Yangjiapailou to North Peak Loop Hike

From the Yangjiapailou stone archway 杨家牌楼, follow the paved Xixi Valley Greenway 西溪谷慢行道 south-west. This is a broad, gently graded pedestrian path running parallel to the base of the hills, bordered by tea terraces and cherry trees (the cherry blossoms peak in late March). The path is well-maintained, flat, and suitable for all fitness levels. After approximately 1 km, the greenway passes Yongxing Temple 永兴寺 on the right — a Tang dynasty temple complex rebuilt in Tang revival style. The temple is associated with Ji Gong (济公禅师), the eccentric Buddhist monk who was based at nearby Lingyin Temple. Its main hall is notable for its sweeping tiled roof and broad front courtyard. There is a small shop outside the temple gate. This is the last reliable supply point before the ridge climb.

Photo suggestion: Yongxing Temple — Tang revival architecture with the West Lake Hills rising behind.

From the lane beside Yongxing Temple, a stone-step path climbs steadily up the wooded hillside. This is a moderate gradient — approximately 100 metres of gain over 400 metres of trail — and takes 15-20 minutes at a steady pace. The path ascends through mixed woodland with some bamboo groves near the top. At the crest, the trail reaches Shiren Pavilion 石人亭, a stone rest pavilion at a four-way trail junction on the Dragon Ridge. The pavilion sits at approximately 240 m elevation and offers filtered views south toward the Tianzhu temple valley. This is a critical navigational junction: the path to the right continues along the ridge toward North Peak (your route); the path straight ahead descends toward the Tianzhu temples (Fajing, Faxi); the path to the left heads west toward Xiaohoshan. Occasional vendors sell water, cucumber, and snacks from small stalls near the pavilion on weekends.

Caution: Shiren Pavilion is a busy trail junction on weekends — take a moment to orient yourself before continuing. The path to North Peak is the right fork when arriving from Yongxing Temple (east/north-east direction). If you are unsure, check AMap or wait for other hikers to confirm the direction.

Photo suggestion: Shiren Pavilion at the ridge junction, looking south over the Tianzhu temple valley.

From Shiren Pavilion, continue east along the Dragon Ridge trail. The path is a continuous stone-step climb — the most sustained ascent of the entire loop — gaining approximately 130 metres over 800 metres of trail. The gradient is steep in places, with some sections requiring hands-on-knees effort and a few rock steps that are nearly stair-ladder height. The trail is shaded by mixed forest for most of this segment. After approximately 20 minutes, the path reaches Longmen Pavilion 龙门亭, a wooden pavilion perched at the eastern edge of Longmen Mountain 龙门山. The pavilion offers open views to the north over Xixi Wetland and the western city districts, and to the south glimpses of the Lingyin temple rooftops through the trees. Continue a short distance further to the high point marker on Longmen Mountain itself — at 375 metres, this is the highest point on the entire northern West Lake Hills ridge. The summit area is a broad, flat ridge clearing with long-range views in clear weather. This is the recommended photo and rest stop before the ridge traverse continues.

Caution: This segment is the most physically demanding of the loop — sustained steep climbing on uneven stone steps. Take breaks as needed. Some rock steps are ankle-height and require deliberate foot placement. Poles are helpful here but can be awkward on the steepest sections.

Photo suggestion: Longmen Mountain summit — the highest point on the northern West Lake Hills ridge.

From Longmen Mountain, the ridge path continues east with gentler gradient — rolling short ups and downs on paved stone surface through mixed forest. After approximately 10 minutes, the trail reaches Meiren Peak 美人峰 (354 m, the third-highest summit in the West Lake Hills). A short spur path leads to the Yifeng Yuli Pavilion 一峰玉立亭, a hexagonal stone pavilion at the summit with broad views north over Xixi Wetland and west back toward Longmen Mountain. The name Yifeng Yuli translates to 'a single peak standing tall'. The pavilion is a good secondary photo stop if you missed the view at Longmen, or a quieter alternative if Longmen was crowded.

Photo suggestion: Yifeng Yuli Pavilion on Meiren Peak with Xixi Wetland visible to the north.

From Meiren Peak, the trail descends approximately 50 metres on stone steps, then climbs again toward North Peak. This descent-re-ascent section is the last physical challenge of the ridge portion — the dip between Meiren and North Peak can feel frustrating after the long ridge walk, but it is short (approximately 500 metres each side). The trail surface remains paved stone. As you approach North Peak, foot traffic increases noticeably as the path merges with the approach from the Lingyin Temple cable car station. The final 100 metres are a stone-step climb to the North Peak summit plateau.

Caution: This section becomes busy with Lingyin-area visitors and cable car passengers. The stone steps on the re-ascent can be damp if the earlier ridge was in mist. Take your time and be aware of oncoming and overtaking foot traffic.

Photo suggestion: The Meiren-to-North Peak ridge section looking east.

North Peak (314 m) is crowned by the Lingshun Temple 灵顺寺, the 'Number One Fortune Temple Under Heaven' (天下第一财神庙). Entry: 8 RMB. Fortune sticks: 20-30 RMB (cash recommended). The temple forecourt and elevated viewing platform offer a familiar panorama: West Lake to the east, the Qiantang River to the south, and the ridge you just walked from Yangjiapailou stretching west. The summit has a shop for water and snacks. The cable car station is 100 metres below the summit (downhill to Lingyin, 20 RMB single). For this route, continue past the cable car and descend via the Fahua Temple path.

Photo suggestion: North Peak summit with the Fortune Temple and West Lake panorama.

From the Fortune Temple, follow the path descending the west/north-west side of North Peak toward Fahua Temple 法华寺. The descent is a continuous stone-step downhill — approximately 250 metres of elevation loss over 1 km — and is demanding on the knees. The path is well-maintained and clearly signposted. After approximately 25 minutes, the trail reaches Fahua Temple, a Buddhist temple at the foot of the hill. The temple grounds are open and free to enter; a tea house within the temple serves tea and vegetarian noodles (~28 RMB per bowl). The exit lane from the temple is decorated with playful 'get rich' themed decorations (暴富元素), referencing the Fortune Temple above. From the Fahua Temple parking area, follow the Xixi Valley Greenway 西溪谷慢行道 westward through the Longjüwu 龙驹坞 community, past tea fields, returning to the Yangjiapailou archway to complete the loop. This greenway section is approximately 2.5 km of flat, paved path — a gentle cool-down after the ridge walk. Alternatively, from Fahua Temple you can walk 5 minutes to the Dongyue 东岳 metro station (Line 3) to cut the walk short.

Caution: The 250-metre descent from North Peak to Fahua Temple is the most knee-taxing section of the entire loop. Use trekking poles if you have them. Walk at a controlled pace — the stone steps are uniform height but the cumulative descent load is significant, particularly after the previous 500+ metres of climbing.

Photo suggestion: Fahua Temple at the foot of North Peak — tea house and rest stop before the greenway return.