The weather is beautiful in Shanghai these days. If you find yourself here and wishing to spend a little bit more time enjoying the outdoors, may I suggest a trip to Hangzhou?

Hangzhou is a beautiful city only two hours from the teeming hulk of Shanghai. Decidedly quieter and slower paced, Hangzhou has a lot to offer a temple lover or a nature lover. If it’s the city you want to see, most of the sights are centered around Hangzhou’s famous West Lake. You can spend the whole day there wandering the classical gardens, taking slow boat rides on the lake or meandering around the lake’s exterior on bicycles.

If escaping the city is what you’re after, make Hangzhou your launchpad to Fuchun Resort, where you can live in style and luxury for a few days while getting pampered. Or, head to the hills. The Long Jin (Dragon Well) tea from the hillsides surrounding Hangzhou is the most famous in China. Book a room in an old villa through Moganshan Lodge and spend the weekend breathing fresh air and walking through the forest.

Photos of the West Lake, © 2007 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com, Inc.