Elegant and Refreshing Ambiance with Exquisite Seafood Hot Pot at Xixi Ligui Restaurant, Hangzhou

📍 Hangzhou · 👁 3133 reads · ❤️ 18 likes

Xixi Wetland Park is one of the most enchanting parks beyond West Lake, a naturally pristine wetland park and a rare retreat from the urban clamor. Today's featured restaurant, Xixi Ligui Restaurant, is nestled right within the Xixi Wetland Slow Living Block, boasting a prime location with convenient access. Address: C2-18, Slow Living Block, Xixi National Wetland Park, Wen'er West Road.

Getting There (1) Transport: You can take bus No. 86 to the North Gate of Xixi Wetland, then walk about 15 minutes to the Slow Living Block. Driving is also easy; on regular days you can simply drive over, but on weekends and public holidays you need to register your license plate number with the restaurant in advance.

(2) Ambiance & Signature Dishes: Xixi Ligui Restaurant strives for perfection, blending harmoniously with the wetland's natural scenery. Its decor is fresh, understated yet stylish and modern.

Stepping into the classically elegant restaurant, you'll be captivated by the winding garden paths, the gentle murmur of a stream, and koi fish gliding in the water. The chic, tasteful setting immediately catches your eye.

Although the evening views are even more stunning, the refreshing post-rain atmosphere has its own charm.

In the soft, drizzling rain, you're immersed in the quintessential Jiangnan misty rain mood.

Xixi's slow living invites you to ease your pace and savor a leisurely sense of contentment.

There’s the romance of wisteria blossoms.

The setting is thoughtfully designed—fresh and elegant, friends adore this dining environment. It combines the innate purity of the wetland with a carefully curated, sophisticated Western-style restaurant vibe.

Chrysanthemums add touches of autumn color.

The courtyard design of Xixi Ligui integrates into the wetland landscape; water brings a living spirit, a fluid beauty.

Under the eaves, raindrops form a curtain.

A compact, sleek automatic sliding door.

Water flows into a small pond before the entrance.

A graceful courtyard design.

Every brick, tile, and stone is carefully placed.

A floral wall brings vibrant life to the winter wetland, defying any sense of seasonal desolation.

Winter soon gives way to spring—anticipation for the coming springtime.

Inside, you'll discover charming corners with unique decor.

A miniature green courtyard, cleverly tucked under the staircase.

Private dining rooms are bright and elegant.

Crisp white, ironed tablecloths on Western-style tables are set with dinner plates, wine glasses, and a vase of delicate fresh flowers.

An ambiance like this is sure to seal a successful business negotiation.

The stylish main dining hall is divided into several spacious, independent zones; large glass windows fill the room with natural light and offer views of Xixi Wetland’s scenery outside.

Every seat feels cozy and relaxed.

Each area enjoys its own sense of privacy.

Through the big windows, the wetland views unfold.

Dishes: Creatively presented cold appetizers.

|Signature Defatted Pig Trotter^

|Signature Defatted Pig Trotter^ I really love this defatted trotter. The best part is always the tip—the skin is springy and slightly spicy, wonderfully chewy, making it impossible to stop at one bite. You keep reaching for more. Xixi Ligui is very inventive: keeping in mind ladies who love to eat but worry about gaining weight, they’ve defatted the trotters, so you can enjoy them guilt-free. The gnawing process is pure bliss.

|Dual-Flavor Fish Maw Chicken & Spicy Pot^

|Self-Service Dipping Sauce^ There are eight condiments—scallions, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, satay sauce, chili segments, etc. If you have no dietary restrictions, the server will mix them into a distinctive seafood dipping sauce.

|Signature Snowflake Beef^

|Signature Snowflake Beef^ A neatly arranged plate of snowflake beef displays the meat’s characteristic marbling. Thin slices cook instantly in the hot pot. Dipped in the seafood sauce, it’s silky, juicy, and layered in flavor—truly impressive.

|Dual-Flavor Fish Maw Chicken & Spicy Pot^ The fish maw chicken broth can also be made into a dual-flavor spicy chicken pot, catering to different tastes. The fish maw chicken base is simmered for at least eight hours to achieve a golden hue. As soon as it’s served, a staff member will ladle a generous bowl for each guest; the broth is exquisitely flavorful, and the chicken is tender yet chewy.

Air-Freighted Tripe^ The tripe is incredibly fresh, presented over ice with visible tiny papillae—proof of its freshness. The server will cook it in the pot, then plate it for you; it turns out wonderfully crisp and crunchy.

|Iberian Pork Neck^

Pork neck from Iberia is sliced and arranged on a white porcelain plate. The marbling is attractive, and you can feast on large bites of meat and hearty soup, feeling utterly content.

|Meatball Combo^

The ball combo is perfect, with three varieties: shrimp paste balls (translucent and clear), cuttlefish balls (with a satisfying bite), and beef balls (firm and substantial). Plenty of options.

The fish maw chicken soup is so delicious I had to drink two bowls to feel satisfied.

|Live Matsuba Crab^

|Sand Ginger Pork Stomach^

Sand ginger pork stomach is not only tasty but also nutritious. Sand ginger helps unblock meridians and promote blood circulation, dispelling cold and dampness. The flavor is mild, but it has excellent medicinal value. The stomach is tender, juicy, and chewy.

|Live Matsuba Crab^

Today’s highlight is the live Matsuba crab, beautifully presented in a scene that echoes Xixi Wetland’s scenery. White crushed ice forms a base, topped with bamboo rafts holding the fresh crab—legs, body, and claws meticulously separated. Fresh orange slices are arranged to create a miniature wetland garden, complete with bamboo groves, small jars, greenery, and flowers.

Such an artistic plating shows how Xixi Ligui pays attention to every detail.

Golden mushrooms from Yunnan add a silky texture.

They're wonderfully smooth.

Deep-fried tofu skin rolls combine Hangzhou's traditional wrapping method with a new twist.

|Vegetable Platter^

The vegetable platter is a hot pot must-have, featuring baby cabbage, spinach, lettuce, tomato, corn segments, black fungus, and crown daisy. A quick dip in the broth refreshes the palate.

Our friend Sister Shao, stylish and spirited.

Dear Shuizhen, beautiful and graceful.

And the lively, mischievous Qiu Zi.

Everyone was captivated by the food, eating heartily and chatting merrily.

Enoki mushrooms are cut into small clusters, presenting an artistic look.

The outdoor terrace brings you even closer to nature. Not far away lies a Xixi canal, with a small stone bridge spanning it. This quiet, open-air setting is also a rare spot for afternoon tea.

The restaurant has a main dining area, private rooms, and outdoor spaces, all romantically styled—perfect for hosting dinner parties, gatherings, or an afternoon tea with close friends.

At night, you’ll find a twinkling “starlight room,” as if you're floating among the stars. Such a magical experience can be had right here at Xixi Ligui.

Even without actual stars in the daytime, the setting is still beautiful.

The starlight room can accommodate six to eight diners.

On rainy days, you can listen to nature's music.

Delicate, small windows.

Evenings at Xixi Ligui become even more enchanting.

The starlight room at night is unforgettable.

Summary: Xixi Ligui is a uniquely charming restaurant where you can experience wonderful dining ambiance, delectable seafood hot pot, and top-notch service. The service is attentive—from welcoming guests, to mixing dipping sauces, to cooking hot pot ingredients at the table, everything is professionally handled with perfect timing.

Must-Visit Spots Nearby 1: (Hezhu Street) After dining, take a five-minute walk to Hezhu Street, an original eco-district of Xixi Wetland. Stroll through the Xixi Small Flower Basket weaving shops and pick up a few handwoven baskets. Visit the Wuchang Dragon Boat Exhibition Hall, where you can learn about Xixi Wetland's dragon boat race traditions. Each Dragon Boat Festival, the Shen Tankou is the liveliest spot under the giant camphor tree, as villagers from miles around paddle their dragon boats to compete. At Jiang Xianggong Ancestral Hall, there’s a small stage where locals watch performances during festivals. Climb Hezhu Tower for a panoramic view of the entire wetland park; numerous waterways are hidden among the dense vegetation.

2: (Xixi Wetland Park) Walking further from Hezhu Tower you’ll reach the East Gate of Xixi Wetland Park (tickets required). Soon after entering, you’ll see a century-old camphor tree with sprawling branches—this is Shen Tankou, the race venue. Nearby, a small boat moored in the canal is the prop from the movie If You Are the One, where Ge You and Shu Qi once sailed through Xixi’s scenery.

Once you step onto Fudi Path, the city’s noise fades away.

Xixi Wetland is serene, its views endlessly appealing.

Reed flowers sway in the breeze.

The sky is exceptionally blue.

Numerous waterways connect one another.

Tucked-away office areas follow winding paths.

Bridges in Xixi are simple and unadorned.

I love the lush green bamboo.

A 15-minute walk along Fudi Path brings you to the Slow Living Block, home to many distinctive restaurants.

Each one is elegantly and romantically styled.

Little parrots chirp at the doorstep.

I adore such outdoor settings.

Xixi’s stone bridges.

Autumn leaves carpet the ground.

Hangzhou Xixi Water Margin Culture Exhibition Hall.

Many fruits hang on the trees—locals call them xiangpao (pomelos).

Restaurants in the Slow Living Block.

KFC might be the most beautiful one.

A unique Japanese restaurant—Kui—also boasts great ambiance and dishes.

The Slow Living Block is repurposed from original villagers’ houses in Jiang Village, preserving the original wooden structures and the wetland’s ecology.

Houses covered in climbing vines.

Restaurants hidden among green trees.

The settings are tranquil and inviting.

Isn’t this outdoor scene too appealing?

Hezhu Tower on Hezhu Street is a five-story eaves-upturned tower.

Inside, high school students are enjoying their visit.

Not far away, a noodle shop.

Steps leading down to a boat dock.

You might even see a local vendor carrying a shoulder pole.

In days past, villagers would gather at the small stage of Jiang Xianggong Ancestral Hall to enjoy Yue Opera performances.

Xixi’s embroidery is quite renowned.

Sanshen Assembly Hall, once the community hall for original residents, now serves as an exhibition hall.