Hangzhou is situated at the head of Hangzhou Bay and the estuary of the Qiantang River. Its architecture and gardens are renowned, and it is situated among hills and valleys in which some of the most famous monasteries in China are located. Thus, the city, with its beautiful scenery and sites of historical interest, is among China’s most popular tourist destinations. Notable are Xi Lake, nestled in hills, and, on a slope northwest of the lake, Lingyin Temple, considered one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China.
The West Lake is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. Situated to the west of Hangzhou's former walled city. In the lake are four causeways, three artificial islands, and the Gushan, the only natural island. Gentle hills surround the lake on its north, west, and south sides, with the Leifeng and Baochu pagodas standing in pairs on the south and north banks. Several famous temples are nestled in the mountains west of the lake, including the temples of Lingyin and Jingci.
Lingyin Temple is a famous temple in the West Lake District of Hangzhou. It is located in the northwest of the West Lake in Hangzhou, in the foothills of Lingyin Mountain between Feilai Peak and Beigao Peak. It is a tourist attraction with a long history and pleasant scenery in Hangzhou. It is the earliest Buddhist temple in China and one of the ten ancient temples in China. The Bodhisattva Mu Lao Si is enshrined here.
