From the route collectionFrom the journal

Wuzhen + Hangzhou + Hengdian World Studios + Thousand Island Lake 4-Day 3-Night Trip

An earlier itinerary from our China travel journal. Read for inspiration, then check the practical details before you go.

On this page
  1. Note:
  2. Itinerary
  3. Day 1 — Arrive in Shanghai & travel to Wuzhen
  4. Day 2 — West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda & Hangzhou Songcheng
  5. Day 3 — Hengdian World Studios
  6. Day 4 — Thousand Island Lake & departure
  7. FAQs
  8. 1. Q: Where is Wuzhen located?
  9. 2. Q: What is West Lake?
  10. 3. Q: What kind of activities can I do at Hengdian World Studios?
  11. 4. Q: What can be found on Qiandao Lake?
  12. 5. Q: How large is Qiandao Lake?
  13. 6. Q:How can I visit here with a 144-hour visa-free entry?

Wuzhen + Hangzhou + Hengdian World Studios + Thousand Island Lake 4-Day 3-Night Trip

Throughout the trip, you can enjoy the essence of Zhejiang’s scenery:

Wuzhen:
Wuzhen is one of the most well-preserved ancient towns in the Jiangnan region of China and is also the venue for the World Internet Conference in China.

Hangzhou:
Hangzhou is a famous historical and cultural city in China, renowned worldwide for the beautiful scenery of West Lake. The ten scenes of West Lake include “Spring Dawn at Su Causeway” and “Remnant Snow on the Broken Bridge,” and there is an ancient saying, “There is heaven above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below.”

Hengdian World Studios:
It is one of China’s largest film and television shooting bases and is known as “China’s Hollywood.” The studios feature a variety of architectural complexes from different historical periods, such as the “Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival” and the “Palace of Qin King,” making it the filming location for many Chinese ancient costume dramas and historical dramas.

Thousand Island Lake:
It is an artificial lake named for the 1,078 islands within it. Thousand Island Lake is famous for its clear waters, beautiful island scenery, and a variety of water activities.

Note:

  • It is more convenient to start this trip from Shanghai

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Shanghai & travel to Wuzhen

Original day heading

Day 01 — Departure place - Shanghai - Wuzhen

Wuzhen (simplified Chinese: 乌镇; traditional Chinese: 烏鎮; pinyin: Wūzhèn, Wu: Whu-tsen lit. “Wu Town”) is a historic scenic town, part of Tongxiang, located in the north of Zhejiang Province, China.

It lies within the triangle formed by Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai. Covering an area of 71.19 km2 (27.49 sq mi), Wuzhen has a total population of 60,000, of which 12,000 are permanent residents.

Wuzhen has been the permanent host place of the annual World Internet Conference, an international Internet conference held in China, since 2014.

Day 2 West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda & Hangzhou Songcheng

Original day heading

Day 02 — Wuzhen - Hangzhou - West Lake - Leifeng Pagoda - Hangzhou Songcheng.

West Lake (Chinese: 西湖; Wu Chinese pronunciation: [si ɦu]) is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. It is divided into five sections by three causeways. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and natural/artificial islands within the lake. Gushan (孤山) is the largest natural island and three artificial islands: Xiaoyingzhou (小瀛洲), Huixin Pavilion (湖心亭), and Ruan Gongdun (阮公墩) stand at the middle of the lake. Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) and Baochu Pagoda (保俶塔) are separated by the lake. Mirroring each other, the basic pattern of “one mountain, two towers, three islands, three banks, and five lakes” is formed.

West Lake is located at No. 1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, in the west of Hangzhou City. The total area of the scenic spot is 49 square kilometers, the catchment area is 21.22 square kilometers, and the lake area is 6.38 square kilometers.

West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history for its natural beauty and historic relics, and it has also been among the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, described as having “influenced garden design in the rest of China as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries” and reflecting “an idealized fusion between humans and nature”.

Day 3 Hengdian World Studios

Original day heading

Day 03 — Hangzhou - Hengdian World Studios (Guangzhou Street/Hong Kong Street - Ming and Qing Palaces - Qin Palace) - Hangzhou

Hengdian World Studios (Chinese: 横店影视城; pinyin: Héngdiàn Yǐngshìchéng) is a film studio located in Hengdian, a Chinese town in the city of Dongyang, Zhejiang Province. It is one of the largest film studios in the world. The movie studio is operated by the privately owned Hengdian Group founded by Xu Wenrong. Xu turned acres of farmland in central Zhejiang into one of the largest movie studios in Asia. Construction began in the mid-1990s and has been ongoing ever since with the possible recent addition of the replica of the Old Summer Palace.

Day 4 Thousand Island Lake & departure

Original day heading

Day 04 — Hangzhou - Thousand Island Lake (Thousand Island Lake - Monkey Island - Forest Oxygen Bar) - Return

Qiandao Lake (simplified Chinese: 千岛湖; traditional Chinese: 千島湖; pinyin: Qiāndǎo Hú; lit. ‘Thousand Island Lake’) is a man-made freshwater lake located in Chun’an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, that was formed after the completion of the Xin’an River hydroelectric station in 1959.

1,078 large islands dot the lake and a few thousand smaller ones are scattered across it. Over 90% of the land area is forested. The islands in the lake include Bird Island, Snake Island, Monkey Island, Lock Island (featuring supposedly the world’s biggest lock), and the Island to Remind You of Your Childhood. The lake covers an area of 573 km2 (221 sq mi) and has a storage capacity of 17.8 km3 (4.3 cu mi). The islands in the lake cover about 86 km2 (33 sq mi).

Spanning an area that nearly matches the size of Singapore and renown for having clear waters, Qiandao Lake hosts a major fishery and aquaculture industry.[2][3] There are 83 species of fish in 13 families, including bighead carp, silver carp, grass carp, as well as precious fish species such as tuna, mandarin fish, and eel, with an annual output of more than 3,000 tons. It has also developed an artificial breeding industry, that mainly breeds carp, bream and tilapia, with an annual output of nearly 900,000 tons.

FAQs

1. Q: Where is Wuzhen located?

A: Wuzhen is a historic scenic town in Tongxiang, northern Zhejiang Province, China. It lies within the triangle formed by Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai.

2. Q: What is West Lake?

A: West Lake is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. It is divided into five sections by three causeways and has numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and natural/artificial islands.

3. Q: What kind of activities can I do at Hengdian World Studios?

A: You can visit film sets, watch live performances, and experience the atmosphere of a movie studio. Some areas may offer costume rentals for photo opportunities.

4. Q: What can be found on Qiandao Lake?

A: 1,078 large islands and a few thousand smaller ones dot the lake. There are various islands like Bird Island, Snake Island, Monkey Island, etc. The lake also has a major fishery and aquaculture industry.

5. Q: How large is Qiandao Lake?

A: Qiandao Lake covers an area of 573 km² and has a storage capacity of 17.8 km³. The islands in the lake cover about 86 km².

6. Q:How can I visit here with a 144-hour visa-free entry?

A note on this edition

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