Day 6: A Beautiful Morning at Qiandao Lake and Our Journey to Wuzhen

Qiandaohu - After a miserable breakfast at our hotel; which the hotel did not replenish the breakfast dishes, we decided to spend the morning exploring the lakeside before beginning our next journey to Wuzhen. The weather could not have been more perfect. The skies were clear and sunny, and the bright blue waters of the lake sparkled beautifully under the morning sunlight.

Qiandao Lake, also known as Thousand Island Lake, is famous for its crystal-clear waters and lush green islands scattered across the reservoir. In the peaceful morning atmosphere, the lake looked calm and almost magical. Gentle breezes drifted across the water while the distant mountains created a stunning backdrop that made the scenery feel like a traditional Chinese landscape painting.

As we slowly walked along the lakeside promenade, we came across a charming coffee house overlooking the lake. The cafe had thoughtfully arranged its outdoor chairs and tables under a large tent facing directly toward the water. The setup was simple but perfect — allowing customers to relax comfortably while enjoying the magnificent scenery.

Naturally, we decided to stop for coffee.

Sitting there quietly with a cup of coffee while gazing out across the sparkling lake was one of the most peaceful moments of our trip. There was no rush, no noise, and no stress — just the gentle sounds of nature and the relaxing view of the water stretching endlessly before us.

Sometimes travelling is not only about sightseeing or visiting famous attractions. Sometimes the best moments come from simply sitting still and appreciating the beauty around you.

As we prepared to leave the coffee house, we encountered another unexpectedly heartwarming moment. A beautiful friendly dog slowly approached me. When I gently stroked the dog, it immediately rolled onto its back happily, almost paralysed with enjoyment under every stroke. The dog looked completely relaxed and trusting, enjoying every moment of attention.

That simple interaction brought smiles to our faces and made the morning even more memorable.

After leaving the coffee house, we continued our walk around the lake area. Across the road, we suddenly noticed groups of hikers descending from a nearby mountain trail. Curious and feeling adventurous, we crossed the road and decided to attempt the climb ourselves.

The trail started gently but gradually became steeper as we climbed higher into the forested hillside. Along the way, we were rewarded with occasional glimpses of the lake below through gaps in the trees. The fresh mountain air and peaceful surroundings made the hike enjoyable despite the increasing effort.

After climbing for about thirty minutes, we encountered several hikers coming down from further ahead. When we asked how much further it was to the peak, they informed us that it would take another two hours to reach the summit.

After a brief discussion, we decided it was wiser to turn back rather than continue the long climb, especially since we still had an afternoon journey ahead of us. We slowly descended the trail and returned to our hotel to wash up, rest briefly, and check out.

Our next destination was the ancient water town of Wuzhen.

First, we took a Didi taxi from our hotel to Qiandao Lake Railway Station. From there, we purchased first-class tickets on China’s impressive High-Speed Rail system back to Hangzhou. The train journey took approximately one and a half hours, travelling at speeds reaching an incredible 240 kilometres per hour.

The ride itself was smooth, quiet, and extremely comfortable. Looking out the window, we watched the scenery transition rapidly from lakes and mountains to towns, fields, and city landscapes.

Once we arrived in Hangzhou, I used my Alipay app to book another Didi taxi to Wuzhen. However, shortly after we sat inside the taxi, the driver informed us that we would need to pay extra for his return trip back to Hangzhou because there would likely be no passengers for the return journey.

Initially, we suspected it might be a scam.

Fortunately, Edmund negotiated firmly and managed to bargain the additional charge down to RMB120. Later, after checking online and confirming with our hotel front desk, we discovered that this arrangement was actually fairly common for longer-distance rides to destinations with limited return passengers.

Eventually, we arrived safely in Wuzhen and checked into our hotel.

After settling in, we immediately went out to explore the ancient town. For lunch, we found a crab noodle restaurant and enjoyed a delicious local meal. The noodles were rich and flavourful, with fresh crab adding a wonderful seafood sweetness to the broth.

After lunch, we tried some traditional Wuzhen desserts including mochi and pumpkin dessert soup. Both were comforting and mildly sweet, perfect after the savoury crab noodles.

We then spent the afternoon wandering through the beautiful ancient town. Wuzhen is famous for its canals, stone bridges, traditional buildings, and narrow alleyways. 

Walking through the town felt like stepping back in time. The waterways reflected the old wooden houses and lanterns beautifully, creating an atmosphere full of charm and history.

By evening, we found a reasonably priced restaurant offering three dishes and a soup for only RMB98. The meal was hearty, delicious, and satisfying after a long day of travelling and walking.

Just when we thought the evening was ending, Edmund suddenly decided he needed durian.

We stopped at a fruit stall selling Vietnamese durians for RMB95. Surprisingly, the durians were excellent — creamy, rich, and wonderfully sweet. Completely satisfied, we continued walking down the street when we encountered another durian stall selling Thai durians for RMB92.

Naturally, we had to compare.

Although the Thai durians were good, they simply could not match the flavour and quality of the first Vietnamese batch we had eaten earlier.

After a long but deeply enjoyable day filled with lakeside scenery, hiking, train rides, ancient canals, delicious food, and even late-night durians, we finally returned to our hotel feeling tired but extremely satisfied.

It had been a perfect day of travel, discovery, and unforgettable experiences in China.

An Enjoyable Evening Boat Cruise on Qiandao Lake

Qiandaohu -  One of the highlights of my stay at Qiandao Lake was joining an evening boat cruise around the beautiful Thousand Island Lake. The cruise began at 6.30pm sharp and ended back at the same pier at 8pm, offering a relaxing combination of sightseeing, dinner, entertainment, and a stunning island light show.

As sunset approached, we made our way to the pier where the large three-level Chinese-style cruise boat was waiting. The boat itself looked elegant and traditional, brightly lit against the evening sky and calm lake waters. There was a sense of excitement among the passengers as everyone slowly boarded and settled into their assigned sections.

Our ticket package allowed us access to the first level of the boat, which included a buffet dinner and drinks. While the upper levels appeared to offer more premium seating and viewing areas, we were perfectly happy with our arrangement as the atmosphere downstairs was already lively and comfortable.

What impressed me immediately was the punctuality of the operation. At exactly 6.30pm, the boat departed from the pier smoothly and quietly, gliding out into the calm waters of the lake. As soon as we left the dock, the boat crew immediately began preparing dinner for the guests.

The dining area was clean and spacious, and before long the buffet dishes were carefully laid out and ready to be served. Once everything was prepared, the staff invited passengers to form a queue for dinner.

Most people queued patiently, but as with many buffet settings, there were a few unruly diners who attempted to cut the line. On more than one occasion, I had to firmly tell two individuals not to jump the queue. Honestly, there were not even that many diners onboard, so there was really no need for such rushing behaviour. Thankfully, the situation never escalated and most guests remained polite and orderly.

Once we finally collected our food, the buffet turned out to be surprisingly decent. There was a good variety of dishes available including vegetables, prawns, fish soup, chicken, bao, fruits, and desserts. The food was simple but satisfying, especially while enjoying the cool evening breeze from the lake outside.

The fish soup was particularly enjoyable and reminded us again of Qiandao Lake’s reputation for fresh freshwater fish. Combined with the relaxing boat atmosphere, the meal felt comforting and enjoyable rather than overly luxurious or formal.

As dinner continued, entertainment began onboard. First, a violinist performed several pieces while passengers relaxed and enjoyed the scenic cruise. The music added a peaceful and elegant atmosphere to the evening as the boat moved slowly across the darkening lake waters.

Later, a singer took over the entertainment segment and performed a selection of lively songs. To encourage audience participation, the boat operators distributed handheld clappers to the passengers. Soon many of us were clapping along to the rhythm of the music, creating a cheerful and festive atmosphere onboard.

The entertainment eventually paused as the boat approached one of the main attractions of the cruise — Moonlight Island.

From a distance, the island already looked impressive with colourful lights illuminating the buildings, pathways, and surrounding scenery. As we got closer, the entire island seemed to glow beautifully against the darkness of the lake.

After disembarking, we spent around thirty minutes exploring the island. The light displays were vibrant and visually stunning, combining traditional Chinese design elements with modern lighting technology. 

Walking around the illuminated island at night created a magical atmosphere. The reflections of the colourful lights dancing across the lake water made the scenery even more memorable.

Some areas also featured interactive installations where visitors could participate in small activities and photo opportunities.

After everyone had finished exploring, passengers slowly returned to the boat and we began the final leg of the journey back to the pier. The return ride was calm and relaxing, with many passengers quietly enjoying the night scenery or chatting softly among themselves.

Right on schedule, the boat arrived back at the pier at 8pm.

Although the cruise lasted only about one and a half hours, it felt like a complete evening experience filled with good food, entertainment, scenic beauty, and memorable moments. From the buffet dinner and onboard performances to the stunning Moonlight Island light show, the entire journey was both relaxing and enjoyable.

I enjoyed Qiandao Lake night boat cruise very much, this evening cruise is definitely a true highlight of my china trip. It offers not only beautiful night views of the lake but also a fun and uniquely Chinese cultural atmosphere that makes the evening truly memorable.

Day 5: A Scenic Journey to Qiandao Lake – China’s Beautiful Thousand Island Lake

 Qiandaohu - During our trip in Zhejiang Province, one of the destinations I was most looking forward to visiting was Qiandao Lake, also famously known as Thousand Island Lake. Located in Chun’an County, this stunning man-made freshwater reservoir is renowned throughout China for its crystal-clear waters, scenic islands, fresh seafood, and peaceful natural beauty.

Qiandao Lake was formed in 1959 after the construction of the Xin’an River Hydropower Station. Today, the reservoir contains an astonishing 1,078 lush green islands scattered across the lake, creating one of the most picturesque landscapes in China. Surrounded by rolling hills and forests, the lake has become a popular destination for scenic cruises, cycling, photography, and relaxing getaways away from busy city life.

Before even arriving at Qiandao Lake, we encountered something interesting while arranging transportation. Initially, I checked the ride fare using Didi, China’s popular ride-hailing app, and the quoted price for a direct journey from our Hangzhou hotel to our hotel at Qiandao Lake was nearly RMB500.

Wanting to explore cheaper alternatives, we approached the front desk staff at our hotel for assistance. The front desk was extremely helpful and contacted a local tour desk on our behalf. Surprisingly, the tour desk quoted us an even higher price of around RMB750 for the same journey.

Fortunately, the receptionist managed to help us find a private driver who agreed to take us directly from hotel to hotel for only RMB200. We immediately accepted the deal as it was far cheaper and much more convenient than the other options.

Interestingly, we also realised that there often seems to be a “foreign price” and a “local price” in certain parts of China, especially for transportation and tourism-related services. Prices can vary significantly depending on who is asking and how bookings are arranged. Thankfully, having helpful local staff made a huge difference for us.

Another option would have been taking the High-Speed Rail (HSR), but after calculating the additional taxi rides required to and from the railway stations, the total cost would have ended up around RMB200 anyway. In the end, the direct car transfer was clearly the most comfortable and convenient solution.

The journey itself was pleasant and smooth. About one hour into the drive, we stopped at a rest stop that completely surprised us. Unlike ordinary highway rest areas, this one looked modern and luxurious, almost like a shopping mall.

The most impressive feature was a huge aquarium built around the central elevator structure. Colourful fish swam around the transparent tank surrounding the lift, creating a unique and eye-catching design. Inside the building were shops, restaurants, cafes, and resting areas that made the stop feel more like a mini lifestyle mall than a roadside service station.

After continuing our drive through scenic mountain roads and countryside landscapes, we finally arrived at Qiandao Lake and checked into our hotel. The air immediately felt fresher and cleaner compared to the city, and the calm atmosphere around the lake was incredibly relaxing.

Naturally, one of the first things we wanted to do after checking in was try the local cuisine. We walked to a nearby restaurant for lunch, determined to sample the lake’s most famous specialty — the legendary Qiandao Lake Fish Head Soup.

This dish is considered the defining culinary treasure of Qiandao Lake. The soup is made using the lake’s famous “big head carp,” a freshwater fish known for its tender meat and rich flavour due to the exceptionally clean water conditions of the lake.

When the dish arrived, the serving was enormous. The fish head itself was massive, simmered in a spicy  and oily broth together with tons of chilli on top. The fish tasted incredibly fresh and tasty but spicy. 

We also had stir fried eggs with green peppers.  

Another stir fried vegetable dish with toufu. Alongside the meal, we also tried the local Qiandao Lake Beer. The beer paired wonderfully with the fish dishes and added to the authentic local dining experience.  Cheerday is the Qiandaohu beer brand company. 

As we enjoyed lunch overlooking the peaceful surroundings, I realised that the journey to Qiandao Lake had already become memorable even before exploring the islands themselves.