Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park

If your kids enjoy the company of animals like polar bears，penguins，and arctic foxes，Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park is a nice place where the family can spend a couple of hours in the company of polar species.The best place to see these polar animals is underwater，and the Hangzhou Ocean Park has that covered.Perhaps the biggest attraction is the beluga whale exhibit，where visitors can en joy a large viewing area to watch these curious cetaceans play.If your tastes run more to the ursine，the polar bear doing back flips should keep you entertained.Of course，the park is for learning as much as it is for fun；the kidsshould enjoy the whaling ship and hopefully learn a little bit about our bowhead buddies.Visitors will find the park 15 kilometers from downtown，right on the east bank of Xianghu Lake.

A.Road Trip

If you feel like you’ve had your fill of Hangzhou and want to take your family on a little road trip，then Hangzhou can be a good base camp from which to explore some of Zhejiang Province’s most intriguing counties，towns，and villages.Whether you’ve rented a car，hired a driver，or feel like taking a trip on China’s clean and always-on-time trains，you have a number of options-both near and far-that should put a smile on everyone’s face.

If you are keen to explore the delights of the Hangzhou-Beijing Grand Canal a little deeper，then a short ride to Yuhang’s Tangqi could be just what the（traditional Chinese medicine）doctor ordered.Essentially a collection of handsome，cobbled alleys andthoroughfares（the most prominent of which is Shuibei Street，which is justifiably Tangqi’s“Old Street”）that lead to and from the jewel in Tangqi’s crown-the eye-catchingGuangji Bridge（广济桥）一the village gives visitors a glimpse into the region’s former glories.At one time Tangqi served as a major transport and trade hub for goods and passengers making their way back and forth between Zhe jiang Province and the Ming and Qing capital.

Of particular interest along Tangqi’s cluttered alleyways and attractive streets is an oil-pressing shop where jars are filled using the traditional method，sending lovely scents of peanut and sesame oil into the air as local customers watch on.Nearby is a well-protected memorial tablet，or“stele”，inscribed with the calligraphy of Hangzhou’s favorite emperor，Qianlong.The aforementioned Guangji Bridge is the only extant seven-span bridge on the Jing-Hang stretch of the Grand Canal and，understandably，it has become the pride and joy of the locals who amble over its ancient stone arches each and every day.Complete with intricate carvings，a mysterious history，and prime location on the Grand Canal，the wide，canal-spanning bridge has been a silent observer of China’s mighty rise to global prominence over the centuries.

Further afield，but well worth the approximate 90 minute or so journey from Hangzhou，is Tonglu，a scenic，My Neighbor Totoro-esque wonderland of fluffy clouds，babbling brooks，and family-friendly attractions and sights.Built during China’s Three Kingdoms Period，Tonglu is a blessed land located on the engaging landscape of the Fuchun River，the banks of which have been home to the hardworking Tonglu people for more than1，000 years.The town has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history with its natural beauty and historic relics，and the beauty and culture of the Fuchun River areahas attracted numerous literati，who left behind works of literature and poetry to describe the river landscape.The town’s idealized fusion between humans and nature can be savored in more than 3，000 poems，many of which are still widely read today.Tonglu’s famed Sixteen-Dish Banquet，dubbed the Jiangnan version of the Manchu Han Imperial Feast，is a vivid illustration of the warm hospitality for which its people are so renowned.

A warded dozens of accolades from the provincial and state authorities and well-known as one of China’s”Most Beautiful Counties”，Tonglu is a great place to unwind for the weekend.Natural riches can be found at virtually every turn.One of the county’s main attractions is surely Yaolin Fairyland，a limestone cave composed of seven sections all connected to extend one kilometer into the earth.Other notable points-of-interest include the lush Daqi Mountain National Forest Park and the Yan Ziling Fishing Platform.

Another place that you really ought to try and see while you are in this neck of the woods is the Qiandao Lake，a place that is so beautiful it makes even the mostunsentimental of locals go all misty-eyed when mentioned.With numerous picturesque islets，stunning countryside，and unique flora and fauna，Chun’an，as it’s known，is truly a sight to behold，and you can easily spend a whole weekend there if you wish tofully immerse yourself in the area’s mystical charms.For a bird’s eye view of the islets you can take a cable car to Meifeng Peak.The water here is reputed to be the best quality in the whole of China and is used for making bottled water.Located in the Central Lake District，Moonlight Scenic Area is the lake’s most famous attraction and comprises five islets connected by three elegant bridges.The area features folk custom displays and highlights Chinese lock culture，stone sculpture traditions，and showcases the area’s inherent beauty with aplomb.For bird-lovers，the aptly named Bird Islet has over 6，000 birds representing 50 species，including wading birds，waterfowl，and birds of prey.

Officially part of Greater Hangzhou and situated just 50 minutes from the city’s core.Lin’an boasts a lush landscape that is around 75 percent forest.While the city itself is nothing to write home about，it’s the nearby Tianmu Mountain that serves as the area s calling card，along with the outlying lakes and forests.The mountain is home to many great scenic spots，gigantic golden cypress trees，and much more that makes it a good option for a bucolic day out in the great outdoors.The ancient water-town of Heqiao is also worth a visit while in the county，as are the banks of Qingshan Lake.

After，you can enjoy a nice big lunch or dinner at Babaili，which is a neat，modern reconstruction of an ancient street lined with old buildings relocated from Hangzhou and from further afield places like Anhui and Jiangsu provinces.In terms of its cuisine，Lin’an is known for its fried bamboo shoots and dishes that features the use of fresh bamboo shoots.Mountain walnuts and chicken-blood stones are also local specialties.

The Daming Mountain of Lin’an

Longmen Anclernt Towe

Worthy of at least an afternoon of your time whilst in this neck of the woods-and located just 35 kilometers from downtown Hangzhou-is a trip to Fuyang，and particularly to Longmen Ancient Town，which is a perfectly constructed Ming Dynasty town that has a history dating back more than 1，000 years.The native home of Sun Quan（Three Kingdoms Period ruler），about 65 generations of the Sun family have called Longmen home over the years.Thankfully，the place is relatively free from the usualhordes of stampeding tourists and boasts an amazing labyrinth of intact，ancient buildings and uniquely-contracted Ming and Qing dynasty style.Hua Bao Zhai（meanwhile，is an interesting enterprise that highlights Fuyang’s fine hand-made paper tradition，witha display of the entire process of paper-making，printing，binding，publication，and distribution.In fact，paper made in Fuyang is regarded as a novelty，known for its glossy and worm-proof texture as well as its pure，white color.

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