Hitting the Trails

Hangzhou’s southwestern mountains are a treasure for those who enjoy solitary，meditative day hikes.You can explore lonely woods，monasteries，and tea terraces，your only company the wind and the sky.The meditative state you find lacking in a hustling monastery can be easily found in these idyllic walks.Though，keep in mind，some are not for beginners.The height of most of the mountains ranges between 200 to 300 meters，so you are unlikely to suffer an arduous，steep climb for longer than an hour.Pretend to be a roaming hermit for half a day；when you can’t ignore your hunger any more，you can safely return to the urban crowd by heading downhill again.

The mountains are at their best after a rainy day.The damp forests display a particularly saturated green and smell sweeter，and you keep going in and out of waftingmists as you climb higher.However，the paths do not have protective measures in place，so do watch out for the slippery moss on the stone pavements and wear outdoor shoes.You should also bring some food and water.

This route takes about five hours，and presents you with the large variety of landscapes that Hangzhou has to offer.The part from the Bamboo-lined Path at Yunqi to Zhenji Temple is a 50-minute constant climb，but once it’s over，you can finish the rest at a leisurely pace.

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