Hangzhou Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Your Trip
Table of Contents
- 1. Hangzhou Weather and Best Travel Time
- 2. Top Attractions in Hangzhou - Best Things to Do
- 3. How Many Days to Spend in Hangzhou - Itinerary Ideas
- 4. Hangzhou Travel Tips for Transportation
- 5. Hangzhou Shopping Tips
- 6. Hangzhou Travel Tip for Eating
The cultural traditions and fascinating history of Hangzhou lures visitors time and again. You can take a leisure brisk around the West Lake, opt to stay in an ancient water town for added authenticity, or embark on a Chinese tea tour through the plantations of local villages.
Hangzhou makes a great destination for young couples, seniors, and family with kids, as well as for those looking for a more luxurious experience.
Our Hangzhou travel tips provide information to help you plan your trip to Hangzhou, whether it's your first-time Hangzhou travel or you wil return to try out new experiences. Understand when to go, what to do, and popular food to eat.
Hangzhou Weather and Best Travel Time
Hangzhou enjoys subtropical monsoon climate with clearly defined four seasons. June and September is the rainiest season with occasionally typhoons in august or September. Summer is really hot in Hangzhou and winter is cold and sometimes snowy without heating systems.
Generally, spring and autumn is the best time to visit Hangzhou.In spring (from March to May), when the temperature is pleasant, you can enjoy the flowers in West Lake and pick tea in Longjing Village. Autumn (from September to November) is the most comfortable and beautiful time of the year in Hangzhou. However, you should avoid the Chinese National Day Golden Week.
Hangzhou Safety Tips
Is it safe for foreigners to travel to Hangzhou? Yes, as an international metropolis and the host city of the Asian Games and many other international events, Hangzhou is a great and safe tourist city.
Just watch your valuable belongs in the central city and railway stations since pick-pocketing is still a common occurrence in tourist locations. In addition, be cautious of travel scams. When taking a ride, choose taxis with legitimate qualifications and ride-hailing services from official platforms.
In case of an emergency, please call 110 for police assistance or 120 for medical emergency services. Of course, if you are accompanied by a local Hangzhou tour guide from Easy Tour China, he/she will help you handle any emergencies.
Top Attractions in Hangzhou - Best Things to Do
Wondering what to see in Hangzhou? The city has something fascinating to offer for every traveler, whether you are a nature lover or a fan of culture and history. Here below you can choose the best tourist attractions that interest you for your Hangzhou travel.
| Category | Attraction | Highlight Experiences | Best For |
| Natural Landscapes | West Lake | A UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its "Ten Classical Scenes". Enjoy walking, boating, or cycling along the causeways. | First-time visitors, photographers, families |
| Qiandao Lake | Known as "Thousand Island Lake", it offers spectacular scenery of islands, with various water activities, and fresh fish cuisine. | Nature lovers, those seeking a lakeside retreat | |
| Xixi National Wetland Park | China's first national wetland park, it can be explored by boat. | Eco-tourists, those seeking peace and quiet from the city bustle | |
| Historic & Cultural Sites | Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak | One of the oldest and most famous Buddhist temples in China with exquisite rock carvings on Feilai Peak, and a peaceful atmosphere. | Culture & history enthusiasts, those interested in Buddhism |
| Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins | A World Cultural Heritage site, it serves as evidence of the five-thousand-year-long history of Chinese civilization. | History and archaeology enthusiast | |
| Songcheng | A theme park dedicated to the Song Dynasty culture, with "Songcheng Eternal Love" performance | Families, visitors who enjoy live performances and theme parks. | |
| Leifeng Pagoda | A landmark pagoda on the shore of West Lake | All visitors, especially for the iconic view, best at sunset | |
| Ancient Towns | Explore historic Chinese water towns like Xitang and Wuzhen (near Hangzhou), offering a glimpse into the traditional life along the China Grand Canal. | Travelers interested in traditional architecture and local life | |
| Yue Fei Temple | Built in memory of the famous national hero of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yue Fei | Those who are interested in historical figures | |
| Hu Xueyan's former residence | This mansion of the wealthy merchant Hu Xueyan from the Qing Dynasty combines the styles of Huizhou architecture and Chinese gardens of Jiangnan. | Ancient Chinese architecture enthusiasts | |
| Modern & Leisure | Qianjiang New City | The modern central business district of Hangzhou, with impressive skyscrapers and spectacular light shows at night. | Those interested in modern architecture and cityscapes |
>> Recommended Hangzhou Tour Packages:
How Many Days to Spend in Hangzhou - Itinerary Ideas
One of our top Hangzhou travel tips is that you plan a itinerary to your duration, interest, and travel style.
| Days to Stay | Suitable For | Trip Highlights | Recommended Attractions/Schedule |
| 1 Day | Travelers with tight schedules, short-trip visitors from nearby cities. | Classic highlights of West Lake. | West Lake, Broken Bridge, Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda (view from afar), Hefang Street. |
| 2 Days | Most first-time visitors to Hangzhou. | West Lake + Nature & Culture in the western/northern part of the city. | Day 1: West Lake.Day 2: Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Longjing Tea Village. |
| 3 Days | Those wanting a deeper experience of Hangzhou's culture and natural scenery. | West Lake + Tea Culture + Ancient Town or Wetland. | Day 1: West Lake.Day 2: Longjing Tea Plantations / Lingyin Temple.Day 3:Xixi Wetland or Songcheng or Tangqi Ancient Town. |
| 4-5 Days | Families, leisure vacationers, or travelers who prefer slow-paced exploration. | City + Natural Wetland + Surrounding Ancient Town(s). | West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing Village, Xixi Wetland, a day trip to Wuzhen/Nanxun Ancient Town. |
| 5+ Days | Those treating Hangzhou as a vacation base or seeking in-depth cultural tours. | In-depth Culture + Non-mainstream Attractions + Trips to nearby cities (e.g., Shaoxing, Ningbo). | Fuyang Longmen Ancient Town, Jingshan Temple, Liangzhu Archaeological Site, Qiandao Lake in Jiande. |
Hangzhou Travel Tips for Transportation
How to Get to Hangzhou
By Air
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is an important aviation hub in East China. You can fly to Hangzhou from major cities in China such as Beijing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Guilin.
The Hangzhou Airport is relatively far from the city center, about 27 kilometers away. The main transportation options for traveling from the airport to the city center are airport buses, subways, and taxis.
Subway to the city
You can take Subway Line 1, Line 7, or Line 19 (Airport Express).
Airport Bus to Downtown
Airport bus routes serve not only downtown Hangzhou but also nearby cities like Shaoxing, Suzhou, Yiwu, and Jinhua. Multiple bus lines connect to downtown Hangzhou, with a journey time of about 1 hour and a fare of RMB 20.
Airport Bus Waiting Area: Gate 14, Arrivals Hall, Airport Terminal.
Taxi to Downtown
A taxi ride from the airport to downtown Hangzhou takes about 1 hour and costs around RMB 150.
By Train
If you are traveling from cities in eastern China such as Shanghai, Suzhou, Ningbo, and Nanjing to Hangzhou, the high-speed rail is almost the only option. Hangzhou East Railway Station, Hangzhou Station (City Station Railway Station), Hangzhou South Railway Station and Hangzhou West Railway Station are all connected to the city and tourist attractions via subway, buses and taxis.
At the east and west bus terminals of Hangzhou East Railway Station, there are over 10 bus routes, as well as Metro Lines 1, 4, 6 and 19, which can meet the needs of tourists for traveling to different districts and in different directions.
Hangzhou Station offers Bus Route 7 between the station and Lingyin Temple. Metro Line 5 also connects here; transfer to Bus Route 4 to reach destinations like Liuhe Pagoda and Jiuxi Valley.
At Hangzhou South Station, take Metro Line 5 directly to Chengzhan Station, then transfer to Bus Route 7 for the northern route of West Lake Scenic Area.
Hangzhou West Station features Metro Line 3. Passengers can exit at Exit D of Dongyue Station and transfer to West Lake Shuttle Line 3 for direct access to Lingyin Scenic Area.
>> Recommended 4-day Shanghai tour with Hangzhou
By Long-distance Bus
The Hangzhou Tourist Distribution Center offers many buses that shuttle between nearby cities and scenic spots, such as Zhoushan, Shanghai, Tonglu, Shaoxing, Qianjiang Lake, etc.
How to Travel around Hangzhou
Hangzhou Public Transport
Including buses, taxis, water buses, and public bicycles, Hangzhou Public Transport is one of the primary transportation options for tourists in Hangzhou. Below are three recommended public transport routes to reach major attractions:
Bus Route 87:
Route: Huanglong Cave—Zhejiang University Affiliated High School—Zoo—Zhejiang Hotel—Shuangfeng—Nantianzhu—Longjing Temple—Longjing Tea House—Yangmeiling—Manjuelong—Siyanjing
Bus Route 318:
Route: Huanglong Cave—Zhejiang University Affiliated High School—Shuguang Apartments—Hangzhou Botanical Garden—Guozhuang—Dingjiashan—Air Force Sanatorium — Yuhu Bay—Zoo—Hupao—Liuhe Pagoda
Water Bus Line 1 (operating along the main channel of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal):
Route: Pujia Station-Genshan Gate-Wulin Gate-Xinyi Square-Gongchen Bridge-Grand Canal World
Hangzhou Metro
As of June 2025, Hangzhou Metro operates 12 lines: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 7, Line 8, Line 9, Line 10, Line 16, and Line 19. These lines connect the airport, railway stations, and major tourist attractions.
Hangzhou Shopping Tips
The most special products in Hangzhou are like silk clothes, Dragon well tea, Zhangxiaoquan scissors, Wangxingji fans, Tianmu dried bamboo shoots, little walnuts, and Hangzhou white chrysanthemum tea, etc.
Apart from China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou China silk town on Tiyuanchang road are the best place for silk clothes and other related products, which is open from 8am to 5pm. On the Night market off Yan’an Road like Mao memorabilia, jewelry, paper fans, handicraft and other souvenirs. Many stalls sell the same products, try to compare prices and bargain hard.
Except plants and pets, bird and flower market in Hangzhou also has something else in offer, like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with dried snake and seahorse, huge dried mushrooms and other strange things.
Hangzhou Travel Tip for Eating
Hangzhou cuisine belongs to Zhejiang cuisine, one of the Eight food schools in China. All the dishes are well-prepared, light and tasty, also appealing to the eyes, the nose and the tongue. Hangzhou dishes is closely related to the local culture and characterized by natural flavor, beautiful presentation and a light and delicious taste.
The representative of Hangzhou cuisine are Beggar's chicken (an entire chicken cooked in a ball of mud), West Lake fish (vinegar coated fish from the lake) and braised pork and stewed shelled shrimp cooked in Longjing tea.
For a list of places to eat in Hangzhou during your tour, please visit our page of Hangzhou Food and Restaurants.
>> Recommended 2 Days Hangzhou Food Tour
Nightlife / Entertainment in Hangzhou
Besides bars, pubs, disco and karaoke rooms, there are other traditional Chinese entertainment in Hangzhou. The dazzling Hangzhou Grand Theater offers vibrant program of classical and traditional music shows.
Impression West Lake is a fascinating show with stunning lighting and colors, has spectacular effects, directed by Yimou Zhang.
Hangzhou Festivals
There are many interesting festivals in Hangzhou with kinds of traditional events organized.
Best China Tours Including Hangzhou
Want to make most of the your time in Hangzhou with highlights and authentic experiences? Easy Tour China provide you an opportunity. See our most recommended China tours: