Hangzhou Small Crowd Secret Land | Avoid the crowds, these 5 treasures hide the soul of the south of the Yangtze River outside the West Lake

|Avoid the crowds, these 5 treasures hide the soul of the south of the Yangtze River outside the West Lake. The smoke trees of Jiuxi in the early morning are still shrouded in thin mist. Tea farmers carry bamboo baskets across the stone bridge, and the stream overflows the moss stone steps and wets the corners of their skirts. This is my third visit to Hangzhou. I finally avoided the crowds on the broken bridge and touched the true breathing context of this city deep in the tea mountains and at the end of the ancient village. Share 5 niche destinations that only locals know, to help you unlock the B-side poetry of Hangzhou. 1. Maojiabu Wild Trail: The "Wild Fairy Trail" in the private collection of West Lake Turn from Yanggong Embankment to Longjing Branch Road, and the hustle and bustle dissipates instantly. There are wooden canyons hidden among the dark-colored metasequoia forests, and white herons skim the water to create a ripple. After walking along the lake for half an hour, you will meet the Dai-Se towering teahouse, sit under a century-old camphor tree, drink a cup of osmanthus and nine-curved red plum, and watch the rocking boat slowly cross the stone arch bridge of the Song Dynasty. This is what West Lake should be like. Tips: 6-8 am often in the morning photography enthusiasts squatted "drunk white building" morning fog 2. Longwu Tea Town: Live in the same tea mountain as "Yu Hua Lu" Ten thousand acres of tea fields, a 40-minute drive from the city, hide a more pristine tea picking experience than Longjing Village. In April, I followed the tea farmer Sister Wang to pick Ming Qian tea, and my fingertips were covered with the fragrance of tender buds. It is recommended to stay at the "July Leave White" B&B, outside the 270° floor-to-ceiling window is the wavy tea field, at night with Tiger Run spring water to make tea, under the starry sky covered with tea trees rustling. Secret Land Coordinates: Navigate the “Hejia Village Tea Mountain” and walk along the Rainbow Trail to the summit observation deck 3. New Coordinates of Kowayama: A Renaissance of Abandoned Cement Plants The “cement factory study” halfway up the hill has been transformed from an old factory, with mottled concrete walls and warm yellow lighting clashing to create an industrial aesthetic. The top terrace overlooks the entire city of Hangzhou, order a glass of special "Autumn Xia Garden" (Longjing + Osmanthus wine), flip over "West Lake Dream Search" and other pink and purple evening glow. When I go down the mountain, I remember to try a bowl of Piano Chuan made by Mr. Cheung. The lard is so fragrant that I want to cry. 4. The Secret Land of Bath Crane Bay: The folds of space and time on the ancient road of the Southern Song Dynasty Walking west for 10 minutes in Prince Edward Bay, I suddenly fell into a long ink scroll written by Wu Guanzhong. The rainbow bridge is like a flying rainbow, reflected on the glass-textured lake. In late autumn, the century-old maple trees beside the corridor and bridge are so red that they are breathtakingly red. The girls in Hanfu taking pictures startling the night herons in the reeds. It is recommended to bring a copy of "Old Martial Arts" and sit in the "Zijiu Grass Hall" to read the anecdotes of the Southern Song royal family's spring outings. 5. Buns Hill Community: Fireworks under the roots of the Imperial City Stepping on the bluestone road at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, you meet the old wall door of drying sauced ducks at the corner. Grandma makes pickles by the well, and the air is filled with the fragrance of oil winter vegetables. A bowl of cat ears in the community canteen for $5, paired with Wushan roast chicken, can give you the taste of the market in "Blooming Flowers". Don't miss the "Seahorse Department Store" grocery store, which contains old photos of West Lake from 1988 in Showa-style glass cabinets. Practical Information Pack Access: Metro Line 4 Shuichengqiao Station + shared bicycle best Accommodation Recommendation: Bed and Breakfast Group around Fayun Anju (200+ per person enjoy mountain living) Pit Avoidance Guide: Nine Creeks and Eighteen Rivers It is recommended to tour in reverse from the Nine Creeks Smoke Tree to avoid tours Private location: Glass Room in Changqiao Creek Water Ecological Park (beautiful on rainy days) When the setting sun dyed Leifeng Pagoda honey, I sat on a bench on the back slope of Lonely Mountain and watched the local grandfather swim in the West Lake. Only then did I realize that the beauty of Hangzhou is not in the checkpoint, but in the moment when the mist of tea mountains overflows my fingertips, in the fragrance of rice and vegetables wafting from the century-old wall door. Next corner, maybe we will meet in an unnamed alley and share a slow time that belongs to Jiangnan.