Winter in Hangzhou isn’t as crowded as other seasons, but it’s precisely during this time that the city’s plum blossoms come into full bloom. There are three top plum blossom viewing spots in Hangzhou: Gushan, Lingfeng, and Xixi Wetland.
HangzhouGushan is located at the northwest corner of West Lake, surrounded by water on all sides, standing uniquely apart. Though not particularly high, it isthe best spotfor viewing the scenery of West Lake. Named “Solitary Hill” because it lies between the Inner Lake and Outer Lake of West Lake, it is also called “Plum Isle” for its abundance of plum trees. With an elevation of 38 meters, Gushan is the lowest amongthe hills of West Lake,yet it is the largest island in the lake and the only natural one. Every winter,the plum buds in the Gushan scenic area hang from the branches, wrapped in snow—absolutely stunning with their delicate fragrance. A few red plum trees also eagerly sprout buds, seemingly competing with the winter plums.
