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Hangzhou travel guide 杭州

Lake light, tea hills, slow paths. The poem-and-postcard city: a huge lake, temple incense and tea villages within a short ride of Shanghai.

4.0 / 5 desk index 2–3 days March–May, September–November HGH
Hangzhou, China
Best timeMarch–May, September–November
Suggested stay2–3 days
AirportHGH
EntryNationwide 30-day visa-free entry applies to eligible passports

Hangzhou is the antidote to Shanghai’s intensity. West Lake is the centrepiece, but the best days happen just beyond it: a tea village on the hills, a temple walk, a canal-side neighbourhood at dusk.

It works as a two-night stop between Shanghai and the south, or as a slower base for a week of cycling and tea drinking.

What is actually worth your time

Editor’s shortlist
West Lake loopCycle or walk the quieter west side at sunrise.
Lingyin TempleGo early; the grottoes opposite are part of the visit.
Longjing tea villageWalk between tea fields and taste the spring pick.
Xixi WetlandsBoat rides and birdlife; a good rainy-day option.
Grand CanalThe Gongchen Bridge area is the most atmospheric stretch.

Eat this

  • Longjing shrimp. Tea leaves in the dish; subtle and seasonal.
  • Dongpo pork. Slow-braised belly, sweet and rich.
  • Beggar’s chicken. Clay-baked; order it for a group.

Where to stay

  • Hubin. Closest to the lake, convenient and busy.
  • West Lake hills. Quieter, greener, better for tea.
  • Wulin. Central shopping and metro links.

First-timer notes

  • Do the lake early; tour groups arrive after 10am.
  • Stay near the lake or a metro stop, not at the high-speed station.
  • Book a tea-village visit directly rather than a combined bus tour.

Honest skip list

  • Skip the lake cruise if the weather is hazy; the bike path is better value.
  • Skip Songcheng theme park unless you want a staged historical show.

On the map

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Map data © Google. Centred on Hangzhou, China.

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Sources & further reading

  1. Wikivoyage — Hangzhou
  2. Lonely Planet — Hangzhou

Last checked October 2026. Opening hours, tickets and transit change; confirm before you travel.

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