>
Independent China travel guide & tour portal · tourschinatravel.comEmail [email protected] · WhatsApp +86 138 0000 0000
The broken bridge and the winter willows of West Lake in Hangzhou
Home › Travel Guides › Hangzhou

Hangzhou Travel Guide — West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Songcheng, the Grand Canal and the Longjing tea fields

Hangzhou - the capital the poets called the finest city on earth - pairs the free beauty of West Lake with the incense of Lingyin Temple, the night shows of Songcheng, the Grand Canal that once carried the empire's grain, and the Longjing tea fields of the West Lake hills. Marco Polo praised it, the Southern Song made it their capital, and today the metro, the high-speed rail and the Xiaoshan airport bring it all within easy reach. The field guide carries the tickets, the opening hours, the hotel and restaurant phones, the bus and metro numbers and the practical lines, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.

HangzhouWest LakeLingyin TempleSongchengLongjing teaGrand CanalXixi WetlandQiandao Lake
2-3 DaysThe classic two days cover West Lake, Lingyin and the tea villages; a third adds Songcheng or the Grand Canal
From RMB 45Lingyin is RMB 75 (Feilai Peak RMB 45 + temple RMB 30); West Lake itself is free
Spring & AutumnMarch-April for peach and cherry blossom, September-November for the osmanthus and the lake breezes
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Hangzhou Bucket Listthe lake, the temple, the shows and the tea

01

Walk the West Lake circuit

The lake is free and best seen on foot or by bike - the Su Causeway and Bai Causeway, the Broken Bridge, the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the Leifeng Pagoda and the sunset from the Gushan islet.

02

Burn incense at Lingyin Temple

The RMB 75 ticket covers Feilai Peak (RMB 45) with its grotto carvings and the temple itself (RMB 30); the 7:00-18:00 hours make an early start worthwhile.

03

Watch Songcheng Everlasting Love

The great night show of Songcheng Park - the RMB 280 ticket includes the park and the performance, 10:00-21:00, at 148 Zhijiang Road.

04

Sip Longjing in the tea villages

Longjing, Wengjiashan, Meijiawu and the Yangmeiling hills - the terraced tea fields where the Qing emperors picked the first leaves; the tasting rooms line the village lanes.

05

Glide the Grand Canal water bus

The water buses run the old canal at RMB 3-5 per ride - the Wulinmen terminal to Gongchen Bridge passes the old warehouses, the museums and the canal folk houses.

06

See the Impression West Lake show

The outdoor 'Impression West Lake' performs on the lake itself, 19:45-20:45 at RMB 200-600, at 29 Yanggong Causeway; the summer adds a second show.

Top Highlightsthe postcard scenes of the lake city

No.1West Lake at the Broken Bridge

West Lake at the Broken Bridge

The bridge, the willows and the pagoda lights at dusk.

No.2Lingyin Temple from above

Lingyin Temple from above

The temple roof line among the Feilai Peak trees.

No.3Songcheng Park

Songcheng Park

The Song-dynasty city built for the nightly show.

No.4Liuhe Pagoda over the river

Liuhe Pagoda over the river

The thirteen-storey tower above the Qiantang bore.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Hangzhou

How many days do I need in Hangzhou?

Two days cover West Lake, Lingyin and a tea village; a third adds Songcheng or the Grand Canal; a fourth can reach Xixi Wetland or take the bus to Qiandao Lake.

Is West Lake really free?

Yes - the lake and its causeways are free all day. Paid items inside include the Leifeng Pagoda, the boats and the Three Pools Mirrored-in-the-Moon island cruise.

How do I get to Lingyin Temple?

Bus 7, Y1, Y2 or K807 from the city centre, or the metro to Fengqi Road and a short ride. The RMB 75 ticket covers both Feilai Peak and the temple.

When is the best time for the tea fields?

The spring picking season of late March to mid-April, when the Longjing hills are green and the farmers sell the new leaves; autumn is the second best for the osmanthus.

How much is Songcheng and the show?

RMB 280 includes the park and the 'Songcheng Everlasting Love' show; the park runs 10:00-21:00 and the box office is +86 571 8709 9989.

What about the Impression West Lake show?

It performs on the water at 29 Yanggong Causeway, 19:45-20:45 (an extra 21:15-22:15 show on Fridays and Saturdays), at RMB 200-600; booking line +86 400 040 8890.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Hangzhou trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the Songcheng and Impression shows, the lake cruises, the hotels and the tea-village tours, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe lake day and the temple-and-tea day

West Lake Classic - One Day

The lake circuit, the causeways and the sunset - the whole of the classic Hangzhou in a single day. View the plan →

Day 1

Start at the Broken Bridge at 8:00, walk the Bai Causeway to the Gushan islet and the Zhongshan Park pavilions; take the lake cruise to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (RMB 55-90); lunch on the Hubin Road restaurants; walk the Su Causeway to the Leifeng Pagoda for the sunset view.

Lingyin & Longjing - Two Days

The temple, the grottoes and the tea villages of the West Lake hills. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning at Lingyin Temple and the Feilai Peak grottoes (RMB 75); afternoon on the Longjing tea village road - Longjing village, the China National Tea Museum and the terraced fields; evening on the Hefang Street snack market.

Day 2

Morning at Songcheng Park with the 'Songcheng Everlasting Love' matinee; afternoon on the Grand Canal water bus from Wulinmen to Gongchen Bridge; optional night session of Impression West Lake at 19:45.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Hangzhou itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

West Lake

West Lake

The free lake at the heart of Hangzhou - the Bai and Su causeways, the Broken Bridge, the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the Leifeng Pagoda and the night lights of Hubin Road; hire a bike (RMB 10-20) or take the sightseeing bus for the full circuit.

Free · All day · UNESCO · Lake
View details →
Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak

Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak

The great Buddhist temple below Feilai Peak, whose grottoes carry the Tang and Five-Dynasty carvings; the combined ticket is RMB 75 (Feilai Peak RMB 45 + Lingyin RMB 30), 7:00-18:00, at 1 Fayun Lane, Lingyin Road.

RMB 75 · 07:00-18:00 · Temple · Grottoes
View details →
Songcheng Park

Songcheng Park

The Song-dynasty theme park at 148 Zhijiang Road with the nightly 'Songcheng Everlasting Love' show - the RMB 280 ticket includes both; 10:00-21:00; box office +86 571 8709 9989.

RMB 280 · 10:00-21:00 · Show · Theme Park
View details →
Liuhe Pagoda

Liuhe Pagoda

The thirteen-storey pagoda of 970 AD standing over the Qiantang River and the bridge - the classic viewpoint for the river and the city; about RMB 20 plus the park.

RMB 20 · 08:00-17:00 · Pagoda · Viewpoint
View details →
Grand Canal Water Bus

Grand Canal Water Bus

The old canal runs from Wulinmen to Gongchen Bridge at RMB 3-5 a ride - the folk houses, the museums and the bridges of the imperial waterway; the night cruises cost RMB 50-80.

RMB 3-5 · Daylight hours · Canal · Boat Ride
View details →
Xixi National Wetland Park

Xixi National Wetland Park

The 'triple Xi' wetland of reeds, waterways and old houses 5 km west of West Lake - RMB 80 (online booking discounts RMB 15-20), the boat circuit takes 1.5 hours; see the separate Xixi guide.

RMB 80 · 08:00-17:30 · Wetland · Nature
View details →
Longjing Tea Villages

Longjing Tea Villages

The tea terraces of Longjing, Wengjiashan, Meijiawu and Yangmeiling - the spring picking season (late March to mid-April) is the classic time; the tasting rooms and the China National Tea Museum are free to wander.

Free · Daylight hours · Tea · Village
View details →
Hefang Street & Qinghefang

Hefang Street & Qinghefang

The restored Song-dynasty market street beside the lake - snacks, silk shops, the Hu Qing Yu Tang medicine hall and the night lanterns; free and open all day.

Free · All day · Market · Old Street
View details →

More in the region on the Zhejiang attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsshows, festivals and the seasonal events

Impression West Lake

The outdoor water show on the lake at 29 Yanggong Causeway, 19:45-20:45 (extra 21:15-22:15 show Friday-Saturday), RMB 200-600; booking +86 400 040 8890.

Songcheng Everlasting Love

The grand night show of the Song dynasty - included in the RMB 280 Songcheng Park ticket; performances run through the day and night.

Hangzhou Animation Festival

The late-April to early-May festival at the Baima Lake complex - the biggest animation fair in China, with parades and screenings.

Qiantang River Bore

The great tidal bore of the Qiantang river, best seen around the 18th day of the eighth lunar month at Yanguan and the riverside viewpoints.

West Lake Music Festival

The open-air concerts of late October-November at the Taiziwan Park, plus the spring sessions in May.

Peach & Cherry Blossom Season

March-April: the cherry blossom of Taiziwan Park and the peach blossom of the Su Causeway - the free postcard season of the lake.

Where to Stayfrom the youth hostels to the lakefront classics

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Zhejiang hotels directory.

Shangri-La Hangzhou

The lakeside classic at 78 Beishan Road - from RMB 1,200; +86 571 8797 7951.

Phone: +86 571 8797 7951 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Wangzhuang (Xizi Hotel)

The former private garden of the lake at 37 Nanshan Road - from RMB 700; +86 571 8797 9889.

Phone: +86 571 8797 9889 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

New New Hotel

The century-old hotel at 58 Beishan Road - from RMB 500; +86 571 8766 0000.

Phone: +86 571 8766 0000 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Hangzhou International Youth Hostel

The popular hostel at 101-3 Nanshan Road - from RMB 55; +86 571 8708 7891.

Phone: +86 571 8708 7891 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Wushan Youth Hostel

The budget classic at 22 Zhongshan Middle Road - from RMB 45; +86 571 8701 8790.

Phone: +86 571 8701 8790 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Red Star Culture Mansion

The central hotel of the city at 2 Yan'an Road - from RMB 400; +86 571 8770 3888.

Phone: +86 571 8770 3888 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe lake cuisine of the Song capital

Lou Wai Lou

The century-old lakefront restaurant at 30 Gushan Road - the Dongpo pork, the West Lake vinegar fish and the Longjing shrimp; +86 571 8796 9682.

Phone: +86 571 8796 9682

Tian Xiang Lou

The classic Hangzhou kitchen at 187 Jiefang Road - the beggar's chicken and the seasonal lake fish; +86 571 8706 3623.

Phone: +86 571 8706 3623

Grandma’s Home (Wai Po Jia)

The hugely popular budget chain - the West Lake vinegar fish and the tea-smoked duck at about RMB 40-60 per head.

Green Tea (Longjing Road)

The tea-house restaurant on the Longjing road - the lake fish, the bamboo shoots and the tea-flavoured dishes; +86 571 8788 8222.

Phone: +86 571 8788 8222

New White Deer

The young favourite of the city - the shrimp, the braised pork and the noodle dishes at about RMB 30-50 per head.

Zhiweiguan

The 1913 noodle and dim sum hall of the city - the West Lake fish soup noodles, the shao mai and the seasonal snacks.

Shopping & Souvenirssilk, fans, lotus root starch and the tea

China Silk City

The silk market at 226 Xinhua Road - scarves, quilts and brocade from the city that fed the Silk Road; bargaining expected.

Dujinsheng Silk Shop

The 1922 silk house of the city at 261 Jiefang Road - the famous Dujinsheng brocade and the silk paintings.

West Lake Silk Umbrellas

The painted silk umbrellas of the lake - the classic souvenir, sold on Hefang Street and in the lakefront shops.

Lotus Root Starch

The sweet lotus root powder of the lake - the traditional Hangzhou gift in the tins sold across the old street.

Longjing Tea

The spring-picked Longjing of the West Lake hills - buy in the tea villages themselves, where the farmers set the day's price.

Full local-product guides live on the Zhejiang specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby air, rail, coach, metro, taxi and water bus

By airBy air

By air

Xiaoshan International Airport, 30 km from the city - the airport buses at RMB 20 per person (+86 571 8666 1234 / 8666 1236); a taxi to the centre is about RMB 100-130.

By trainThe main Hangzhou Station on Chengzhan Road (+86 571 8782 9983) and the East Station for the high-speed rail - the metro and the buses link both to the lake.

The main Hangzhou Station on Chengzhan Road (+86 571 8782 9983) and the East Station for the high-speed rail - the metro and the buses link both to the lake.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/GK46bT82doid74xwzu3cLiQtnFf

By coachBy coach

By coach

Four long-distance terminals serve the province - the West Station for the Qiandao Lake coaches (6:00-18:50 every 30 minutes, RMB 60, about 2 hours), the East, the North and the South.

By metroThe metro lines cross the city at RMB 2-8 - Line 1 reaches the lake and the East Station; the stops are announced in English.

The metro lines cross the city at RMB 2-8 - Line 1 reaches the lake and the East Station; the stops are announced in English.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Rw10bEPvOoICXRxIdJSc1PpAn5b

By taxi & busTaxis start at RMB 11 for 3 km; city buses cost RMB 1-2; the public bicycles are free for the first hour with the card deposit.

Taxis start at RMB 11 for 3 km; city buses cost RMB 1-2; the public bicycles are free for the first hour with the card deposit.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Rw10bEPvOoICXRxIdJSc1PpAn5b

By water busThe Grand Canal water buses run at RMB 3-5 per ride; the West Lake cruises cost RMB 55-90; the night canal cruise RMB 50-80.

The Grand Canal water buses run at RMB 3-5 per ride; the West Lake cruises cost RMB 55-90; the night canal cruise RMB 50-80.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

Day Trips From Hangzhouthe wetland, the tea hills and the canal

Xixi Wetland Day Trip

Xixi Wetland Day Trip

The reeds, the waterways and the old houses of the city wetland.

Longjing Tea Village Day Trip

Longjing Tea Village Day Trip

The terraces, the tasting rooms and the China National Tea Museum.

Grand Canal Day Trip

Grand Canal Day Trip

The water bus, the Gongchen Bridge and the canal museums.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Start West Lake early

The causeways are at their best before 9:00 - walk the Broken Bridge to the Su Causeway before the tour groups arrive.

Lingyin ticket is combined

The RMB 75 covers Feilai Peak and the temple together - keep the ticket for both gates, and buy at the main entrance before 16:00.

Book the shows ahead

Songcheng and Impression West Lake sell out in high season - reserve the night before via the box-office lines or our team.

The tea price is real

Spring Longjing from the villages runs RMB 300-3,000 per jin depending on the picking date - taste before you buy and never trust the street peddlers.

Mind the bore days

The Qiantang bore is best on the 18th of the eighth lunar month - the riverside viewpoints fill by noon, so arrive early.

Metro for the rush

The lake ring road jams in the evenings - the metro and the public bicycles are faster than taxis across the centre.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Hangzhou tourism complaint line

The official complaints line of the city.

Phone: +86 571 96123

Huanglong Tourist Distribution Centre

The tour-bus centre for the lake and the hills.

Phone: +86 571 8796 1729

Wushan Tourist Distribution Centre

The second distribution centre of the old town.

Phone: +86 571 8780 9951

Hangzhou TCM Hospital

The hospital at 453 Tiyuchang Road.

Phone: +86 571 8582 7888

Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital

The hospital at 158 Shangtang Road.

Phone: +86 571 8523 9988

First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University

The hospital at 79 Qingchun Road.

Phone: +86 571 8723 6352

Background & Historyfrom the Song capital to the silk metropolis

The Song capital

Hangzhou was the capital of the Southern Song (1127-1279) - the city the poet Lin Sheng called 'the warm breeze that made the tourists forget their homeland'.

Marco Polo’s praise

The Venetian called it 'the finest and noblest city in the world' - the canals, the markets and the lake he described still shape the centre.

The tea of the emperors

The Longjing of the West Lake hills was the tribute tea of the Qing court - the Qianlong emperor himself picked the 'eighteen imperial tea bushes' of Longjing village.

The silk city

Hangzhou fed the Silk Road for a thousand years - the silk museums, the Dujinsheng house and the China Silk City keep the trade alive.

Plan Your Hangzhou Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Hangzhou trip lives on the site.

Zhejiang Attractions

Zhejiang Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Zhejiang attraction.

Browse Zhejiang sights
Hangzhou Hotels

Hangzhou Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Zhejiang — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Zhejiang hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Hangzhou.

See China flights
Zhejiang Specialties

Zhejiang Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Zhejiang — where to find each one.

Browse Zhejiang specialties
Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Zhejiang agency
More China Travel Guides

More China Travel Guides

More city and region guides across China, including the Zhejiang guide.

Browse all guides