Six Harmonies Pagoda

The Six Harmonies Pagoda (970 CE, current rebuild 1153) sits on the north bank of the Qiantang River, originally built to suppress the Qiantang River's tidal bore (an annual 9m-high tsunami-like wave that still occurs every Mid-Autumn Festival). The 13-story 60m pagoda has external balconies for viewing the river. The Qiantang River Bridge (1937, the first modern bridge built by Chinese engineers, designed by Tsai Ti-yan to span the river) is visible from the pagoda — a key wartime engineering achievement. Entry ¥30 + ¥10 to climb. Combine with the Hangzhou River Trail walk (5 km along the Qiantang). 30 min from West Lake by taxi (¥30) — most foreigners don't make it here but it's the city's best off-the-tourist-track stop.