West Lake Hangzhou

West Lake has inspired Chinese poets, painters and garden designers for centuries, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Willow-shaded causeways cross the water, arched bridges link small islands, and Leifeng Pagoda rises from a hill on the southern shore.

A boat ride to the island of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is the classic way to see the lake, followed by a stroll along the Su Causeway. In the hills nearby, Longjing village grows the famous Dragon Well green tea, and tea houses let you taste it on the terraces.

Hangzhou is about an hour from Shanghai by high-speed train, so it works as a long day trip or a relaxed overnight stay. Early mornings, when locals practise tai chi by the water, are especially peaceful.