The thousand-year-old Yong Jin Lou heritage site, the heart of Xihu Tiandi, dates back to the Zhenghe Era of Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1127). The location was once a place for imperial officials to celebrate their achievements and accept their awards of the time. Following the Northern Song Dynasty, Yong Jin Lou underwent its first renovation during the Southern Song Dynasty (A.D. 1127-1279).

During the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1644-1911), this Hangzhou landmark became a teahouse called San Ya Yuan (a quiet and elegant garden). Then later in 1925, Huang Yuanxiu, a revolutionary elite during the Chinese Republican revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, started living here, calling it Fang Lu. Forty years after becoming Fang Lu, this three-storey concrete block building was rebuilt as yet another teahouse named Yong Jin Teahouse in 1965. This teahouse maintained the original wooden roof and its garden style landscaping of its predecessor. 2003 brought great changes to Yong Jin Lou. After a thorough redesign, Yong Jin Lou, set along scenic West Lake, has been injected with new vitality. This historical architecture, now combined with modern elements, has become a stunning international attraction for Hangzhou. The whole of Yong Jin Lou has been inlayed with huge glass windows as part of its design innovation. The beautiful scenery of West Lake and the view of the garden-style yard is an absolute visual pleasure. In a space of some 650 square meters, the early 20th century furniture, the black sandalwood pieces and the antique decorations meld exquisitely with the new, modern furniture. On the first floor, the granite marble floor maintains a certain accord with the large colour glass windows and wonderful display of black sandalwood furniture and red silk lanterns. Xihu Tiandi's immediate exterior presents a very unique Suzhou style courtyard situated in the middle of a larger ground-level courtyard. By way of a set of dark-green brick stairs, you can reach the second floor. The main sections of the second floor consist of the bar, a lounging area and the dining area. On the third floor there is a dining area augmented by a marvelous viewing area to take in the enchanting West Lake surroundings. The long-standing poetic aura of Yong Jin Lou is well maintained all the way up to its original six-meters in diameter wooden roof. Candles and lanterns are displayed as the only lighting accessories inside and outside of Yong Jin Lou. This form of lighting works as a historical reminder of the original building. What's more, contemporary Chinese ink paintings give the environment an added touch of serene beauty.