Qiandao Lake Travel Guide—Must-Visit Attractions Recommendation
1. Must-Visit Attractions and Fees
Meifeng Island
Ticket: Central Lake Area ticket + boat combo 155 RMB (includes round-trip boat ticket)
Highlights: Climb to the top for a panoramic view of Qiandao Lake, cable car one way 25 RMB, grass sledding down 15 RMB
Huangshanjian
Ticket: Combo ticket 165 RMB (includes boat ticket)
Highlights: View the "All Under Heaven" archipelago wonder from the mountain top, cable car recommended (one way 50 RMB)
Tianyu Mountain Viewing Platform
Ticket: 50 RMB (includes escalator)
Activities: Best spot to watch the sunset, water slide one way 30 RMB
Southeast Lake Area
Ticket: 55 RMB (includes boat)
Recommended islands: Osmanthus Island (feed parrots), Tianchi Island (watch flamingos)
Wenyuan Lion City
Ticket: 60 RMB
Highlights: Replica of an underwater ancient city, immersive experience of Ming and Qing dynasty streets
Qinchuan Ancient Town
Ticket: Free (some ancient houses charge 10-20 RMB)
Highlights: 750-year-old Huizhou-style ancient village, free experience of pounding clothes and oil-paper umbrella making
2. Transportation Fees
1. Main Transportation
High-speed rail: Hangzhou East Station → Qiandao Lake Station, ticket price 70 RMB/person, 1 hour direct
Self-driving: About 2 hours from Hangzhou, toll fee about 60 RMB one way
2. Scenic Area Transportation
Central Lake Area boat: Upper deck 98 RMB/person, lower deck 65 RMB/person (includes ticket)
Southeast Lake Area boat: Same price as Central Lake Area
Lake cycling: Bike rental 50 RMB/day (helmet included), bus K002 route 1 RMB/ride
Night cruise: 200 RMB/person (Longshan Island + Moonlight Island light show)
3. Accommodation Recommendations and Prices
Type Recommended Hotel Price (RMB/night) Features
High-end Qiandao Lake Kaiyuan Resort 1200-1800 Five-star, lakeside villa, includes private hot spring
Cost-effective Green City Resort Hotel 300-500 5-minute walk to popular coffee shops, some include breakfast
Boutique B&B Xuanshan Yunju (Jiangjia Town) 400-600 Huizhou-style design, near Wenyuan Lion City, includes breakfast
Budget Hanting Hotel (Qiandao Lake Plaza) 150-200 Chain quality, 1 RMB bus to scenic area
Hostel Qiandao Lake Yitu Hostel 50-80 Rooftop terrace with lake view, suitable for backpackers
4. Food Recommendations and Average Cost
Must-try Restaurants
Xiaoyucun · Delicious Dishes: Fish head soup + chopped chili fish tail, average 75 RMB/person
Chunyuanwai: Freshly killed fish head soup with corn cake, average 94 RMB/person
Qilong Alley Snacks: Preserved vegetable cake 5 RMB, Anshang rice noodles 8 RMB
Special Dishes
Qiandao Lake Fish Head Soup: Milky white broth, 68-128 RMB/portion (depending on fish size)
Wild Jiao Jiao: Kudzu starch jelly 10 RMB/bowl, better with chili sauce
Guanyin Vegetable: Stir-fried with farmhouse firewood, 15 RMB/portion
Night Market/Snack Street
Qilong Alley: Average 30-50 RMB, milk tea, fried dough sticks, rice cakes
Beer Town: Fresh beer 10 RMB/cup, go-kart 50 RMB/time
5. Suggested Itinerary (3 days 2 nights)
Day 1: Classic Lake Area Tour
Morning: Central Lake Area (Meifeng Island + Yule Island), ticket + boat 155 RMB
Afternoon: Southeast Lake Area (Huangshanjian + Tianchi Island), combo ticket 165 RMB
Evening: Qilong Alley Night Market, average 50 RMB
Accommodation: Green City Resort Hotel (300 RMB)
Day 2: Cultural Leisure Tour
Morning: Wenyuan Lion City + Qinchuan Ancient Town, ticket 60 RMB
Afternoon: Tianyu Mountain sunset + lake cycling, bike rental 50 RMB
Evening: Dinner at Chunyuanwai, average 94 RMB
Accommodation: Xuanshan Yunju B&B (400 RMB)
Day 3: In-depth Experience
Morning: Forest oxygen bar hiking, ticket 55 RMB
Afternoon: Longchuan Bay wetland boating, boat ticket 80 RMB
Evening: Return trip
6. Money-saving Tips
Ticket Discounts: Half price for students/teachers, some attractions 50% off in off-season (Dec-Feb)
Transportation Savings: Buy high-speed rail tickets 15 days in advance for 20% off
Dining Tips: Be cautious choosing fish head soup inside scenic areas, Qilong Alley "Xiaoyucun" offers good value
Free Experiences: Tianyu Mountain escalator 30 RMB one way can be replaced by walking, forest oxygen bar free oxygen intake
Total Budget Reference (2 people, 3 days)
Tickets: About 1200 RMB
Transportation: About 800 RMB (including high-speed rail + bike rental)
Accommodation: About 1400 RMB
Dining: About 1000 RMB
Total: 4400 RMB (2200 RMB per person)
Qiandao Lake is beautiful all year round: enjoy flowers and cycling in spring, water activities and camping in summer, red leaves and fishing in autumn, fish soup and jogging in winter. Choose your combination based on your interests and start your "islander" journey!