[2025 Hangzhou ] Travel Guide for Hongyuan (Updated Feb)

🎊 Lanterns of Ao fish and boxes 🏮 Thousands of lanterns light up the New Year. Come to Xixi Wetland to celebrate the New Year! Route👉 "Xixi Wetland North" Station ➡️ Xixi Wetland North Gate ➡️ Fudi ➡️ Jiangcun Market ➡️ Ludi ➡️ Hezhu Street ➡️ Sightseeing Ball ➡️ Shi Nai'an Former Residence [Hangzhou Xixi Water Margin Culture Exhibition Hall] ➡️ Boardwalk ➡️ Xixi Wetland North Gate. 🚇 Metro Line 3 1️⃣ Huawu Station - Accessible to the Gaoshuang Pedestrian Entrance on Tianmushan Road 2️⃣ Xixi Wetland South Station - Accessible to the Zhoujiacun Entrance on Tianmushan Road 3️⃣ Hongyuan Station - Accessible to the Longshezui Entrance 🚇 Metro Line 19 1️⃣ Xixi Wetland North Station - Accessible to the North Gate Entrance on Wener West Road 🚌 Bus 1️⃣ Route 376: Xixi Wetland Zhoujiacun Station (Tianmushan Road) 2️⃣ Route 376: Huawu Station - Accessible to the Gaoshuang Entrance on Tianmushan Road 3️⃣ Routes 83 and 86: Xixi Wetland North Gate Station (Wener West Road) 4️⃣ Routes 596 and 381: Xixi Paradise Station - Accessible to the Xixi Paradise Entrance 5️⃣ Route 83: Xixi Wetland East Gate Station 🏮 Thousands of lanterns light up the New Year and plum blossoms fill Xixi 🏮 1️⃣ Brilliant lantern festival lights up the New Year night sky 📅 Lantern Festival: Jan 24–Jun ⏳️ Lighting Time: 17:00–23:30 🌍 Location: Xixi Wetland North Gate, Jiangcun Slow Life Block, Hangzhou Xixi Water Margin Culture Exhibition Hall Area, Hezhu Street Area 2️⃣ "Night Fish Dance" Intangible Cultural Heritage Ao Fish Lantern Parade 📅 Time: Jan 29–Feb 3, Feb 12, 17:00, 19:00 🌍 Location: Jiangcun Slow Life Block, Hezhu Street 3️⃣ "Lantern Bloom" Intangible Cultural Heritage Box Lantern 📅 Performance Time: Jan 29–Feb 3, Feb 12, 20:00 🌍 Location: Hezhu Tower Square 4️⃣ "Dragon Dance for Spring" Intangible Cultural Heritage Dragon Dance Performance 📅 Time: Jan 29 🌍 Location: Zhoujiacun 9:18, Guojiawan 14:00, Hezhu Street 16:00 📅 Feb 12 🌍 Location: Zhoujiacun 12:00, Guojiawan 14:00, Hezhu Street 16:00 5️⃣ Welcome the God of Wealth 📅 Time: Feb 2 🌍 Location: Guojiawan 12:00, Zhoujiacun 15:00, Hezhu Street - Slow Life Block 18:00, 20:00 6️⃣ Water Margin Lantern Festival 📅 Time: Feb 12 🌍 Location: Hangzhou Xixi Water Margin Culture Exhibition Hall 7️⃣ Light Drama Zodiac Exclusive "Xuanlong" 📅 Time: Jan 30–Feb 2 10:00–11:00, 14:00–15:00 🌍 Location: Yanshui Yuzhuang Boardwalk 8️⃣ "Plum Blossom Dance" Bow Dance 📅 Time: Jan 29–31 10:00–11:30, 13:00–14:30 🌍 Location: Yanshui Yuzhuang River and Boardwalk 9️⃣ Flower God Immersive Interaction 📅 Time: Mar 15–16, Mar 22–23 10:00–11:30, 14:00–16:00 🌍 Location: Yanshui Yuzhuang Boardwalk

Guanyin Temple in Hongyuan was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is said to be the place where Emperor Gaozong drank tea and rested. In the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, Hong Zhong rebuilt it into a family temple for his wife, Zhou, to practice Buddhism. Later, it gradually became the Guanyin Temple for the villagers of Xixi to pray for children and grandchildren. Because of its effectiveness, the incense became more and more prosperous. Today's Guanyin Temple is rebuilt from Guanyin Temple, which is a quiet place for practicing Buddhism.

Hongfu was built by Hong Zhong, a minister of the Ming dynasty, when he retired to Xixi. The garden is spacious and atmospheric, with hibiscus fences, thatched cottages, small bridges, flowing water, and lush flowers and trees. It is home to the Hong Sheng Memorial Hall, Luoyin Study, Library, and Qingping Mountain Hall, reflecting the reclusive culture of Xixi Wetland.

Hangzhou🌟Highlights: A performance that caught the eye, just so happens the price is great right now, a double ticket at 8:30 for 198, what more do you need a bicycle for, arrange it right away. 👍Most recommended: ✅The plot is standard, the stage is made very atmospheric and beautiful, making full use of the water's mirror effect to create a real yet illusory atmosphere. ✅The actors perform professionally and dedicatedly. In the last scene, they dance in the water in an orderly manner👍All the actors, dozens in number, can truly be called a large-scale performance. 🚉Travel Tips: This is a bit of a downside for independent travelers, it's a bit inconvenient. You can only take the subway to Hongyuan, then take a taxi to the entrance of Jinxi Gongxi Xixi. It's hard to get a taxi on the return trip. There is no direct public transportation. 🎀Tips for watching the play: The performance is divided into four acts, starting at 8:40. After entering the main gate, walk through a commercial street, past the stage, take your ticket on the left, enter a small door on the right, and cross the bridge to get there. 1⃣First Act: Rapeseed Flower Field There are no seats here, it is recommended to walk a bit further in, the first half mainly dances in the middle, the second half inside. The transition also goes from here to the waterside stage behind. 2⃣Second Act: Water Town It is recommended to sit on the right side facing the stage, opposite the bridge. The performance is on the bridge, and the visual effect is fantastic. The reflection and lighting are stunning. 3⃣Third Act: Hong Mansion Sit towards the middle, the performance is at the entrance of Hong Mansion. 4⃣Fourth Act: Lotus Pond and Reunion Bridge. This place is a large performance venue, the most comfortable with backrest chairs. The middle of the front row is the best. First, the lotus fairies dance gracefully, then the entire performance venue rotates 180℃, the finale's stage beauty is simply too amazing, the actors come in the water, like Lingbo Weibu. The beautiful reflection adds a lot to the entire performance.👍👍👍

Since the eve of the Spring Festival, I have been paying attention to the plum blossoms in Hangzhou, from the initial buds to the later falling flowers like snow. The plum blossoms, with their pure and lofty spirit, awaken the spring days of the south of the Yangtze River. After several cold snaps with snow and freezing rain, the transition from winter to spring in Hangzhou was somewhat abrupt. At the end of February, I visited Xixi Hongyuan, where, it was said, a few plum trees were still in full bloom. Indeed, upon entering from the ticket-checking area, several plum trees were still crowded on the branches, but they seemed to be drooping, lacking vitality, except for one by the entrance of Qingping Mountain Hall, which still looked particularly charming against the backdrop of the grey tile walls, but I guess it will also shed its flowers in the next few days. The current state of Xixi Wetland is still a bit withered, still the thin and desolate scene of winter days. The lanterns at night add a lot of romantic atmosphere, but as someone who is just passing through, I cannot wait for the night to come. With the plum blossoms' curtain call, when the wind rises again, spring will not be far away. My heart grieves for the plum blossoms I have not met; to see even one branch is to have enough for the year. This year's plum blossoms are enough to console the emotions of those yearning for spring. Directions: Wujia Bay Parking Lot