Ultimate Hangzhou Travel Guide – Tips & Ideas to Explore the Heaven on Earth
Hangzhou, located on the southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta in China, is the capital and culture and transportation hub of Zhejiang Province. As a famous saying goes in China, “In heaven, there is paradise. On earth, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou”. The beautiful Hangzhou has long been praised by many poets. While most people travel to Hangzhou for the timeless West Lake, where many iconic attractions of the city are scattered around, it is also the southern end of the 1400-year-old Grand Canal.
With a history of over 2,200 years, Hangzhou was once the capital of the South Song Dynasty, boasting rich culture and romantic legends. It is home to numerous ancient temples and pagodas, and also a famous silk capital of China. The world-renowned Longjing tea originated here, and the headquarters of internet giants like Alibaba are also located here.
By High-speed train, visitors can travel to Hangzhou from Shanghai for no more than 1 hour and about 1.5-2 hours from Suzhou. Follow our Hangzhou Travel Guide to learn how to plan a trip to Hangzhou, and explore the best it has to offer.
- Chinese Name: 杭州 háng zhōu
- Location: In east region of China. In the northern part of Zhejiang Province, downstream of the Qiantang River, and at the southern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
- Population (urban area): 10,390.0 millionin 2023
- Area:16,850 square kilometers
- Postal Code: 310000
- Time Zone: UTC+8
Why Travel to Hangzhou?
- One of the Seven Ancient Capitals in China: Hangzhou was once the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and the South Song Dynasty. The Grand Canal, ancient streets, and many ancient workshops and museums still show its prosperous past.
- Natural Scenery: The ethereal West Lake with its serene waters, elegant gardens, pagodas, and willow-lined banks has attracted numerous poets and tourists since ancient times.
- Diverse Cultural Experiences: The many cultural relics create the rich cultural atmosphere of Hangzhou. In addition, it offers an immersive experience of Chinese tea culture, silk culture, and Liangzhu culture.
- Diverse Culinary Delights: Popular snacks and cuisines include West Lake vinegar fish, Ding Sheng Cake, oil-drizzled chicken, drunken shrimp, etc.
- 144-hour Visa-free Transit Policy: Hangzhou now implements a 144-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from 54 countries.
Top Hangzhou Attractions
Wandering what to see in Hangzhou? Its beauty lies in the picturesque landscapes, deeply-rooted cultural heritage, timeless poems and legends, etc. During a “poetic journey” here, the following Hangzhou tourist places are top recommended for your comprehensive impression of this charming city.
Liuhe Pagoda (Six Harmonies Pagoda)
Standing 60 meters tall on Yuelun Hill by the Qiantang River, Liuhe Pagoda was originally a wooden pagoda built in the Northern Song Dynasty. The current pagoda is a brick and stone structure, rebuilt during the South Song Dynasty, featuring a majestic appearance and ingenious inside.
Hu Qing Yu Tang
One of the most famous traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies in China, Hu Qing Yu Tang was founded in 1878, and listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Not only an active pharmacy today, it is more like a museum showcasing traditional Chinese medicine culture.
Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City
This site can be traced back to about 5,300 to 4,300 years ago in the late Neolithic period. Liangzhu Ancient City has been listed as a World Heritage site in 2019, featuring rich jade artifacts, pottery, stone tools, and the complex ancient city structure.
Top Things to Do in Hangzhou
Experience a City Walk along the Ancient Streets
A recommended city walk route to experience the old Hangzhou is: Southern Song Imperial Street – Hefang Street – Drum Tower – Fifteen Kui Lane – Dama Lane – Wuliu Lane
You can take Metro Line 1 to reach Southern Song Imperial Street first. Once the main street of the capital Lin’an during the South Song Dynasty, this pedestrian street is lined with historical buildings and modern shops today. Continue walking to the bustling Hefang Street to explore various old-brand shops and numerous local snacks.
The Drum Tower on Hefang Street is a reconstruction in the Ming Dynasty architectural style, adjacent to remnants of ancient city walls and ancient buildings.
The Fifteen Kui Lane is the old town area of the city, with a lively atmosphere. Dama Lane is where you can look into the authentic old Hangzhou neighborhood. From Dama Lane, you can ride a bike or take a taxi to Wuliu Lane, where a small river runs through several ubiquitous small bridges, with Republic-era buildings on both sides.
Visit Tea Plantations
To tour the tea plantations around the West Lake, visitors can gain a deep understanding of Chinese tea culture and participate in various activities, like tea picking, tea processing, and traditional tea ceremonies. Each year in March and April, local farmers will be busy at work in the lush tea gardens. Meijiawu Tea Plantation, Longjing Village, Longwu Tea Village, and Yangmeiling Tea Garden are some preferred Longjing tea plantations around the West Lake.
Cruise on / Bike around the West Lake
A West Lake circle route is around 10-15 kilometers, taking about 2-5 hours to complete by walking. To save time and energy, most visitors choose to cycle around the lake to take in its overall scenery. There are many bike rental points around the lake. Or, you can also take the sightseeing car to enjoy the main attractions leisurely.
Besides land routes, taking a small boat ride on West Lake is a preferred way to experience its beauty closely. The public boat stops at ten major points along the way, and takes about 2 hours for the full route.
Walk or Cruise along the Grand Canal
Winding its way through Hangzhou city, the ancient Grand Canal is an important cultural symbol of the city which bears witness to its historical development. Walking along the stone-paved Xiaohezhi Street beside the canal, visitors can explore ancient bridges, docks, old residences, and shops, and experience plenty of folk crafts.
Also, you can hop on a water bus to navigate through the water alleys of the city and enjoy the ancient heritage from a new angle. Currently, the new introduced “Canal One-Day Pass” allows visitors to enjoy unlimited boat rides between 10 AM and 5 PM. THe four docks along the canal to take a boat ride are Wulinmen, Xiangji Temple, Xiaohe Park, and Gongchen Bridge.
Watch Impression West Lake (Enduring Memories of Hangzhou) Show
The Enduring Memories of Hangzhou is a large-scale live performance presented on the West Lake. With water as its stage, and mountains as its backdrop, the show creatively combines vocal music, folk dance, and traditional Chinese opera to show the audience the historical and cultural essence of Hangzhou.
It was created by renowned directors Zhang Yimou, Wang Chaoge, and Fan Yue, and was initially presented during the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016. Now, it is a regular performance that usually takes place in the evening and lasts about an hour.
Marvel at the Qiantang River Tidal Bore
The Qiantang River Tidal Bore in Hangzhou Bay boasts one of the three largest tidal bores in the world. Formed by the combined effects of celestial gravity, the centrifugal force of the Earth’s rotation, and the trumpet-shaped narrow estuary of the Qiantang River, this natural marvel traditionally comes to its peak from the 16th to the 18th day of the lunar calendar in August. During this period, the sun, moon, and earth create the strongest tidal force. Additionally, this natural phenomenon may occur 120 days each year, you can also witness this wonder from the 1st to the 5th day or from the 15th to the 20th day in other lunar months.
Hangzhou Cuisine
Not only a paradise for natural beauty, Hangzhou is also a gourmet paradise. Its dishes and snacks are characterized by fresh ingredients, and light and palatable taste. The top signature snacks you must try when traveling to Hangzhou include:
- West Lake Vinegar Fish: Made with fresh grass carp, seasoned with West Lake vinegar.
- Zhiwei Steamed Buns: Steamed buns with juicy filling and delicious broth.
- Pian’er Chuan Noodles: A classic noodle dish with sliced lean pork and pickled mustard greens.
- Longjing Shrimp: Made with fresh shrimp and Longjing tea leaves.
- Dongpo Pork: Cook the braised pork with soy sauce and sugar.
- Dingsheng Cake: A traditional dessert made by filling the rice flour dough with red bean paste and sesame.
Best restaurants in Hangzhou:
Hangzhou Restaurant (Yan’an Road Branch)
- Recommended dishes include the smoked fish, Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, sweet and sour park.
- Address: 205 Yan’an Road, Floors 1-3
Zhiweiguan (Lakeside Branch)
- Features various dim sum dishes; recommended dishes include Three Delicacies Steamed Buns, Crispy Glutinous Rice Lotus Root, Zhiwei Wontons
- Address: 83 Renhe Road
Fuyuanju Restaurant (Hefang Street Branch)
- Recommended dishes: Crispy Pork Intestines, Oil Drizzled Chicken, Salted Egg Yolk Pumpkin
- Address: 35 Hefang Street
Lou Wai Lou (Gushan Road Branch)
- Recommended dishes: West Lake Vinegar Fish, Aunt Song’s Fish Soup, Shrimp and Eel Noodles
- Address: 30 Gushan Road, West Lake Scenic Are
How Many Days to Plan for a Hangzhou Tour?
If short in time, you can spend one day exploring the West Lake, Lingyin Temple or Hefang Street in one day. Generally, we recommended to spend 2-3 days for a classic Hangzhou tour including West Lake and its surrounding attractions, tea plantations, Lingyin Temple, Grand Canal, Six Harmonies Pagoda, and top ancient streets.
Also, you can spend one day to extend your Hangzhou trip to its nearby water towns, or outskirt attractions.
Recommended Hangzhou Tours:
- 2 Days Hangzhou Essence Tour
- 2 Days Hangzhou Tour: Tea Plantation, Bamboo Forest…
- One Day Wuzhen Ancient Town Tour from Hangzhou
Thanks to its easy accessibility from nearby Shanghai, Huangshan, and Suzhou, many tourists also choose to combine a Hangzhou tour with these destinations.
Best China Tours including Hangzhou:
- 6 Days Shanghai-Suzhou-Hangzhou Tour with Tongli Water Town
- 9 Days China Private Tour: Shanghai Suzhou Huangshan Hangzhou
- 10 Days Beijing Xian Hangzhou Suzhou Shanghai Tour
Welcome to send your personal interests and customize your Hangzhou tour with us.
Hangzhou Weather and Best Time to Visit
Hangzhou is in the subtropical monsoon climate zone, featuring distinct seasons and abundant rainfall. Its average annual temperature usually hovers around 17.8°C, with extreme weather seldom occurring.
Spring (from March to May) and autumn (from September to November) are commonly the best times to visit Hangzhou when the temperatures are at their most comfortable, and clear skies are more frequent. Both of these two seasons are ideal for outdoor activities. Spring will reward you with the sea of flowers around West Lake, and the fall foliage in autumn is also enchanting.
Winter is the off-season of Hangzhou, offering a quieter experience. To travel in this period, you’ll also get a chance to witness the “Broken Bridge in Snow”, one of the ten scenes of West Lake.
Summer is usually hot and rainy. Avoid the midday sun when it is at its strongest if traveling during this season.
Where to Stay & Recommended Hotels in Hangzhou
Which areas to stay?
For first-timers, it’s highly recommended to stay as close to the West Lake Scenic Area as possible. This area allows a convenient exploration of the lake and its surrounding attractions both during the day and at night. And major attractions in the city area are concentrated around West Lake. Even the farther Songcheng and Xixi National Wetland Park are within a half-hour drive.
Shangcheng District is also a great choice for accommodation. As the old town of Hangzhou, it is home to the historical South Song Imperial Street and Hefang Street and is bordered by West Lake to the west.
Recommended Hotels
- East of West Lake (along Hubin Road): Hyatt Regency, Lakeside Village
- North of West Lake (along Beishan Street): Xinxin Hotel, West Lake State Guesthouse, Qiushui Villa
- West of West Lake (along Yang Gong Causeway): West Lake State Guesthouse, Relais & Châteaux Chaptel Hangzhou, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, Nine Li Yun Song
- South of West Lake (along Nanshan Road): Xizi Hotel, Liuying Hotel
Hangzhou Transportation
How to Get to Hangzhou
By air
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is a key aviation hub in southeastern China, offering direct flights to most domestic cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chongqing, Chengdu, and international cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, San Francisco, Sydney, etc.
The airport is about 27 kilometers from the city center. Visitors can take the airport shuttle bus and Metro Line 7 for an easy transfer.
By high-speed train
Hangzhou East Railway Station is its main high-speed train station, connecting Hangzhou with most major cities in China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and Chengdu. A high-speed train ride from Shanghai takes only about 1 hour, 1.5-2 hours from Suzhou, and 1.5-2 hours from Huangshan.
Additionally, the city also has the West Railway Station, South Railway Station and Hangzhou Railway Station operating both normal trains and high-speed trains.
How to Travel around Hangzhou
Currently, Hangzhou has 15 metro lines in operation, offering convenient connections to different parts of the city. While buses are also convenient options, metro is preferred during holidays and peak hours to avoid traffic congestion.
For taxis, the starting fare is CNY 13 for the first three kilometers, and CNY 2.5 for each additional kilometer.
You can also try the unique waterway transportation in Hangzhou. There are 4 water bus lines available on the main water routes, offering scenic views along the way and a convenient transfer to neighborhood and ancient streets arond the canal.
