Pagodas, pavilions and gardens cluster at the foot of the hills surrounding West Lake blend into the countryside itself. This special place has provided a source of inspiration to poets and artists since the Tang dynasty and is now listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. Chaptel Hotel is an oasis just off the West Lake, where you can experience the classic Hangzhou. This authentic Shikumen brick-built mansion has now recovered all its former glory: the decor of the main suites combines traditional Chinese furniture (including traditional wooden shutters) with Art Deco ornaments, such as rugs and lamps, from the period from which the building dates.