Jade Emperor Hill, or Yuhuang Mountain, rises south of West Lake and gives one of Hangzhou's better short climbs. The paths pass Taoist shrines, pavilions, bamboo, and wooded slopes before opening to viewpoints over the lake basin, the Qiantang River side of the city, and the surrounding tea hills.
It is a good choice when West Lake's causeways feel too crowded but you do not want a full-day hike. Start early, bring water, and combine it with nearby sights around the southern lake shore or the Longjing tea village area.