West Lake Cruise (Three Pools Mirroring the Moon)

★ 4.9

(195000 reviews)

Hangzhou's ultimate iconic landscape experience, featuring a traditional wooden cruise to the central island immortalized on the Chinese 1-Yuan banknote.

⚡ Vibe Icons

💰 Cost $7.50

🏃 Effort Easy Walking

Snap' Description

Submerge yourself in the timeless poetic soul of imperial China with the West Lake Cruise to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Santan Yinyuan). Boarding beautifully crafted traditional wooden pleasure boats from the vibrant shoreline wharves, this world-class excursion glides smoothly across the misty freshwater basin. Visitors step ashore on the lake's grandest artificial islet, marveling at the three historic Song Dynasty stone pagodas engineered to capture moonlight over the ripples.

Getting There

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Metro Info

Longxiangqiao (Line 1, Exit C) + 5 min Walk to Wharf

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Taxi Address

杭州市西湖区西湖风景区三潭印月中山码头

Navigate

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💎 Insider Tips

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Board your cruise vessel from the Less-crowded Zhongshan Wharf near the Solitary Hill sector to avoid the massive tourist bus queues at Longxiangqiao.
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The standard ticket option is fully comprehensive: it explicitly includes the round-trip water crossing ferry and direct entry to the central pagoda island.
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Look closely at the three stone pagodas; during the Mid-Autumn Festival, candles are lit inside their round paper windows to simulate dozens of dancing moons.
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The cruise lines utilize large panoramic windows; sit on the western deck for the absolute best view of the Leifeng Pagoda silhouette against the ridges.