The West Lake scenic area contains more than 60 cultural relic sites and a wealth of natural beauty, all of which can be best experienced by a cruise on the lake.

Hangzhou is an essential destination for any visitor to China. Here we will introduce 10 top-rated places for nighttime leisure in Hangzhou. After viewing the beautiful city at night, one will love it even more.

West Lake

When night falls, the West Lake sits quietly and calmly among shimmering lights. After dinner at North Mountain Road, one can have a wonderful experience strolling leisurely on the Bai Causeway and the Su Causeway.

Fans of literature and art can walk on South Mountain Road, where one can visit the bars, have a drink and listen to the beautiful music. Another option is a teahouse, where one can drink a cup of tea while enjoying the beautiful nighttime scenery on West Lake.

On Hubin Road, which connects the lake to the city, one can enjoy a great many clothing stores as well as art shows and fashion shows. For visitors, it will feel like watching a live fashion show and getting a firsthand look at all the fashion of the season.

Wulin Square

Wulin Square is an irreplaceable business area in Hangzhou. Hangzhou mansion, Hangzhou opera house, Hangzhou department store and Hangzhou Yintai together make for a flourishing and prosperous central garden square.

Near Wulin Square is the West Lake Cultural Square, where one can find theaters, shopping centers and supermarkets.

There, time passes by quickly.

In the northern section of Yan'an Road are large department stores, such as Longxiang and Mingzhu, while in the south are boutiques selling fashionable clothes or sportswear, such as Nike and Adidas.

Bai jing fang xiang and Jesus Avenue are two places one can buy snacks to refresh oneself while shopping on the street.

Qinghefang

As the only remaining street in the style of the ancients that is currently intact, Qinghefang is the epitome of the long and ancient history of Hangzhou. Here, many old and famous shops and stores exist. Strolling on Hefang Street, one can see the ancient street of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and have top-rated tea at the teahouse or the restaurant.

Walking in Wushan Square, one can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but also experience history and culture. While on the Royal Street of the southern Song Dynasty (AD 420-479), visitors can enjoy the "prosperity of southern Song Dynasty" and taste the various delicious foods there.

The ancient canal

Here one can find a great many lanes, avenues and historical buildings in Qing and Ming style along the canal. Walking along the canal, tourists can imagine the life here in the past. On the street west of the Gongchen bridge are several famous national drug stores and on the street, one can see several national museums of science and industry.

And on the eastern side of the bridge sits the museum of the Grand Canal. Walking on this street, one can smell the aroma of traditional Chinese medicine and enjoy the scene of the Grand Canal from a bar.

Qianjiang New Town

The Qianjiang New Town features a complex of buildings of various architectural styles. When the evening lights are lit, the grand and magnificent lights instill in tourists the surging energy of the metropolis.

The City Terrace is also a good place to go. People can enjoy the breeze and listen to the rising and falling tides. The shops and stores on the City Terrace are must-see attractions due to the terrace's special flavor. Tourists can chat freely with friends at the open-air coffee house while enjoying the amazing night scenery.

Or big fans of shopping can browse the stores at the biggest shopping mall of Hangzhou - Hangzhou Wan Xiang Cheng. At night there are a lot of sales there.

Qingchun Square

Qingchun Square, located on the eastern side of the city, is also a must-see attraction. Tourists can have a nice dinner at the popular Green Tea Restaurant, have a cup of coffee at Starbucks or have Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream and then watch a film at Lumiere. A person can spend a whole day having fun in the square. Knickknacks sold at the Taipingmenzhijie are very interesting. There is also a row of restaurants offering delicious food on Shuangling Road.

Xicheng Square

There are endless varieties of delicious food, clothing stores and vendor's stands at Cuiyuan and Xicheng Square. The Jingzhoulu food court is quite lively at night. Tourists can also visit the boutiques along Wen'er Street or the flower and bird market on the western side of the city.

Wulin Road

For the female natives of Hangzhou, Wulin Road is a favorite place to find the latest fashions. There, tourists can find fine clothes of various styles. At the western end of Qingchun Road, near the West Lake Trade Center, people can find a lot of bars with unique features, KTVs and stores offering delicious food.

Yellow Dragon Sports Center

The Yellow Dragon Sports Center is a landmark representing the nightlife in Hangzhou. Here is a group of bars and nightclubs. Besides bars and nightclubs, Huanglong boasts first-rate equipment for physical fitness. Gyms, fitness centers, natatorium, health clubs and spas congregate here.

Xixi wetland

At night, Xixi is especially beautiful. When the lights are lit, the scenery at Xixi becomes harmonious, easy and comfortable. Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery at Xixi, one can go to Jiangcun market, which is famous for its slow life. There, people can put the endless work aside and relax themselves, enjoying the slow pace of life there.

Contact the writer at guozhuo@chinadaily.com.cn.