East · 2–3 days

Hangzhou travel guide

Hangzhou is the answer to a question Beijing and Shanghai do not answer: what if a Chinese city were simply pleasant? West Lake is the centrepiece, but the tea villages, the canal and the temples are what make two nights feel short. It is also the natural next stop after Shanghai.

  • Best time: March–May, September–November
  • Suggested stay: 2–3 days
  • Reviewed 2026-11-07

Why go

A lake you can cycle in a morning, tea fields an hour out, and a metro that makes it all easy.

  • Scenery
  • Tea
  • Cycling
  • Slow travel

What is worth your time

West Lake by bike

Rent a bike and ride the full loop — about 90 minutes without stops. Do it early, before the tour buses, and stop on the west side where the lake is quiet.

Lingyin Temple

The temple is busy; the Feilai Peak carvings behind it are the reason to come. Go at opening and walk up rather than taking the cable car down.

Longjing tea village

Meijiawu or Longjing village, 30 minutes by bus from the lake. Buy tea from a farmer, sit in the courtyard, and skip the staged tastings on the main road.

Airport and station transfers

Xiaoshan International (HGH) is about 27 km east of the lake, linked by metro line 19 and a shuttle bus network.

MethodTimePriceNotes
Metro line 1935–45 min to Hangzhou East¥8–10The fastest rail option; change at Hangzhou East for the city centre.
Airport shuttle bus50–70 min¥20–30Several routes to the lake area and the main railway stations.
DiDi / taxi40–60 min¥80–110Convenient at night when the metro has stopped.

Getting around

  • Metro — Clean, frequent and cheap; line 1 connects the lake area to the east side of the city.
  • Bikes — West Lake is a cycling city — the loop, the causeways and the tea roads are all rideable.
  • Boats — Small boat taxis cross the lake for a few yuan; a good way to skip the crowded north shore.
  • Walking — The east shore promenade and the old streets are walkable; the lake itself is too big to cover on foot.

Where to stay

AreaBest forTrade-off
Hubin / east shoreFirst visitWalk to the lake in five minutes; the most convenient base.
Southern shore / Leifeng PagodaQuiet eveningsAway from the busiest promenade, still on the water.
Hefang StreetFood and old streetsCentral, lively at night, close to the metro.
Hangzhou East StationOnward trainsPractical for a night before a high-speed departure to Shanghai.

What to eat

DishWhere to find it
Dongpo porkHangzhou restaurants — braised pork belly, sweet and soft
West Lake vinegar fishClassic local restaurants; ask for the boneless version
Longjing shrimpTea-country restaurants, prawns cooked with tea leaves
Beggar's chickenOld-style banquet restaurants
Xiao long baoBreakfast shops near Hefang Street

What it costs

StylePer dayWhat that buys
Backpacker¥300–500Hostel, metro and bike hire, noodle shops, lake walk
Comfortable¥700–1,2003-star hotel near the lake, DiDi, a proper Hangzhou dinner, tea village trip
Premium¥1,800+Lake-view hotel, private guide, tea estate visit, boat charter

Same three tiers for every city, plus what individual meals, metro rides and tickets cost: what a trip to China costs.

A route that fits the days you have

  1. Day 1 — The lake
    East shore promenade at dawn · Bike the loop · Lingyin Temple · Hefang Street dinner
  2. Day 2 — Tea country
    Longjing village · Tea tasting with a farmer · Grand Canal evening walk
  3. Day 3 — Slow finish
    Xixi Wetland · Old bookshops · Train to Shanghai or Suzhou

Last reviewed 2026-11-07 — rules and prices in China change often. Confirm critical details in the app or on the official site before you rely on them.

Official sources used for this guide