Fei Lai Feng (Flying Peak)
Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
A limestone peak behind the western shore of Hangzhou’s West Lake, Feilai Peak (Feilai Feng) stands out from the gentler slopes around it—so much so that its name, which means Peak Flying From Afar, commemorates the belief that it magically appeared from India. It’s home to over 500 Buddhist carvings, dating from the 10th to the 14th centuries.
With caves, grottoes, forest, sculptures, and tranquil streams, 685-foot (209-meter) Feilai Peak is a popular scenic spot, as well as a charming route to reach Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou’s best-known Buddhist temple. Highlights include the pot-bellied “laughing” Buddha (Maitreya), carved into a cliff above a stream, and Longhong Cave, known for the narrow crack in its roof which allows just a thread of light to pass through.
A number of Hangzhou tours visit Feilai Peak, generally en route to Lingyin Temple; most also stop at one of the tea plantations that deck the surrounding hills, and some offer a West Lake boat ride. A guide and driver can be extremely helpful when exploring Hangzhou, as tea gardens and scenic spots are spread out over a large rural area.
Feilai Peak is a great choice for photographers, art lovers, and history buffs.
There’s a charge to enter the Feilai Peak scenic area, with a separate fee for visiting Lingyin Temple.
Allow a couple of hours to fully explore the site, or less if just passing through to visit the temple.
Feilai Peak’s narrow, rocky paths are not wheelchair accessible.
Feilai Peak stands just south of Lingyin Temple, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) west of Hangzhou’s West Lake. The Y2 tourist bus links Lingyin Temple with Hangzhou Railway Station during the day, or you can join a tour, take a taxi, rent a Hangzhou city bike, or use the Didi Chuxing rideshare app.
Feilai Peak stands just south of Lingyin Temple, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) west of Hangzhou’s West Lake. The Y2 tourist bus links Lingyin Temple with Hangzhou Railway Station during the day, or you can join a tour, take a taxi, rent a Hangzhou city bike, or use the Didi Chuxing rideshare app.
Hangzhou’s West Lake has inspired poets and artists for centuries. Boat trips are a popular way to discover it, or you can rent a bike and cycle around it. Along with Lingyin Temple and the Longjing (Dragon Well) tea plantations to the west, highlights include the 5-story Leifeng Pagoda, the Su Causeway, and the Broken Bridge. The Impression West Lake extravaganza sees hundreds of performers take over the lake twice a night between March and December.
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