Things to see and do in Hangzhou, China?

Located in the southeast of China and only 180km from Shanghai, Hangzhou is one of the main tourist cities in the country for its historical and cultural heritage. Hangzhou is also known for its picturesque corners where you can’t help but take a thousand pictures of its incredible natural landscapes. In the surroundings there are plenty of excursions to do around the areas such as the Xinan River, the Tianmu Mountain, the Qingliang Peak or the Xixi National Park. Whether in the surrounding area or in the city, we are sure you will love everything in Hangzhou.

In Hangzhou life revolves around the West Lake, where we will find beautiful pagodas surrounded by nature. It also has a great influence on the local cuisine, one of the best and most curious in the country. Have you ever tasted a cat’s ear? In this post we will tell you the essential things to do in and around Hangzhou. And we’ll give you other travel tips such as where to stay and eat, what to do in one day or how to get to the city.

What are the best places to visit in Hangzhou

1. West Lake

It is the main attraction of Hangzhou city. With more than 8 square kilometers and sharing its name with 36 other lakes in the country, West Lake is the perfect place to get lost in nature and disconnect from the city. The scenery is spectacular, which is why it was named a World Heritage Site in 2011.

There you can do a myriad of activities such as visiting the pagodas and temples on the shores of the lake, take long walks under the trees, ride a bike or golf carts, or ride a boat and visit the small islands that bring special charm to the lake. Every evening there is also a show called The Impression of West Lake. There you can enjoy the legends of the lake with a play of light and shadow. It takes place every day from 19:45h to 21:00h. And from Thursday to Saturday there is a second session from 21:15h to-22:30h.

2. Pagoda of the 6 Harmonies

The 6 Harmonies Pagoda, or Liuhe Pagoda, is one of the most impressive pagodas in Hangzhou. It was built in 970 BC, at the time of the Song Dynasty in order to control the waves of the Qiantang River and act as a lighthouse to illuminate and thus facilitate navigation. The tower, built of wood and brick is 60 meters high and from the top the views are a real spectacle.

Unfortunately you can only visit it on Saturdays and Sundays, which is open from 6:30am to 5:30pm. Admission costs 20 yuan (almost 3€) and it’s definitely worth it for the incredible views from the top of Yuelun Hill where this majestic pagoda stands.

3. Lingyin Temple

There are several temples to visit in Hangzhou. However, Lingyin Temple is one of the most spectacular in all of China. It was built 2000 years ago and it is surprising how well it has been preserved over the years. Its secret is that it had to be rebuilt more than 16 times. The temple, also known as the “Temple of the Hidden Soul” or “Temple of the Retreat of Souls” houses a huge collection of literary Buddhist relics of great historical significance.

The temple complex consists of the gardens, 9 buildings, 18 towers, 72 halls and 1300 dormitories where about 300 monks live. It is open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and full admission including both the temple and the Feilai scenic area costs 75 yuan (about 11€).

4. Hangzhou Silk Museum

This is the largest silk museum in the world. It tells the story of silk in China, dating back more than 5000 years. The facility is divided into 5 parts: the Preface Hall, the Hall of Historical Relics, the Hall of Silk, the Hall of Dyeing and Weaving and the Hall of Modern Achievement. It also has a beautiful garden to stroll through and a store.

The facilities are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and you can get tickets there. You can do it online as well, but the page is not well translated and it is more complicated. It is also very common to visit the museum on an organized tour that usually includes some of the pagodas.

5. Leifeng Pagoda

Located on the top of the hill  Sunset Hill, the Leifeng Pagoda offers the best scenery in Hangzhou of the lake and the city. This beautiful building surrounded by nature dates back to the 10th century, but later it was rebuilt in 2002 after falling down in 1924. The entrance fee is only 40 yuan (about 6 €) and it is open from 8:00h to 20:00h between May and October, the rest of the year it closes earlier. If you have the opportunity we recommend watching the sunset from the top, the views will not disappoint you.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Hangzhou

1. Meijiawu, the Longjing Tea Village

There are several tea plantations around West Lake that are world famous for the quality of their plants. In the village of Maijiawu we find Meijiawu Tea Cultural Village, where the best plantations are distributed in terraces along green hills. There you can see the process of collecting Longjing tea, also known as dragon tea.

The best months to visit the plantations is between March and April, which is the tea-picking season. Admission is free, but you can go on a private tour where you will learn more details of the whole process and get to taste this amazing drink.

2. The floating village of Xitang

One hour and 20 minutes by car from Hangzhou will take you to the town of Xitang. It is also known as the Ancient Water Town because of how the architecture of the place merges with the canals. In contrast to the city of Shanghai which is just 1h away, this small town surprises us with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, canals and wooden boats in which the locals move around.

Another of the town’s main attractions are its 104 bridges, built in different styles. The town is very quiet and cozy, perfect for a day trip. The main points of interest to visit are the Xiyuan Park, Wangxian Bridge and Xue House.

3. Xixi National Park

The nature around Hangzhou will leave you speechless with its lush forests and dense vegetation all around. However, among the valleys and hills we also find the Xixi National Park, famous for its wetlands of 10 square kilometers of extension. It shelters a huge amount of animal and plant species. Hiking trails are available in the park, but the best thing to do is to take a boat ride on the lake and river that make it up.

What to see in 1 day in Hangzhou

Located in a natural enclave of such beauty as the mountains and hills surrounding Hangzhou it would be a shame not to enjoy this privileged environment for at least 3 days. But if you just have a few hours to spend in the city, these are the must-see in Hangzhou that you can not miss.

Most of the most important points of interest are located near the lake. So, we recommend that you spend the day in the area strolling around and discovering the pagodas and temples hidden on different islands of the lake and among the surrounding forests. The most beautiful buildings are the Lingyin Temple, the Leifeng Pagoda and the 6 Harmonies Pagoda.

Where and what to eat in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is one of the best cities in China to enjoy the local cuisine, influenced by the proximity of the West Lake. Among the region’s specialties are sweet and sour fish, Dongpo pork and fried shrimp with Longjing Tea. Here are some of the best restaurants in town to try these exotic dishes.

• Shan Wai Shan: is one of the best traditional Chinese cuisine restaurants in town. The food is incredible, as is the stunning decor of the place. It’s not the cheapest in town, but everyone who has been there recommends it.
• Zhi Wei Guan: if you want to try Hangzhou cuisine in its purest form, you can’t miss this restaurant where, among other specialties, they serve cat’s ear. The price of the meal is around 20€ and you will love the experience.
• The Grandma’s Restaurant: is the perfect restaurant to try chicken with Longjing tea, beggar’s chicken, fried shrimp with Longjing tea. It is located next to the West Lake and besides serving quality dishes, the price is very affordable. And the waiters are very friendly, they will make you feel at home.

Where to stay in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is a very touristic city in China, so you won’t have a hard time finding accommodation. The most recommended neighborhoods are downtown, around Wulin Square or the Yanan Road-Area. These are the areas best connected to the main points of interest and the airport. Other areas where there are also good accommodations are around the West Lake or near the Wushan Square. Here are some of our favorite accommodations in the city.

• Hangzhou Xihu Qinghe Hostel: this friendly hostel is located between the city center and the Xixi Wetland. It has shared areas such as the kitchen, swimming pool and living areas. They offer family, shared and private rooms from 35€ to 70€ per night and organize tours in the surrounding area.
• Atour Hotel: is a nice and affordable hotel well located between the main sights in Hangzhou. Room rates range from €60 to €90.
• Hangzhou Xihu District: these are very modern apartments for two people with kitchen and private bathroom. The night ranges from 60€ and is a very good option if we are going to spend enough time in the city.

How to get to Hangzhou

Although Hangzhou is one of the main tourist cities in China, it is not very well connected with Europe. So, you will have to make a stopover in another city in China. There are 5 airports near the city where we can make a stopover, but we recommend flying to Shanghai. From there you will have more options to get to Hangzhou.

• Airplane: from Shanghai you can fly to Hangzhou International Airport, which is 35km from the city center.
• Train: is one of the best options as it takes just 1h. During the day there are more than 30 trains going to Hangzhou, but they are very full so it is recommended to buy tickets in advance. The ticket price ranges between 12 and 20 dollars.
• Bus: Although it is the cheapest option, but that the journey takes almost three times as long as by train, so it is not highly recommended.

What should I consider before traveling to Hangzhou

• The official currency is the yuan.
• The best time to travel to Hangzhou is in autumn, when the days are still long and it doesn’t rain as much.
• It is best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as their prices are high.
• In Hangzhou we can bargain in the places where the price is not fixed. Like in the street markets or in sweets or gift shops.
• The Mandarin language is spoken in Hangzhou.
• No visa is required to go to Hangzhou from Spain, a passport is enough.
• Be covered for medical emergencies: travel insured

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Hangzhou

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers the things to do and see in Hangzhou.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Hangzhou