Hangzhou is an ideal destination to grab some outdoor activity between cultural and sightseeing excursions. The Zhejiang countryside provides good opportunities for walking and hiking, while a variety of manmade facilities make a number of traditional sporting activities possible. For something a little different, an afternoon of boating on the city’s canal can be a fun way to kill a few hours.

Badminton
Badminton is popular with the locals, especially come evening time when the working day is over. Play is often uncompetitive and without a court, with only a couple of rackets, a shuttlecock and an open space away from the road necessary. Visitors can pick up a cheap badminton set and join the fun at any appropriate location.

Boating
The Hangzhou-Beijing Canal is the ideal place to enjoy boating on a fine summer afternoon. Join the locals at this popular and picturesque location for some leisurely paddling or engine-powered activity.

Golf
There are several locations at which visitors can enjoy this popular game, the main one being the West Lake Golf Club situated near the Six Harmonies Pagoda. This international standard course was designed by the famous Jack Nicklaus. Other courses are part of the city’s popular hotels including the Radisson Plaza Hotel Hangzhou, Shangri-La Hotel Hangzhou, New Ramada Plaza Hangzhou and Sofitel Westlake Hangzhou.

Tennis
Tennis can be played at a number of places in the city, with some of the best courts available at its more reputable hotels such as the Hangzhou Grand Metro Park. There are also courts available at the Hangzhou Amusement Park.

Walking
Hangzhou is awash with places to enjoy either a pleasant stroll or a more challenging ramble. For the former, the West Lake is perhaps the most popular place, while various gardens around the city also provide excellent settings in which to stretch one’s legs. Get out of the city into its rural surrounds and there are plenty of locations where you can work up a sweat walking up hills and across undulating terrain.