48 Best Sights in Eastern China, China

Gulangyu holds a special place in the country's musical history, thanks to the large number of Christian missionaries who called the island home in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gulangyu has more pianos per capita than anyplace else in China, and the Piano Museum houses more than 70 beautifully preserved instruments that were once owned by famous pianists. Tucked away up a steep hill in the Shuzhuang Garden, this charming collection is a must for any music lover.

The slender spire of Baochu Pagoda rises atop the romantically named Precious Stone Hill Floating in Rosy Clouds. The brick and stone pagoda is visible from just about anywhere on the lake. From the hilltop you can see across the lake to the city. Numerous paths from the lake lead up the hill, which is dotted with Buddhist and Taoist shrines. Several caves provide shade from the hot summer sun.

This lovely, peaceful garden on Gulangyu is immaculately kept and dotted with pavilions and bridges, some extending out to rocks just offshore. Built in 1913 by a wealthy Taiwanese merchant, the garden is home to several key sights, including the Piano Museum and the Twelve Cave Paradise, which comprises 12 caves formed from multicolor sandstone.

A palace for the exclusive use of the emperor during his visits to Hangzhou once stood on Solitary Hill Island, the largest island in West Lake. On its southern side is a small, carefully composed park with several pavilions and a pond. A path leads up the hill to the Xiling Seal Engraver's Society, where professional carvers design and create seals. The society's garden has one of the best views of the lake.

Here you'll find walkways surrounding several large ponds, all connected by zigzagging bridges. Off the island's southern shore are three Ming Dynasty–era mini stone pagodas. During the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, held in the middle of September, lanterns are lit in the pagodas, creating the reflections that give the island its name. Leisure boats from several spots around the lake, including a dock near Yue Fei's memorial, will shuttle you to the pagodas for around Y55.

Seven stories high, this ancient hexagonal structure was first built in AD 695, then destroyed and rebuilt several times over. The current building was finished in the 14th century and is surrounded by a tiny garden complete with gigantic rocks and several inviting stone benches. For a great view of the pagoda, walk directly across the street from the main entrance, enter the market, and walk up to the second floor. Continue climbing to the top for only Y5 and you'll be rewarded with panoramic cityscapes.

Near Solitary Hill Island stands this shrine to honor General Yue Fei (1103–42), who led Song Dynasty armies against foreign invaders. When he was a young man, his mother tattooed his back with the commandment "Repay the nation with loyalty." This made Yue Fei a hero both for his patriotic loyalty and filial piety. At the height of his success, a jealous rival convinced the emperor to have Yue Fei executed. A subsequent leader pardoned the warrior and enshrined him as a national hero. Statues of Yue Fei's accusers kneel in shame nearby. Traditionally, visitors would spit on statues of the traitors, but now a sign near the statue asks them to glare instead.

Surrounding a pretty lake at the base of Wanshi Mountain, this garden has a fine collection of more than 6,500 species of tropical and subtropical flora, ranging from eucalyptus and bamboo trees to orchids and ferns. Pathways wind past interesting rock formations, a rose garden, and several temples, including the notable Heaven's Border Temple. Don’t miss the atmospheric "rain forest" section, and be sure to wear comfy shoes: this huge park is worth hours of exploration.

Soar over the park in a cable car (Y70 round-trip), embarking next to where the east end of Huxiyan Lu crosses Huyuan Lu, at the base of the mountain.

With arched bridges stretching over the water, West Lake is the heart of Hangzhou. Originally a bay, the area has been built up gradually throughout the years by a combination of natural changes and human shaping of the land. The photogenic shores are enhanced by meandering paths, artificial islands, and countless pavilions with upturned roofs. Two pedestrian causeways cross the lake: Bai in the north and Su in the west. They are named for two poet–governors from different eras who invested in landscaping and developing the lake. Ideal for strolling or biking, both walkways are lined with willow and peach trees, crossed by bridges, and dotted with benches where you can pause to admire the views.

The lake's pathways are jam-packed on weekends and during holidays, particularly Golden Week (first week of October).

This Sino-Soviet bridge, which has an upper level for cars and pedestrians and a lower one for the Beijing-Guangzhou railway line, spans the Yangtze River. Planning for this bridge started in the late 19th century, but it wasn't until 1955 that construction began, led by a team of Rusian and Chinese engineers. It opened just two years later to much fanfare and was even featured on the now-defunct two jiao bill. The bridge runs 1.6km (1 mile) between Guishan (Turtle Hill) in Hanyang district to Sheshan (Snake Hill) in Wuchang district. The upper level is a two-way, four-lane highway, but there's a safe pedestrian walkway in which you can also bike. It's very pleasant to stand on the bridge and watch vessels large and small traverse the mighty Yangtze, the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. On the Wuchang side you can go easily from the bridge to Yellow Crane Tower.

Right by Nanputuo Temple, housed in an interesting mix of modern and traditional colonial buildings, is Xiamen University. It was founded in the 1920s with the help of Chinese living abroad.

For some peace and quiet, take a stroll here in the early morning.

This idyllic little teahouse sits right along one of Shaoxing’s famous waterways. The historic building is a little musty, but the antique furniture, artwork, drapes and meticulous tea service is an experience in itself. Ask for snacks, and you’ll be rewarded with assorted bowls of fresh cherry tomatoes, dates, seeds, and regional fruits.

What you see today dates from just 1981, a recreation, only semi-faithful, to the original built in AD 223 about 1 km away. Over its long history, Yellow Crane Tower was destroyed and rebuilt some half-dozen times. In the mid 1880s the tower fell to a blaze and was not rebuilt until a century later. Today, the five-storey tower stands 51.4 meters (168 feet), and legend has it that the roof is composed of nearly 100,000 yellow glazed tiles. Climb to the top and, on a clear day, you'll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the city and the Yangtze River. Avoid this like the plague during public holidays, especially Chinese National Day (Oct. 1-3), when it's a sea of people.

At the foot of Gem Hill is Yellow Dragon Cave, famous for a never-ending stream of water spurting from the head of a yellow dragon. Nearby are a lovely garden plus a stage for traditional Yue opera performances, and you can take a pleasant 25-minute hike through the woods to the Tomb of Yue Fei from the site.

Solitary Hill Island is home to the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, which has a good collection of archaeological finds, as well as bronzes, paintings, and exhibits focusing on the province's ethnic minority groups. English signage isn't great here, but the visuals themselves are enticing.

In one of Ningbo's most delightful parks, winding stone paths snake over arched bridges, and slender canals flow past pavilions and teahouses. During the humid summer months, the city's senior citizens fan themselves with oversized paper fans, crack sunflower seeds, gossip, and drink tea. Impromptu groups of musicians huddle together; old men play traditional Chinese instruments as women belt out ear-piercing renditions of Chinese opera. This is a wonderful place to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

Commemorating Dr. Sun Yat-sen—who is known in Chinese as Sun Zhongshan—Zhongshan Park was built in 1927 and is centered on a bronze statue of the great man. It has a small zoo, pretty lakes, and canals you can explore by paddleboat. The annual Lantern Festival is held here.

The Zhou Enlai Family Home belonged to the first premier of Communist China, who came from a family of prosperous Shaoxing merchants. Zhou is credited with saving some of China's most important historic monuments from destruction at the hands of the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. The compound, a showcase of traditional architecture, houses exhibits on Zhou's life, ranging from his high-school essays to vacation snapshots with his wife.