Trip.com
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
杭州 · Travel Guide
Hangzhou for foreigners
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.\n\nBeyond 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.
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.
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.
Read full guide →
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.
Read full guide →
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.
Read full guide →
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.
Read full guide →
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.
Read full guide → 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.
Read full guide →
Where to stay in Hangzhou
We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.
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.
Trip.com
Hotels, trains & flights
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 →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.
Need help in China?
12 bilingual phrase cards for emergencies. Show the Chinese to locals, read the English for context.
-
Alipay Payment Failed
My international card payment failed. Can I pay cash or transfer privately to you?
-
Didi Driver Cancelled
Hello, the Didi drivers cancel my ride when they see my passport. Where nearby can I hail a regular taxi?
-
Hospital Emergency
Please help! This is an emergency. I need a doctor. Here are my passport and insurance. Please call an ambulance or get a translator.
Get our Hangzhou itinerary
A day-by-day plan, the metro lines you need, and the one restaurant locals love.