The municipality of Hangzhou is unusual for a Chinese city in that it encompasses large areas of greenery which might normally be classified as countryside. This is mainly thanks to the lake Xi Hu itself - so central and dominant a role has the lake played in the city's history that even today a trip right round its shores does not feel like an excursion out of the city, despite the fact that the built-up area lies almost entirely to the east and north of the lake.

Within the lake are various islands and causeways, while the shores are home to endless parks , which hold Hangzhou's most famous individual sights, ranging from the extravagant and historic Yuefei Mu (Temple and Tomb of Yuefei) to the ancient hillside Buddhist carvings of Feilai Feng and its associated temple, the Lingyin Si , one of China's largest and most renowned. Farther afield, beautiful tea plantations nestle around the village of Longjing and the bizarre former home of the disgraced leader Lin Biao , while south down to the Qiantang River are excellent walking opportunities.