Hangzhou is a typical city of the Jiangnan region.
Surrounded by three sides of green mountains, the West Lake is a beautiful place with its water and winding shores.
The most beautiful seasons in Hangzhou, in my opinion, are March and April.
During this time, the entire city blossoms, and even the air feels filled with the essence of spring.
The beauty of Hangzhou should not be wasted, and since I am truly unable to travel far, I choose a hotel in Hangzhou for a weekly getaway.
Last week it was the Rose Garden, and this week it’s the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. Once you stay, you should write about it.
I often visit the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, but mostly for dining.
The Jinsha Restaurant is unparalleled, the only three-diamond Black Pearl restaurant in Hangzhou, perfect for hosting guests with prestige; the WLB West Lake Restaurant offers great value and a pleasant environment, ideal for a brunch; and the afternoon tea at the Four Seasons is also full of springtime charm.
When it comes to dining, I am a frequent guest at the Four Seasons.
However, when it comes to staying, I remember only staying for one night over three years ago.
I usually don’t choose to stay in hotels in Hangzhou, as no hotel can compare to the comfort of home. But this is due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, making it impossible to travel far.
When staying in a hotel in Hangzhou, you should choose the western part of the city, as West Lake is located there.
The best hotels in Hangzhou are almost all located here. The Purple Courtyard is close to Yuhu Bay, the Four Seasons is adjacent to Yanggong Causeway, and the West Lake State Guesthouse occupies an entire lakeside stretch.
The Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is actually right by the lake, offering a secluded and private experience with its winding paths and shimmering waters.
It is beautifully designed in the traditional Jiangnan garden style, with bridges over flowing water and willows gently swaying.
At the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, you can request a boat check-in.
The hotel has its own dock, with waterways directly connected to West Lake. Typically, you board a boat at a lakeside dock, sail across the lake, passing through the semi-hidden stone arch bridges, and soon you arrive at the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake.
This is undoubtedly the most unique check-in experience among hotels in Hangzhou.
If you miss the boat check-in, there is a remedy: the boat afternoon tea. The hotel’s own dock, with direct access to West Lake, is just that impressive.
This afternoon tea cruise can sail on West Lake.
Staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, I wouldn’t recommend going out to visit tourist spots. With rooms costing around three to four thousand yuan per night, going out to play would be a waste of money.
Without exaggeration, the garden landscape of the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is among the best in the country. The scene of small bridges, flowing water, and homes is exactly what one expects of Jiangnan.
I’ve always loved the window views of this hotel; each window offers a different world. Techniques like borrowing scenery, framing views, and creating contrasts in traditional Chinese gardens are beautifully applied here.
Interestingly, the designer is actually a foreigner.
Flowers, though silent, seem to speak through their form. Luxury hotels pay meticulous attention to floral details, and the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is no exception.
It’s easy to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. A lunch at WLB, dinner at Jin Sha, an afternoon tea cruise, and a stroll through the garden—one day passes quickly.
Next, let’s talk about the dining options.
One advantage of staying at the Four Seasons is the priority booking for Jin Sha.
Jin Sha never overbooks; it ensures there are always seats reserved for hotel guests, even if it means leaving some empty.
In the latest ranking of Asia’s Top 50 restaurants, Jin Sha is ranked 51st.
Jin Sha updates its menu nine times a year. Being nostalgic, I ordered a selection of classic dishes. Jin Sha is known for its consistency; ordering classics is always a safe bet.
Ancient Yue Wine-Stewed Snails
This dish has been a signature of Jin Sha for many years. Now, it’s also found in slightly more well-known restaurants in Hangzhou.
The wine brings out the sweetness of the snails, balancing the flavors perfectly.
The snails are trimmed of their tails and then reinserted into their shells. When eating, they are picked out with a toothpick. It’s a dish that requires a lot of care.
Crispy Skin Chicken at Jin Sha
As a signature dish of Jin Sha, it’s naturally a standout. Similarly, top-ranked restaurants in Hangzhou also serve this dish, just without the Jin Sha name.
In summary, the skin is crispy without being oily, and the meat is tender and juicy.
Braised Pork with Abalone
Braised Pork Belly with Abalone is usually ordered in small portions, but I recommend going for the large portion, which includes 9 pieces of braised pork belly and 3 small abalones.
The large portion is more substantial, and the dish is actually better with more meat than abalone. The small abalones don’t have much depth or flavor, and the real star here is the braised pork belly.
There’s also bamboo shoots on the bottom, and the sauce is delicious. For Hangzhou locals, it’s a favorite to dip rice in the sauce.
Black Truffle Vegetable Dumplings
A perfect dish to cleanse the palate after the braised pork belly with abalone.
Braised Yellow Croaker Noodles
The soup is incredibly savory, and the noodles are chewy, with every bite enveloped in rich flavor.
Longjing Tea Steamed Milk
A perfect combination of caramel pudding and Longjing tea, absolutely delicious.
Actually, if you order the classic dishes at Jinsha, they tend to offer better value for money.
Here’s a drone shot of the Jinsha restaurant. With great taste and a pleasant environment, Jinsha is the face of modern Hangzhou.
Additionally, we also dined at the WLB West Lake Restaurant.
WLB actually stands for WLB Bistro, where Bistro refers to a small wine bar or casual restaurant. This place also has an Italian style.
Bistros are generally more relaxed and casual, with dishes that are more mainstream and offer better value for money.
Currently, it’s restaurant week, so we opted for the restaurant week set menu, which is also quite affordable.
This restaurant week at WLB features a three-course meal, with the appetizer being a self-serve buffet, the main course offering 3 choices, and ending with a dessert.
The bread served before the meal at WLB is consistently delicious.
Since there were three of us, we each ordered a main course, and the roasted spring chicken was particularly good.
There are also rooms available.
Compared to others, the rooms at Four Seasons are relatively less competitive, given that it’s a hotel that’s been around for over 10 years.
Fortunately, the rooms are spacious, with the standard rooms measuring 63㎡.
I recommend choosing a room with a courtyard view, which comes with a small waterfront terrace overlooking the four seasons of a Jiangnan courtyard.
It is said that this year, the West Lake Four Seasons will renovate its rooms. I feel that once renovated, the prices will definitely go up.
