The most comfortable route I've walked in Hangzhou includes streams, waterfalls, and a small forest

I've been to Hangzhou many times before, always squeezing through crowds at the West Lake and Lingyin Temple, until this year's trip around Hangzhou revealed the right way to experience the city, which is actually by hiking! There are many hiking trails around West Lake, and I found a less crowded, scenic route— '📍Jiuxi → Jiuxi Yanshu → Longjing Village' Along the way, there are various streams, stone bridges, and ancient trees, and you can even see aunties picking tea leaves, making it an extremely healing green 🍃 experience. The beauty of Jiuxi Shiba Jian is considered a highlight of the entire West Lake area. 🚶 Hiking Guide 1️⃣ Route: Start at 'Jiuxi Bus Station', pass through Jiuxi Yanshu, and end at Longjing Village. The whole journey is about 4-5 kilometers, and it takes 2.5-3.5 hours to walk, mostly on flat ground, so it's quite easy. 2️⃣ Transportation: You can take a taxi or bus to the starting and ending points. If you get tired halfway, there are shared bicycles available 🚲 3️⃣ Gear: Just wear a light windbreaker and sports shoes, and remember to bring water and a walking stick. 📷 Photo Tips ▫️ Near 'Chen Bulei's Tomb' on Jiuxi Road, there's a stream that looks just like a scene from The Wizard of Oz, perfect for photography, so be sure to take pictures! ▫️ The Jiuxi Yanshu in the middle of the lake is also beautiful this season, with stunning red maples 🍁 ▫️ Next to Jiuxi Yanshu, there's a waterfall where you can stand underneath to take amazing photos. After walking this route, I felt completely healed by the greenery, and the next time I come to Hangzhou, I want to walk it again