A lake city of causeways, temples and tea hills, slower than Shanghai and an easy train ride from it.
A lake city of causeways, temples and tea hills, slower than Shanghai and an easy train ride from it.
A shallow lake ringed by wooded hills, free to walk, with the 2.8 km Su Causeway and the Bai Causeway crossing the water. Go at sunrise or on a weekday to avoid the worst crowds.
A restored pedestrian street of snack stalls and old shops, including the 19th-century Huqing Yutang pharmacy, near Wushan Square station (Line 7). Free to walk; best at dusk when the lanterns come on.
A large working Buddhist temple in the western hills, beside a limestone hill covered in Buddhist rock carvings. Entry has been free since 1 December 2025, but you must book a timed slot in advance.
Longjing Village and Meijiawu sit among tea terraces about 20–30 minutes by taxi or bus 27 from the lake. The hills are free; you pay only for the tea you drink or buy.
Water bus Line 1 (¥3, about 50 minutes from Wulinmen) runs up the canal to the Ming-era Gongchen Bridge and the Qiaoxi quarter, whose small craft museums are free.
Grass carp served under a glossy sweet-and-sour vinegar sauce, the city's best-known dish.
Skin-on pork belly braised slowly with yellow rice wine, soy sauce and sugar.
Peeled shrimp stir-fried with Longjing tea leaves, light and fragrant.
A whole chicken sealed in clay and baked slowly.
Hangzhou spreads along the east shore of West Lake, a shallow lake framed by wooded hills, pagodas and temples. The lake and its causeways are free to walk. In the hills to the west are Lingyin Temple and the villages that grow Longjing, or Dragon Well, green tea.
It suits visitors who want a slower day or two after big-city sightseeing: a walk around the water, a boat to the islands, tea on a hillside. Most first-time visitors pair it with Shanghai, staying one or two nights or coming for a long day. It fits well into an east China leg before or after Beijing or Xi’an.
Take a morning train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East (our high-speed train guide covers booking), then Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao. Walk north along the shore to the Broken Bridge and out along the Bai Causeway, or take a boat to the islands. Spend the late afternoon on Hefang Street and eat dinner nearby.
On a second day, go west into the hills early. Lingyin Temple and the Feilai Feng carvings fill a morning, so book the free entry slot a few days ahead. In the afternoon, take a short taxi ride to Longjing Village or Meijiawu, walk the tea terraces and stop for a pot of tea. With a spare evening, ride the ¥3 water bus up the Grand Canal to Gongchen Bridge. Buses, boats, teahouses and the Lingyin booking all run on Alipay or WeChat Pay; our payments guide explains how to link a foreign card.
Checked on 29 October 2026. Opening times and ticket rules change; confirm on the official site before you go.
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