Qinghefang Street is one of the top places to visit in Hangzhou. This bustling street dates back as early as the 1100s, when Hangzhou was the capital of China. It retains something of its ancient character, with period buildings housing stores selling Chinese heritage brands, street food and more.

Surrounded by cloud-capped hills on three sides and the city on the fourth, Hangzhou’s West Lake is considered one of the most beautiful sights in China. Leave plenty of time to take in the pagodas, temples and ornamental bridges dotted around this Hangzhou attraction – and for a relaxed adventure, hop on a lake cruise which takes in the major sites. Afterwards, scale the steps up to the slender Baochu Pagoda for commanding views of the lake.

One of the top things to do in Hangzhou is to explore the tea plantations nestled in the hills surrounding the West Lake. Here the aromatic Longjing, or Dragon Well, tea is grown, picked and roasted. Stroll through the villages to taste the tea right at its source, and then branch off to explore the many secluded hiking trails, caves and springs hidden away in the expanse of green hills. It’s the perfect antidote to Hangzhou’s bustling streets.

Delicate flavours and skilled cooking are the hallmarks of the food of Zhejiang province. Some must-try dishes in Hangzhou include West Lake fish, topped with a sweet, tart sauce; shrimps stir-fried with fragrant Longjing tea; rich Dongpo pork, and beggar's chicken, wrapped in lotus leaves and slow-cooked in clay. At the venerable Lou Wai Lou restaurant, you’ll be served these classic Hangzhou dishes alongside a beautiful view of the West Lake.

This ancient canal is the longest, oldest manmade waterway in the world. Measuring an astonishing 1,794km, it runs north from Hangzhou to the suburbs of Beijing, 35km west of Tianamen Square. You don’t have to go the whole way, but a tour on this Unesco-listed waterway offers the chance to take in plentiful Hangzhou points of interest while enjoying a lazy ride down the river.

At the heart of the lush, green Lingyin Scenic Area sits the 1,700-year-old Lingyin Temple, one of the largest and richest Buddhist temples in the country. Outside are the grottoes of Feilai Feng, with more than 300 Buddha statues carved into the rock. Make time also to explore the smaller, quieter Yongfu Monastery – and if you’re feeling energetic, scale the steps to the North Peak for fantastic views of Hangzhou, before getting the cable car down.

Dubbed the ‘House of Silk’, Hangzhou was a key hub on the ancient Silk Road trade route for thousands of years. The city’s silk is prized for its soft, fine texture, glossy appearance and vibrant floral designs. Learn more about its history at the China National Silk Museum, and then shop for your very own at the stalls of the Silk Town market street.

Hangzhou is lauded for its ancient beauty, but this tech hub is also home to newer wonders. In the new CBD of Qianjiang New City, standout buildings include the twisting twin towers of Raffles City and the greenery-bedecked walkway of the Hangzhou Urban Balcony. Further south in Yunqi lies the Cloud Town convention centre, whose 66,000 square metres of floor space are sunk into the ground, leaving a roof made up of gently swelling lawns and public areas.

Just a 90-minute rail journey from Hangzhou, the Huangshan mountain range is one of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders, with a beauty that’s long inspired Chinese ink painters. A trip up into the heavens will immerse you in mystical vistas, with seas of clouds broken through by rugged granite peaks. After you descend back to earth, soothe those aches with a soak in the steaming hot springs at the base of the mountain.

Hangzhou is surrounded by charming water towns that are perfect for a day trip. Perhaps China’s most beautiful heritage town is Wuzhen, whose quiet canals and waterways are spanned by arched stone bridges. Another ancient village worth visiting is Hongcun, a filming location for movies including Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.