Hangzhou travel guide: West Lake, Lingyin Temple and Longjing tea in 2–3 days

In short: Hangzhou (杭州) is the capital of Zhejiang province, a city of 12 million people 45–60 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed train. The highlight is West Lake (西湖), a UNESCO-listed landscape of causeways, pagodas and gardens that you can walk around for free. Add Lingyin Temple with the Buddhist carvings of Feilai Feng, free since 1 December 2025 but only with a reservation made at least a day ahead, and the Longjing tea hills, home of China's most famous green tea. Two days are enough for the city, three if you add the Grand Canal or a water town. The best seasons are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November).

What surprised us most in China was how clean it is – even in places that see huge crowds every day. The shores of West Lake, its causeways and parks are full of strollers, yet they still look like a well-kept garden.

As of 23 October 2026. Check ticket prices, opening hours and booking rules before you go. Yuan amounts are converted at the current rate into the currency selected in the site menu.

Hangzhou at a glance

From 1138 to 1276 Hangzhou was the capital of the Song dynasty and one of the largest cities in the world. Marco Polo described it, under the name Quinsai, as the finest city he had seen. A Chinese saying goes: "Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou" (上有天堂，下有苏杭). Today it's also a tech city, home to Alibaba's headquarters, and it hosted the G20 summit in 2016.

Things to do in Hangzhou: 10 places

1. West Lake: Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge

West Lake (西湖) is about 15 km around and has been the favourite landscape of Chinese poets and painters for over a thousand years. It has been on the UNESCO list since 2011. The shores, causeways and parks are open and free around the clock; you only pay for boats, pagodas and some gardens. Start on the north shore: Broken Bridge (断桥), where the lovers of the Legend of the White Snake met, leads onto the Bai Causeway (白堤) and Gushan Island (孤山), with gardens and a former imperial library. The best view over the whole lake is from Baoshi Hill with Baochu Pagoda.

2. Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda

The Su Causeway (苏堤) is 2.8 km of willows, peach trees and six stone bridges, built in 1089 from silt dredged out of the lake on the orders of the poet and official Su Dongpo. At its southern end, on a hill, stands Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔), under which, according to legend, the White Snake was imprisoned. The original pagoda collapsed in 1924; today's was built in 2002 over the ruins, which you can see in the basement. A ticket costs about ¥40 (about 23 PLN), and the sunset over the lake from the top is spectacular.

3. Boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

In the middle of the lake lies an island with ponds, little bridges and three small stone pagodas rising out of the water – the view printed on the back of the 1-yuan note. Boats leave from several piers, including Huxinting and Gushan, and a ticket including the island costs about ¥55 (about 32 PLN) (plain boat) or ¥70 (about 41 PLN) (painted boat). You can also hire a small rowing boat with a boatman at the shore, but agree the price before you get in.

4. Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng

Lingyin (灵隐寺, "Temple of the Soul's Retreat") was founded in 328 by the Indian monk Huili and is one of the most important Buddhist temples in China. Its main hall houses one of the largest camphor-wood Buddha statues in the country. In front of the temple rises the limestone outcrop of Feilai Feng (飞来峰, "the Peak That Flew Here"), with hundreds of Buddhist carvings from the 10th to the 14th centuries cut into the rock and caves.

5. Longjing tea: Longjing and Meijiawu villages

On the hills west of the lake grows Longjing (龙井, "Dragon Well"), China's most famous green tea. In the villages of Longjing (龙井村) and Meijiawu (梅家坞), tea-growing families offer freshly brewed tea, roast the leaves in woks and invite you for lunch on a terrace overlooking the plantations. Entry is free, and you haggle over the price of the tea. The best and most expensive tea comes from the first picking before the Qingming festival, from mid-March to early April. A few minutes from the village is the free China National Tea Museum (中国茶叶博物馆), with exhibitions on growing and brewing. More about tea and teahouses in Hangzhou: tea in China.

6. Hefang Street and Huqingyu Tang pharmacy

Hefang Street (河坊街) is a rebuilt shopping street in old Hangzhou style, with teahouses, shops selling silk and fans, and snacks. The most interesting stop is Huqingyu Tang (胡庆余堂), a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy from 1874 with carved wooden interiors and a museum. The street is very touristy, but in the evening, under the lanterns, it has its charm.

7. Six Harmonies Pagoda on the Qiantang River

The pagoda (六和塔), which has 13 storeys from the outside and 7 inside, has stood since the Song dynasty on a hill above the wide Qiantang River, south of the lake. A ticket costs about ¥20 (about 12 PLN), and from the top you can see the river and its bridge. The river is famous for its tidal bore (钱塘江大潮): in autumn, usually in September or October, a wall of water up to several metres high races upriver. It's best watched in the town of Yanguan in Haining.

8. The Grand Canal and Gongchen Bridge

Hangzhou is the southern end of the Grand Canal (京杭大运河), the longest artificial canal in the world, which for centuries linked Hangzhou with Beijing (UNESCO since 2014). The prettiest spot is the stone Gongchen Bridge (拱宸桥) from 1631 and the restored Qiaoxi (桥西) district with craft museums. Entry is free. You can get there by water bus line 1 from Wulinmen pier for ¥3 (about 2 PLN) – the cheapest cruise in town.

9. Xixi Wetland Park

Xixi (西溪国家湿地公园) is a national wetland park in the west of the city: canals, ponds, fishing villages and causeway paths that you explore by boat or on foot. A ticket costs about ¥80 (about 47 PLN), with boat rides extra. It's a good escape from the West Lake crowds, especially in spring and autumn.

10. In the evening: the lake show and the fountain

In the evening, the water show "Impression West Lake – Most Memorable is Hangzhou" (最忆是杭州), created for the G20 summit, is staged on the lake, with tickets for about ¥260 (about 152 PLN)–¥700 (about 408 PLN). For free, you can watch the musical fountain on the Hubin (湖滨) shore – the shows are in the evening, so check the times locally. Then stroll along the lit-up Bai Causeway or sit in a lakeside teahouse.

Day trips from Hangzhou: Tianducheng, Wuzhen and Thousand Island Lake

• Tianducheng (天都城): a housing estate built to look like Paris, with a 108-metre copy of the Eiffel Tower, fountains and Haussmann-style blocks. Long called a "ghost town", it's now lived in. About 30–40 minutes by taxi from the centre, 20–30 minutes from Hangzhou East station.
• Wuzhen (乌镇): a water town of canals, stone bridges and houses on stilts, about 1–1.5 hours from Hangzhou. It's prettiest in the evening when the lights come on, so it's worth staying the night.
• Thousand Island Lake (千岛湖): a reservoir with over a thousand green islands. The high-speed train from Hangzhou East takes about 50 minutes, and from Qiandaohu station you take a bus or taxi to the lakeside town.
• Shaoxing (绍兴): a city of canals, rice wine and the writer Lu Xun, about 20 minutes by high-speed train.

Tickets and prices

How many days in Hangzhou

• 1 day: Broken Bridge, Bai Causeway, the boat to the island, Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda at sunset, then Hefang Street in the evening. It works as a day trip from Shanghai, but the lake deserves a night.
• 2 days: add Lingyin and Feilai Feng in the morning (booked!), then Longjing village with lunch among the plantations and the Tea Museum, and the lake show or fountain in the evening – just like in our Along the Yangtze itinerary.
• 3 days: add the Grand Canal and Gongchen Bridge, Xixi Wetland, or a day trip to Wuzhen or Tianducheng.

What to eat in Hangzhou

Hangzhou cuisine (part of Zhejiang cuisine) is delicate, slightly sweet and built around fish, shrimp and fresh vegetables. Dinner in an ordinary restaurant costs about ¥60 (about 35 PLN)–¥100 (about 58 PLN) per person.

• Dongpo pork (东坡肉): cubes of pork belly braised for hours in rice wine and soy sauce, named after the poet Su Dongpo.
• West Lake fish in vinegar (西湖醋鱼): poached fish in a sweet-and-sour sauce.
• Longjing shrimp (龙井虾仁): small shrimp stir-fried with fresh tea leaves.
• Beggar's chicken (叫化鸡): chicken baked in lotus leaves and clay.
• Pian'erchuan noodles (片儿川): noodle soup with pork, bamboo shoots and pickled greens – best at Kuiyuan Guan (奎元馆), open since 1867.

The classic restaurants are Louwailou (楼外楼, since 1848, on Gushan Island) and Zhiweiguan (知味观) for snacks and dumplings, while the cheaper and hugely popular chain is Waipojia (外婆家, "Grandma's Home"). Order a pot of Longjing with your meal. More on China's cuisines: Chinese regional cuisines.

Getting there and around

• From Shanghai by train: over 100 high-speed trains a day run from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East (杭州东站), the fastest in 45 minutes, for about ¥65 (about 38 PLN)–¥87 (about 51 PLN) in second class (Shanghai to Hangzhou by train). Watch out for similar station names: Hangzhou (杭州站, central), Hangzhou East (the main high-speed station) and Hangzhou West.
• Onward by rail: to Nanjing in about 1–1.5 hours (Hangzhou to Nanjing by train), to Ningbo in about 1 hour and to Beijing in 4.5–6 hours.
• By air: the easiest option from Europe is usually to fly into Shanghai and take the train from Hongqiao. Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport (HGH) is about 30 km from the centre – metro line 19 reaches Hangzhou East in about 25 minutes, and a taxi or DiDi to the lake takes 40–60 minutes.
• In the city: the metro (from ¥2 (about 1 PLN), QR code in Alipay) runs to the north-east shore of the lake, among other places (line 1, Longxiangqiao and Fengqi Road stations). Around the lake, walk or cycle; for Lingyin, Longjing and Xixi a DiDi is the easiest option.

Where to stay in Hangzhou

• Hubin and Wulin (湖滨 · 武林): the north-east shore of the lake, on metro line 1, close to Broken Bridge, the fountain, restaurants and shops. The most convenient choice for a first visit.
• Around Hefang Street and Wushan Hill (河坊街 · 吴山): close to the old street and Leifeng Pagoda, a little cheaper.
• Beishan Road and the West Lake hills (北山路 · 西湖): quiet hotels and guesthouses right on the lake or among the tea hills – the most atmosphere, but pricier.
• Near Hangzhou East station: if you're only staying one night on your way elsewhere.

Hotels right on the lake are expensive, especially at weekends and on holidays. A chain hotel in the centre usually costs about ¥300 (about 175 PLN)–¥450 (about 262 PLN) a room, and a better lakeside hotel from about ¥800 (about 466 PLN).

Hangzhou weather and when to go

The best times are spring (March–May), when peach and cherry trees bloom along the Su Causeway and the tea harvest is under way in the hills, and autumn (September–November), when the city smells of blooming osmanthus, Hangzhou's symbol. The rainy season runs from mid-June to mid-July (June is the wettest month), and July and August reach about 34°C by day. Avoid 1–7 October, 1–5 May and Chinese New Year – West Lake gets enormous crowds. More: Best time to visit China.

Hangzhou in our itineraries

In Along the Yangtze you get two full days in Hangzhou: West Lake with its causeways, a boat to the island and Leifeng Pagoda, then Lingyin, Feilai Feng and lunch among the Longjing plantations, followed by Tianducheng on the third morning on your way to Wuxi. In China's Golden Triangle+ you pass through Hangzhou on the way to Tianducheng, with the option of a night by the lake. The itineraries include step-by-step transport, prices and addresses in Chinese.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Hangzhou?

Two days are enough for West Lake with its causeways and Leifeng Pagoda, plus Lingyin, Feilai Feng and Longjing village. With the Grand Canal, Xixi Wetland or a day trip to Wuzhen, plan three days.

Can you do Hangzhou as a day trip from Shanghai?

Yes – the train takes only 45–60 minutes, so in one day you can see West Lake, the Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda. There won't be time for Lingyin and the tea hills, though, and the lake is at its best in the evening and early morning, so it's worth staying the night.

How much does Lingyin Temple cost?

Since 1 December 2025, nothing – the tickets for the Feilai Feng area and the temple have been abolished. You do have to book in your own name at least a day ahead in the 杭州灵隐飞来峰 mini-program in Alipay or WeChat.

Is West Lake free to visit?

Yes. The shores, the Bai and Su causeways and Gushan Island are free and open around the clock. You pay for Leifeng Pagoda (about ¥40 (about 23 PLN)), the boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (about ¥55 (about 32 PLN)–¥70 (about 41 PLN)) and some gardens.

How do I get from Shanghai to Hangzhou?

The fastest way is the high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East: from 45 minutes, about ¥65 (about 38 PLN)–¥87 (about 51 PLN) in second class. Trains run every few minutes from around 6:00 to 21:00, and you can book on Trip.com or 12306 with your passport.

When is the best time to visit Hangzhou?

Spring, March to May (blossom and the Longjing tea harvest), or autumn, September to November (osmanthus and sunshine). Avoid June (rainy season), the hot months of July and August, and Chinese public holidays.

Do I need a visa for Hangzhou?

Citizens of 50 countries, including most of the EU, the UK, Canada and Australia, can currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, until 31 December 2026. All of Zhejiang province is also covered by the 240-hour visa-free transit if you're flying on to a third country. Details: China visa-free.

Sources

• Xinhua: Lingyin and Feilai Feng free from 1 December 2025 and Zhejiang News: booking rules
• China for Travelers: West Lake – causeways and boats (2026) and Leifeng Pagoda (2026)
• Wander in China: Hangzhou transport (2026) and My China Guide: the Grand Canal water bus
• China Discovery: trains from Hangzhou to Qiandaohu
• Wikipedia: Hangzhou (climate, CMA 1991–2020 normals), West Lake, Lingyin Temple and Grand Canal)
• Train timetables and fares from the 12306 system (November 2026); our Along the Yangtze and China's Golden Triangle+ itineraries (as of October 2026); photos from Wikimedia Commons (authors and licences in the captions)

Hangzhou in a ready-made itinerary

In Along the Yangtze, Hangzhou is planned hour by hour: getting from the station, walking the causeways, the boat to the island, sunset from Leifeng Pagoda, Lingyin with Feilai Feng and lunch among the Longjing plantations, with prices and addresses in Chinese for taxi drivers. The itinerary links Hangzhou with Shanghai, Ningbo, Wuxi, Nanjing and Wuhan. Prefer a shorter trip to Shanghai and Hangzhou? We can put together a custom itinerary.