Is Hangzhou worth a day trip from Shanghai?

Yes, but a 2-night stay is better. The high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East is 45 minutes (¥73 second class), so you can do a single day if you start early. For West Lake, Lingyin, and tea, two nights lets you pace yourself.

How do I avoid fake Longjing tea?

Buy direct from farmers in Longjing Village (龙井村) — the price is similar to or less than the airport shops, and you can watch the tea being pan-fired. If a shopkeeper can't (or won't) show you their tea fields or explain the picking season (清明 qīngmíng, around April 5, is the first-flush window), walk away. The two reputable village names: 龙井村 and 满觉陇. Skip the airport and the train station — both sell lower-grade tea at premium prices.

Is Hangzhou a good base for day trips?

Yes. Wuzhen water town is 1.5 hours by bus; Shaoxing (Lu Xun's hometown, 鲁迅故里) is 1 hour by HSR; the Thousand Island Lake (千岛湖) is 2 hours by bus. HSR from Hangzhou East makes same-day round trips to Shanghai (45 min), Suzhou (1.5 hr), and Nanjing (1.5 hr) trivial. If you have 3-4 nights in Hangzhou, dedicate 1 to a day trip.

杭州 · Travel Guide

Hangzhou for foreigners

West Lake, dragon-well tea, and a Shanghai high-speed rail that takes 45 minutes.

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Hangzhou is the easy day trip from Shanghai, and one of the most-celebrated cities in Chinese history — Marco Polo called it "the finest and most splendid city in the world" when it was the Southern Song dynasty capital. The reason people still come is West Lake (西湖, UNESCO), a 6-km lake ringed by causeways, pagodas, lotus ponds, and tea fields. Beyond the lake, Hangzhou has the Lingyin Temple complex (one of the most important Buddhist temples in China), the Longjing tea plantations (dragon-well tea is the local product — buy from the village, not the airport), and the Hefang Ancient Street for souvenir browsing. It's a slower, more contemplative city than Shanghai; pair it with a Shanghai visit for a 5-7 day trip that has the best of both.

West Lake in Hangzhou on a clear day, with tourist rowing boats on the calm water and the city skyline rising behind a green lakeside park. — West Lake in Hangzhou — rowing boats and the city skyline behind the lake.

Top things to do in Hangzhou

The must-see places locals will tell you are unmissable, with photos and a direct link to the in-depth guide for each.

Sunset over West Lake with Leifeng Pagoda — the iconic Hangzhou scene.

West Lake (西湖)

UNESCO, 6 sq km. The classic circuit is the 15-km lakeside road, walkable or bikeable. The 10 classical scenes (十景) — Su Causeway, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Leifeng Pagoda at sunset — are the highlights. Free to walk; boat rides ¥70-150.

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Mahavira Hall of Lingyin Temple with the giant camphor-wood Sakyamuni Buddha.

Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺)

A Buddhist temple complex dating to 326 AD, in the forested hills west of the lake. ¥75 entry to the temple, ¥30 more for the Flying Peak grottoes (1,000+ stone Buddhas). Allow 3 hours.

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Leifeng Pagoda at sunset over West Lake.

Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔)

A 2002 reconstruction of the 975 AD original (the original collapsed in 1924). ¥40 entry; the elevator up is worth it for the West Lake sunset view. Best paired with a Su Causeway walk.

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Aerial view of the Longjing tea village terraced rows near West Lake.

Longjing Tea Plantation (龙井村)

The village that produces dragon-well (龙井) green tea, in the hills southwest of West Lake. Walk the tea fields, drink a cup at the source (¥30-50), and buy direct from the farmer — authentic pre-Qing-Ming first-flush leaves run ¥80-200 for 50g.

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Hefang Ancient Street at night — red lanterns and calligraphy streamers.

Hefang Ancient Street (河坊街)

A restored Qing-era shopping street near the drum tower — snacks, tea shops, silk, and souvenirs. Free entry. Tourist-heavy but the better souvenir option than the airport shops.

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Forest path through the tea fields and creek valleys of Nine Creeks (image: Longjing tea fields stand-in pending a dedicated Nine Creeks photo).

Nine Creeks (九溪十八涧)

A 4-km forest hike through tea fields and creek valleys southwest of West Lake. Free, takes 2-3 hours. End at Longjing Village for tea.

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The Wanzi Pavilion on West Lake in Hangzhou, a traditional Chinese wooden pavilion reflected in still water with Taihu rocks in the foreground. — The Wanzi Pavilion on West Lake, with Taihu rocks in the foreground.

Where to stay in Hangzhou

We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.

Hotels in Hangzhou on Trip.com

From $25/night hostels to $850+/night luxury (Aman at the West Lake), plus Hyatt Regency, Westlake Hostel Manlong, and 3,000+ more. Filter by tier on Trip.com.

$25 – $850+/night

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The Su Causeway embankment on West Lake in Hangzhou, crowded with visitors walking under willow trees with the city skyline across the water. — The Su Causeway on West Lake — visitors walking under willow trees with the skyline behind.

Book your Hangzhou trip

Plan your Hangzhou trip on Trip.com — the only platform we've verified for mainland China. Prices update in real time; no hidden fees.

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Hotels, trains, flights & experiences

Hangzhou on Trip.com — 1.4M mainland-China hotels (¥35/night and up), real-time English HSR booking, plus skip-the-line tickets and guided tours in one cart. Accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard. Filter by tier on Trip.com once you land.

Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7 · Tours from $5

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When to visit Hangzhou

March–May and September–November. Cherry blossoms in March; lotus in July (worth it despite the heat). The Mid-Autumn Festival (usually September) brings the West Lake light show.

FAQ

Is Hangzhou worth a day trip from Shanghai?

Yes, but a 2-night stay is better. The high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East is 45 minutes (¥73 second class), so you can do a single day if you start early. For West Lake, Lingyin, and tea, two nights lets you pace yourself.
How do I avoid fake Longjing tea?

Buy direct from farmers in Longjing Village (龙井村) — the price is similar to or less than the airport shops, and you can watch the tea being pan-fired. If a shopkeeper can't (or won't) show you their tea fields or explain the picking season (清明 qīngmíng, around April 5, is the first-flush window), walk away. The two reputable village names: 龙井村 and 满觉陇. Skip the airport and the train station — both sell lower-grade tea at premium prices.
Is Hangzhou a good base for day trips?

Yes. Wuzhen water town is 1.5 hours by bus; Shaoxing (Lu Xun's hometown, 鲁迅故里) is 1 hour by HSR; the Thousand Island Lake (千岛湖) is 2 hours by bus. HSR from Hangzhou East makes same-day round trips to Shanghai (45 min), Suzhou (1.5 hr), and Nanjing (1.5 hr) trivial. If you have 3-4 nights in Hangzhou, dedicate 1 to a day trip.

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