Nothing says romance like a stroll along the West Lake, protected from the noon sun by an elegant and beautiful Hangzhou silk umbrella. Since the 1930s, Hangzhou has been famous throughout China for making silk umbrellas from Hangzhou silk and Zhejiang bamboo.

As red as the dawn, green as spring water, or blue as the clear sky, these silk umbrellas can be made in a rainbow of colors and designs. Some umbrellas are hand painted with landscapes or other beautiful, fanciful designs and can be very valuable.

Large attractions like Lingyin Temple or Tiger Running Spring both have merchants selling umbrellas. Also, Hangzhou Friendship Store is a good place to look.