ChinaTripGuide

East China · 杭州

Hangzhou

West Lake, tea fields and classical Chinese beauty

2 days recommendedFrom $40/day

Why Visit

Marco Polo called it 'the finest and most splendid city in the world.' Seven centuries later the setting is still poetic: willow-lined West Lake, hillside tea villages and pagodas in the mist — plus China's e-commerce capital energy and superb food just underneath.

  • Cycle or walk the willow-lined causeways of West Lake at dawn
  • Pick and roast tea in the Longjing villages that grow China's most famous green tea
  • Hike to hilltop pagodas through bamboo and osmanthus groves
  • Eat Dongpo pork and West Lake fish in their hometown

Top Things to Do

Sunset around West Lake

3 hoursFree (pagoda ¥40)

Walk Su Causeway to the Broken Bridge, catch the Leifeng Pagoda sunset, then the musical fountain show.

Longjing tea village afternoon

Half day¥100–200 (tea tasting)

Bus or taxi into the hills, walk the tea terraces, and taste this spring's harvest with a farmer.

Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak

Half day¥75 (combined)

Climb past 4th–10th-century Buddha carvings into the monastery complex.

Bicycle loop of the lake

3 hours¥20 (bike)

Shared bikes work on the lakeside paths; a full slow loop takes about 3 hours with photo stops.

Impression West Lake show

1 hour¥260–680

Zhang Yimou's on-the-water night spectacle — genuinely moving, book ahead.

Where to Stay

West Lake (Beishan / Nanshan Road)

Scenic

Hotels facing the lake — pricey but you can walk the causeways before the crowds.

Wulin / downtown

Practical

Business-district hotels, two metro lines, easy access to the rail station.

Longjing / Manjuelong villages

Tea-house retreat

Guesthouses up in the tea hills — quiet mornings and fresh air.

Food You Can't Miss

Dongpo pork

Slow-braised pork belly named for the poet-governor Su Dongpo — a melt-in-the-mouth Hangzhou classic.

West Lake fish in vinegar sauce

Tender lake fish in a sweet-sour glaze, traditionally from a live-caught carp.

Longjing shrimp

River shrimp stir-fried with fresh dragon-well tea leaves.

Beggar's chicken

Whole chicken wrapped in lotus leaf and clay and baked for hours — order hours ahead.

Sample 2-Day Plan

  1. 1

    West Lake classic

    Su Causeway at dawn, Leifeng Pagoda, evening fountain show and Nanshan Road dinner.

  2. 2

    Tea & temples

    Lingyin Temple morning, Longjing tea village afternoon, Hefang Street snacks at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need in Hangzhou?

Two days cover the lake, Lingyin and a tea village. Add a third for Xixi Wetlands or a day trip to the ancient water town Wuzhen.

Is Hangzhou worth visiting if I've seen the cities?

Absolutely — it's the 'scenery leg' of a classic first trip, and it softens the pace between Beijing/Shanghai's intensity.

When is the tea harvest?

The prized pre-Qingming ('mingqian') harvest happens in late March–early April. You can watch roasting then, and pay accordingly.

What's the best way to get from Shanghai?

High-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East: 45–65 minutes, trains every few minutes, ¥73–¥110.

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