The West Lake District (Xihu Qu) is the heart of old Hangzhou — the green crescent of lakeshore, hillside, and heritage buildings that stretches from Lingyin Temple in the northwest to the Qiantang River in the south. The lake and its surrounding landscape were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, the citation noting that West Lake has profoundly influenced garden design across East Asia over a thousand years.
The district is best explored on foot or by bike. The two ancient causeways — Baidi and Sudi — provide the most iconic walks, with willows trailing into the water and views of distant pagodas. The hills west of the lake hold most of the major temples and the tea plantations. On the eastern shore, the promenade from Broken Bridge to Beishan Street passes through the most atmospheric part of the neighbourhood.