杭州 · Travel Guide
West Lake, dragon-well tea, and a Shanghai high-speed rail that takes 45 minutes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.
Trip.com
Verified accepting foreign guests, English-speaking staff, central location.
from $850/night
Booking.com
Verified accepting foreign guests, English-speaking staff, central location.
from $135/night
Klook
Verified accepting foreign guests, English-speaking staff, central location.
from $26/night
Three platforms that work well for foreign visitors to Hangzhou. Prices update in real time; no hidden fees.
Trip.com
The best platform for mainland-China hotels and high-speed rail tickets. English interface, accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard.
Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7
Search Hangzhou on Trip.com →Booking.com
Best for international chains (Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG) that most foreigners already have loyalty status with.
Free cancellation on most rooms
Search Hangzhou on Booking.com →Klook
Skip-the-line attraction tickets, day tours, and China eSIM data packages. Instant confirmation, mobile vouchers.
Tours from $12 · eSIM from $3
Search Hangzhou on Klook →Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our disclosure policy.
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.
A day-by-day plan, the metro lines you need, and the one restaurant locals love.