Bars

Shamrock - Hangzhou's Irish Bar. Set in an exquisite turn-of-the-century house on Hefang Jie, Hangzhou's Qing Dynasty Street. Fine selection of beers, wines and spirits. Excellent food in the upstairs restaurant. Live music every night, plus regular fancy dress parties organized by the owner Rowena. Aimed at the higher end customers, prices to match.
70, Zhongshan Zhong Lu
Tel: 0571-87028760

Kana's - owned by Kana, an ex-foreign student, and one of the originators of the local bar scene. Always lively at the weekends, attracting an enthusiastic mix of western and Chinese, the place for a late Saturday night. Top western/Asian food in the upstairs restaurant. Mid-range beer prices and the best cocktails in Hangzhou.
152, Nanshan Lu
Tel: 0571-87063228

Night & Day - a pleasant Chinese bar with western restaurant upstairs and top floor balcony over looking the West Lake. The ground floor bar specialises in Latin Music, live band and dancing after 21:00.
240 Nanshan Lu
Tel: 0571-87770275

Restaurants

WESTERN
Va Bene - opened recently (Nov. 2003) in Hangzhou's new Xihu Tiandi district, part of a chain that owns restaurants in HK and Shanghai. Va Bene provides first-class modern Italian cuisine, and attentive professional service. Three-course meal with wine will cost app. Yn400 p/p.
Xihu Tiandi, 147, Nanshan Lu
Tel: 0571-87026333

FUSION
Xihu Zen - situated in Xihu Tiandi beside the West Lake. This restaurant gives the diner a wide range of Cantonese, Southeast Asian, and Western dishes to choose from. The French windows allow al fresco dining in the spring and autumn. The puddings here are excellent. A filling meal will cost app. Yn100-150 p/p.
House E, Xihu Tiandi, 147, Nanshan Lu
Tel: 0571-87027711

CHINESE
Xi Le (Happiness) Restaurant - a grand restaurant, especially popular for business dinners. Book ahead if you require a private room (bao xiang), if not the main dining area is roomy and comfortable. The seafood here is excellent, and you must try their specialty Ba Bao Ya (roast duck stuffed with luxurious fried rice). The menu is translated, although it is still best to go with a Chinese colleague. Good meal Yn100-120p/p.
Inside the Huang Long Century Plaza, 8, Hangda Lu
Tel: 0571-87901001

Yu Qilin - an attractively designed Chinese restaurant specialising in the local flavours of Hangzhou and Shanghai. No MSG. Foreign-friendly, the menu is accompanied by pictures of the dishes and the majority of the names are translated. Hangzhou specialties to try: West Lake Sour Fish, and Beggar's Chicken. Large meal will cost app. Yn100-130 p/p.
2-7 Dongpo Lu
Tel: 0571-87067777

Arts & Culture

Chinese Medicine Museum
The Hu Qing Yu Tang Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine is situated at the base of Wushan Hill. The building itself is a good example of antique Chinese architecture. The exhibits chart the history and development of Chinese medicine throughout the ages. There are doctors on hang to diagnose and prescribe herbal medicines for any ailments you might have.
Admission: Yn10
95, Dajing LuTel: 0571-87027507

Zhejiang Museum
The museum houses world-famous collections of pottery and lacquer ware, wooden, bone, and ivory objects dating from the Hemudu Culture (5200BC-4500BC), Jade articles and silk fabrics from the Liangzhu Culture, bronze wares from the State of Yue in the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), Celadon from the Yue, Longquan, and Southern Song Dynasty Imperial Kilns (1127-1279AD), as well as calligraphy from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Next door is the West Lake gallery, which holds frequent exhibitions.
Admission Zhejiang Museum - Adult Yn10
West Lake Gallery - Adult Yn8,
Value ticket: Adult Yn15
25 Gushan LuTel0571-87971177 

China Academy of Art
The Academy recently moved into new buildings on Nanshan Lu, beside the West Lake. The students and invited artists frequently hold exhibitions. If you are staying in Hangzhou for a while and wish to try your hand at calligraphy, this is the place to learn in China.
218, Nanshan Lu
Tel: 0571-87164650

411 Art Gallery
Owned and managed by James and his wife Jiale, this petite gallery is the home of the work of young local and foreign artists. The gallery has a new exhibition each month, and works with the Irish Cultural Council to promote the work of Irish and Chinese artists.
62, Zhong He Zhong Lu, next to the Zhong Bao Tower.
Tel: 0571-87801867

"Scenic Spots"

In Hangzhou
West Lake - immortalised in Chinese Culture through the poetry of Su Dongpo (Song Dynasty) and Bai Zhuyi (Tang Dynasty), the West Lake is Hangzhou's primary spectacle. It has recently been extended westwards, to the foot of the adjoining hills. Hire a boat (Yn80/hr - barter hard to get it lower) before sunset and enjoy the dramatic colours reflected in the water as the sun sets behind the western hills.

Lingyin Temple - tucked away in the hills to the west of the Lake Lingyin is Hangzhou's largest and most magnificent temple. Originally constructed in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326AD) the temple was the birthplace of Buddhism in Hangzhou. The temple houses a remarkable collection of wooden Buddhist statues and sculptures.
Bus: K7, Y1, Y2, Y4
Taxi: Yn20

Longjin Tea Village - the green tea produced in this village is famed throughout China for its excellent taste. Early April is the time to taste and purchase the freshly picked tealeaves. The scenery here is wonderful, and a very pleasant afternoon can be spent wandering south to the river between the tea plantations.
Bus: 27
Taxi: Yn25

Outside Hangzhou
Anji Bamboo Forest - stunning bamboo forest scenery in China's only bamboo forestry preserve. The paths through the hills provide fantastic hiking and mountain biking. This area was the setting for the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Getting There: Take a bus from Hangzhou's North Bus Station to Anji (every 20-30mins, between 06:20 - 17:50).
Places to stay: numerous local guesthouses, or the area is close enough to Hangzhou (1 hour) for a day trip.

Yandang Shan - Further afield, but worth the extra time if you can spare it. Yandang Shan is a stunning mountain range in the southeast of Zhejiang Province, recently awarded National Park status. There is abundant accommodation and clear paths to guide you through the scenery.
Getting There: Take a bus from Hangzhou's East Bus Station to Wenzhou. Change there for the local bus to Yandang Shan.
Accommodation: numerous hotels within the park. Stay at the one you reach by nightfall.

Shopping

CDs & DVDs - 1st floor of Hangzhou's Electron Market is the place to purchase CDs, DVDs, computer games, and software. Be aware that they are all copies (very good ones), and that people have had problems leaving China carrying CDs/DVDs bought here.
2, Jiaogong Lu
Tel: 0571-8082580

Cameras & Computers - the EGO Digital Markets, of which there are several, are the best places to buy quality electrical goods. The buildings are large and it is best to have some knowledge of, or have researched exactly what you need; otherwise likely to be ripped off. You can have your computer built on the premises (1 hour), after you have chosen all the requisite components.
Hangzhou EGO Computer Plaza, 345 Wensan Lu, Tel: 0571-88211732
Xixi EGO Digital Plaza, 108, Wensan Lu, Tel: 0571-88217000.

Silk Market - Hangzhou's most famous commodity. The silk market runs for a city block and includes both the raw material and clothing. Best to have a good look before deciding on a garment or fabric. Bargain hard.
Si Chou Shichang, Xi Jiankang Lu

Wulin Lu - branded clothing, made by the factories that export clothes for the foreign markets. Inexpensive and usually of decent quality. Bargain a little.

Night Market - perfect for picking up curios, supposed antiques, paintings, bookends, name chops etc. If in Hangzhou the night market is a must for a couple of hours - a cornucopia of goodies. Bargain hard - ideally get a Chinese friend to bargain for you, with you out of sight!
Hangzhou Yeshi, Junction of Youdian Lu and Huixing Lu