Lixihu Hidden Gem Loop Hike

Exit Huagang GuanYu via the West Gate onto Yanggong Causeway. Cross the road and find the small path entrance on the left (north) side — identified by a red sign pointing toward Jihong Bridge. Enter the stone-paved path. Almost immediately the crowds thin and the canopy closes overhead. On your left is Yugu Bay (浴鹄湾), on the right the path continues toward Jihong Bridge. This transition from the busy Huagang GuanYu area into the shaded, quiet inner lake is the moment the route reveals its character — the start of what locals consider the most scenic section of the West Lake shoreline.

Photo suggestion: Entering the shaded path from Yanggong Causeway — the transition from crowds to calm happens in seconds.

Walk along Yugu Bay's shore path. The bay is framed by traditional white-walled architecture (粉墙黛瓦) with dark-tiled roofs, set against the wooded hills behind. Reach Jihong Bridge (霁虹桥), a covered langqiao (廊桥) style bridge crossing the narrow neck of the bay. On calm days the bridge's reflection in the still water is perfectly symmetrical — this is the signature photo of the route and one of the most photographed spots in all of West Lake. Best photo timing: early morning (before 9 am) for still water and soft light; overcast days add misty atmosphere. After crossing the bridge, take the RIGHT fork hugging the lakeside path (water on your right) — the left path leads away from the water. Follow the lakeside path toward Bapanling Road (八盘岭路).

Photo suggestion: Jihong Bridge — the covered langqiao bridge at Yugu Bay. Its symmetrical reflection in still water is the signature image of this route.

After crossing Jihong Bridge, continue with the water on your right. The path runs along the edge of the bay with mature trees providing shade. Pass the Santai Mengji (三台梦迹) scenic area with its winding corridors and wetland plantings — a New West Lake scenic area. Cross Bapanling Road (八盘岭路) at the marked pedestrian crossing, then continue north. The path enters a denser tree canopy as it approaches Wugui Tan (乌龟潭 / Turtle Pond). Wugui Tan is a horseshoe-shaped bay surrounded by towering metasequoia trees (水杉). The water is darker and more still than Yugu Bay — noticeably quieter. This section has almost no other walkers on weekdays. Look for the small Yongfu Ancient Bridge (永福古桥) across the narrow end of the pond.

Photo suggestion: Wugui Tan's metasequoia reflections — a secluded horseshoe bay that feels far removed from the city.

Continue north from Wugui Tan along the lakeside path. At the fork after Wugui Tan, choose the STONE-PAVED path (labeled with green trail signs pointing toward Santai Mountain Road / 三台山路). Avoid the gravel/dirt path which leads uphill away from the water. Follow the stone path until it reaches Santai Mountain Road (三台山路). Turn RIGHT and walk along the road to the Longjing Branch Road (龙井支路) intersection. Cross both roads at the pedestrian crossing and continue north. The landscape opens up as you approach Maojiabu — reed beds and open water replace the forested bay. The entrance to Maojiabu is marked by a bamboo grove and a wooden boardwalk leading into the reeds.

Caution: The crossing at Santai Mountain Road is moderately busy — use the marked pedestrian crossing. The Maojiabu boardwalk can be slippery after rain.

Maojiabu (茅家埠 / Mao Family Dock) is the largest open section of the route and the most varied. Enter via the lakeshore wooden boardwalk. The path winds through reed beds and open water with wooden bridges and pavilions. Key stops: Daishe Cantian Pavilion (黛色参天亭) — a pavilion set at the water's edge with classic 'ink-wash' scenery of dark green trees against pale water; Fanggui Pavilion (芳桂亭) — another rest pavilion along the boardwalk. Look for Tongli Ancient Bridge (通利古桥) — an ancient stone bridge preserved in the wetland, the original start of the Upper Incense Route (上香古道) that Song dynasty pilgrims walked to the Tianzhu temples. The boardwalk emerges at the Yanggong Causeway exit near the Maojiabu village area — a small cluster of tea houses and restaurants. This is a good rest stop. There is a water bus pier at Maojiabu (西湖公交船) that offers a scenic boat ride back to Huagang GuanYu (~8 RMB, operating 8:30-15:30).

Photo suggestion: Maojiabu's wooden boardwalk winding through reeds — the most immersive wetland section of the route.

Cross Yanggong Causeway at the Maojiabu exit and walk north along the causeway for approximately 50 metres. Guo Villa (郭庄 / Guo Zhuang) is on the east side of the road, clearly signposted. Entry: 10 RMB (cash or mobile payment), open 08:00-17:00. Guo Villa was built in 1907 by silk merchant Song Ruifu as a private garden, later sold to the Guo family of Fenyang (hence the alternate name 'Fenyang Villa' / 汾阳别墅). The garden covers nearly 10,000 sq m, split into two sections — Jing Bi Ju (静必居 / Tranquil Residence) for living quarters and Yi Jing Tian Kai (一镜天开 / A Mirror Opens to the Sky) for the lake-facing garden. The garden is considered the finest surviving classical garden on West Lake — praised by renowned garden scholar Chen Congzhou as 'a garden that borrows the lake as its own.' The highlight is Jing Su Pavilion (景苏阁) — the main lake-facing pavilion where a large circular window perfectly frames a view of Su Causeway, lake boats, and the distant hills — one of the most photographed single views in Hangzhou. Skip if time is tight or if queues are long (weekends).

Photo suggestion: Guo Villa's Jing Su Pavilion circular window — a perfectly framed view of Su Causeway and the lake beyond.

Continue north along Yanggong Causeway from Guo Villa for approximately 500 metres to reach Quyuan Fenghe (曲院风荷 / Lotus in the Breeze at the Crooked Courtyard). This is one of the original West Lake 'Ten Scenes,' established during the Southern Song dynasty (13th century) when this site housed an imperial brewing workshop. The name refers to two things: 'Quyuan' (Crooked Courtyard / 曲院) was the brewing workshop that used water from the nearby Jinsha Stream to make imperial wine; 'Fenghe' (Wind / Lotus / 风荷) describes the summer scene when wind carries the scent of lotus flowers. During the Qing dynasty, Kangxi Emperor moved the scenic marker to the current location and wrote the calligraphy tablet. The park covers 12.65 hectares and contains 5 sub-areas: Yue Lake, Bamboo Garden (Zhusu Yuan), Wind Lotus, Crooked Courtyard, and Lakeside Forest. Summer (June-August) is peak lotus season with over 100 varieties including red lotus, white lotus, double-petal lotus, and the rare Bingdi lotus (并蒂莲 / twin lotus on one stem). Even outside lotus season, the park's architecture — winding water-corridors, arched bridges, and traditional pavilions — is worth a stroll.

Photo suggestion: Quyuan Fenghe's lotus ponds in summer bloom — one of the West Lake 'Ten Scenes' with over 100 lotus varieties.

From Quyuan Fenghe, cross Yudai Bridge (玉带桥 / Jade Belt Bridge) — the bridge at the north end of the park that connects to Su Causeway. Turn RIGHT (south) onto Su Causeway. Su Causeway (苏堤) is a 2.8 km tree-lined causeway built in 1089 by Su Dongpo (苏东坡), the Song dynasty poet-governor of Hangzhou. He ordered the dredging of the lake and used the silt to build this causeway, creating one of the defining features of West Lake. The causeway has six stone arch bridges (from north to south: Cross Rainbow, Dongpu, Suppressing Waves, Looking at Mountains, Locking Waves, Reflecting Waves). Walk south along the causeway. To your left (east) is the main lake with the three islands; to your right (west) is the inner lake you have just circled. After approximately 2.5 km, the south end of Su Causeway reaches the east entrance of Huagang GuanYu. Walk through the park to return to the West Gate start point, completing the loop.

Caution: Su Causeway is 2.8 km with no shortcut exits — the longest single section. Sun protection is essential on clear days as the causeway has limited shade. Watch for bicycles and electric scooters on the shared path.

Photo suggestion: Su Causeway's tree-lined path with six arched bridges — the 2.8 km return leg built by Su Dongpo in 1089.