Hangzhou 杭州
West Lake, tea hills and temples
Good forNature, Culture, Food, Easy first trip
Suggested stay2–3 days
Best timeMarch–May and September–November
A former imperial capital known for West Lake, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape. People come for lakeside walks, Longjing tea villages and Buddhist temples. It is an easy trip from Shanghai.
Highlights
- West Lake — walk or cycle the Su and Bai causeways
- Lingyin Temple and the Feilai Feng rock carvings
- Longjing (Dragon Well) tea villages and plantations
- Leifeng Pagoda, with views over the lake
- Hefang Street and Qinghefang old streets
- Xixi Wetland
Food to try
- West Lake vinegar fish
- Dongpo pork
- Longjing shrimp
- Beggar's chicken
Getting there
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH). About 45 minutes by fastest high-speed train from Shanghai; about 1.5–2 hours to Huangshan North.
Train times are typical; check current timetables on 12306 or Trip.com.
When to go
Best: March–May and September–November. Avoid or plan for: Weekends and public holidays around West Lake; June plum-rain season; hot July–August.
Good to know
- Hangzhou East is the main high-speed station; Hangzhou West also serves some routes.
- West Lake is free and open, but the shore gets very crowded on holidays; go early.
Visa notes
- Visa-free entry: citizens of 79 countries can visit China for up to 30 days or more without a visa. Check your passport →
- 240-hour transit: Hangzhou is inside the area you may visit on China's 240-hour visa-free transit (for 57 nationalities, flying on to a third country).