Yunqi Bamboo Path (云栖竹径) is not only a filming location for the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but also a hidden gem in Hangzhou. With fewer tourists, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy a peaceful walk. Located in the Meiling Road Scenic Area, Yunqi Bamboo Path can be visited alongside other attractions such as Longjing Tea Fields, Meijiawu, and the Three Tianzhu Temples (Faxi Temple, Fajing Temple, and Fajing Temple).

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📍 Address: No. 8, Meiling South Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou (西湖区梅灵南路8号)
🕐 Opening Hours: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
🎫 Ticket Price: ¥8 per person
🚌 Bus: Routes 324M/121/103/1314, get off at Yunqi Bamboo Path
🚇 Subway: Line 6, Fenghua West Road Station, Exit B1, transfer to bus 324M
🚖 Taxi: Set the destination to Yunqi Bamboo Path, walk 100 meters to the ticket office
🅿️ Parking: Parking available at the entrance, ¥10 per hour

🪵 Suggested Route:
Ticket Office (售票处) ➡️ Xixin Pavilion (洗心亭) ➡️ Wooden Walkway (木栈道) ➡️ Suspension Bridge (索桥) ➡️ Yuyu Pavilion (遇雨亭) ➡️ Huangzhu Pavilion (篁竹亭) ➡️ Douyun Pavilion (兜云亭) ➡️ Shuangbei Pavilion (双碑亭) ➡️ Huilong Pavilion (回龙亭)

This route is designed so you won’t need to backtrack, making the entire walk easy and enjoyable, even for children and the elderly. There are plenty of resting spots along the way.

Inside Yunqi Bamboo Path, you’ll find many ancient trees 🌳. The park not only provides information on the age and history of each tree but also presents some educational facts in a quiz format, allowing visitors to learn new things while enjoying their walk ✔️.

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Yunqi Bamboo Path, nestled at the foot of Wuyun Mountain in the southwest of West Lake, lies within the tranquil valley known as Yunqi Wu. It is one of the “Ten New Scenes of West Lake.” Legend has it that in ancient times, vibrant clouds of five colors often hovered here, giving the place its name. As you stroll along the winding mountain paths, you’ll find yourself surrounded by dense bamboo forests and lush greenery, with the sound of babbling springs in your ears, as if you were walking through a natural painting that changes with the seasons. This place is renowned not only for its serene bamboo landscape but also for its rich historical and cultural heritage, making it a protected area for ancient trees and famous plants in Hangzhou. As early as the Qing Dynasty, Yunqi Bamboo Path was celebrated as one of the “Eighteen Scenes of West Lake,” known as “Yunqi Buddhist Path.”

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In this verdant sanctuary, the winding paths are adorned with exquisite pavilions such as Sanju, Huilong, Xixin, Yuyu, and Shuangbei, each exuding a sense of rustic charm and tranquility. It is the perfect retreat for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The area is also rich in historical relics, and once hosted the Yunqi Temple. This temple was originally founded by the King of Wuyue in the fifth year of the Qiande era (967 AD) and was later rebuilt and revitalized by the famous Pure Land Buddhist monk, Master Lianchi, during the Ming Dynasty, transforming it into one of the four great temples of Hangzhou. Although the temple no longer exists today, the tomb of Master Lianchi can still be found near the temple’s former site.

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Speaking of Master Lianchi, he was the eighth patriarch of the Pure Land School of Buddhism during the Ming Dynasty. His original name was Zhuhong, and he was a native of Changxing, Zhejiang Province. In his early years, he served as a scholar in the Hanlin Academy of the imperial court, but later, feeling disillusioned by the impermanence of worldly affairs, he decided to become a monk and dedicated his life to spreading the teachings of Buddhism. He rebuilt Yunqi Temple and made it an important spiritual center of Buddhism during his time. He also authored the Complete Works of Master Lianchi, leaving behind a rich legacy of Buddhist thought for future generations. Master Lianchi is not only a significant figure in the history of Buddhism but also had a profound influence on traditional Chinese culture.

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Master Lianchi was revered and admired during his time. Empress Dowager Li sent an envoy with a purple cassock and white gold, requesting teachings on essential Buddhist principles. In response, Master Lianchi wrote a verse: “Those of high status and wealth have planted virtuous seeds in past lives, and such excellent causes lead to great results, culminating in the gathering of great fortune today. Understand deeply the relationship between sin and blessing, and plant even more causes within the results, like adding flowers to brocade, creating layer upon layer of endless beauty. After cultivating such blessings, one should observe with caution: cultivating blessings without wisdom is not the path to liberation. Cultivating both blessings and wisdom is the supreme path, both in worldly and transcendent matters. The true nature of wisdom in all beings is obscured by deluded thoughts. The essential practice for cultivating wisdom is to focus single-mindedly on chanting the Buddha’s name. When this practice is perfected, the mind becomes pure, and with a pure mind, the Pure Land is also pure. At the highest level of the lotus throne, one is reborn and, upon seeing the Buddha, realizes the state of no birth, ultimately achieving Buddhahood, unparalleled in the three realms. This is the true meaning of greatness.”

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If you visit Yunqi Bamboo Path, as you ascend the winding stone paths, you’ll not only be able to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery but also feel the deep cultural heritage and historical significance of this place. Continue climbing to Douyun Pavilion, and you will reach the top of Wuyun Mountain, where you can explore the ruins of Zhenji Temple, one of the earliest God of Wealth temples in Hangzhou, offering a glimpse into the ancient legends and spiritual traditions of the region.

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