From May 12th both the gaily-painted pleasure boats and medium-sized power boats on the West Lake will start providing a night service, which indicates the commencement of the traditional annual night tours of the lake. The rowing boats and sculling boats already started paddling from April 30th.
For tourists touring with the gaily-painted pleasure boat is a feast of a trip. The signboard dish is the circular tour around the lake, which lasts for about 50 minutes departing from Bai Causeway to Autumn Moon on Calm Lake, Su Causeway, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Listening to Orioles Singing in the Willows, Musical Fountains on Lakeside, and back to the quay.
Tourists can get the boat tickets on the quays located in No.2 Garden, Children's Palace or No. 5 Garden. The ticket is 25 yuan per person for adult and 12.50 yuan for children of 1-1.3 meters tall. Groups can enjoy 20% off.
Compared to the pleasure boat, touring with power boat is like a buffet.
Tourists can get on board from the quay at Broken Bridge at 40 yuan per hour for a 4-seat boat or 50 yuan per hour for a 6-seat. The trip can cover the whole north part of the lake, a very good choice for dating and family.
The night tour service will last for five months, till the beginning of October.
To fully enjoy your trip please pay attention to the following ticketing hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 18:45 - 21:00
Friday & Saturday: 18:45 - 21:30
Currently the ticketing office takes no reservations.
For more enquiries, tourists can call the quay offices as well. The phone numbers are as follows:
No.2 Garden: 87063514 No.5 Garden: 87028153 Children's Palace: 87068226 Broken Bridge: 87967737
For your own safety during the night tour, please make sure you wear the life vest provided by the boat company. All the night service boats are equipped with GPS.
By the end of May, 'Quan Yao', the most luxurious dragon boat on the West Lake will be providing night service to FIT as well. Tourists can admire traditional musical performance on the boat. Currently it is priced at 80-120 yuan per person for the boat fare.
