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►Paradise on Earth
Hangzhou enjoys the fame of real paradise on earth together with Suzhou. As what has been widespread for such a long time among folks, it is said that up above there is heaven, down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou. Sceneries in Hangzhou and Suzhou best describe how it is looked like in Jiangnan Area, the mountains, lakes, ancient bridges, different pagodas, create a colorful Hangzhou.
Leifeng Pagoda
►Traditional Tea Culture
Tea culture in Hangzhou may be dated back to the Tang Dynasty, the prosperity of tea culture kept the same pace with the development of Hangzhou. Longjing Tea, or Dagon Well Tea, is one of the most famous ten kinds of Tea in China, especially West Lake Longjing Tea, ranked the top on the list, which is named the Queen of Green Tea. A number of Chinese poems were written for the tea in Hangzhou, Longjing Tea has been popular among local people and it’s loved by many famous poets and literary men from ancient China.
►Varieties of Food
As the capital city of Zhejiang Province, food in Hangzhou has its specific flavor, carries the main food style in Jiangnan Area. It is also the main part of Zhejiang Cuisine, which is one of the Eight Chinese Cuisines. A variety of famous and delicious dishes in Hangzhou are waiting for you to give a try.
►Charming West Lake
West Lake is no wonder the symbol of Hangzhou, this charming lake provides all the tourists beautiful but different sceneries for all the four seasons, no matter how changeable the weather is, sunny or rainy, you could have a view of its beauty at every minute from morning to dawn.
West Lake
Read more about Hangzhou facts.
Located in the southeast coast of China, weather in Hangzhou has a distinctive difference from spring to winter, it’s hot and wet in summer, cold and dry in winter, with a long rainy season. The best time to visit Hangzhou is spring and autumn, usually from March to April and September to October. Summer in Hangzhou is really hot, not so comfortable for outdoor activities, but it’s the most beautiful time of lotuses in the West Lake.
Annual Temperature: 17.8 ℃
Rainy Season: April to September
Crowded Season: Late Jan. or early Feb. (Chinese Spring Festival);
first week of May (Labor Day);
first week of October (National Day)
Spring of Su Causeway
Notice:
Better to avoid these periods since the price for hotel and transportation may be higher and it’s crowded everywhere.
Read more about climate and weather in Hangzhou.
West Lake, being the symbolic landmark in Hangzhou, must be the first thing come to one’s mind when mention Hangzhou. Embraced by green mountains on three sides, the whole lake has been divided into five parts, with ancient pagodas, small islands, and three lake dykes around. The West Lake kindly offers tourists its fascinating charm from day to night, regardless of how changeable the weather is, you may always find something beautiful all year round. Different ways are available to best appreciate the beauty of the West Lake, you could rather take the sightseeing cart to travel around the lake, or get on a boat to get close to it, if you find it too boring for just sitting there, cycling may be a good choice for an ease trip around West Lake.
Lingyin Temple, built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, is one of the top ten most famous ancient Buddhist monasteries in China, with a long history of more than 1600 years. Located at the northwest of the West Lake, sceneries in Lingyin Temple is regarded as one of the most famous Ten Views of West Lake, mysterious with its own tranquil glamor.
Wuzhen Water Town is another typical water town in Jiangnan Area, situated 60 kilometers away from Hangzhou, has a splendid long history of more than six thousand years. Ancient architectures are all surrounded by water with The Grand Canal passing by, rivers, lakes join together with the colorful folk culture and historical civilization, showing tourists a unique picture of this charming ancient water town.
Tea culture in Hangzhou is what we have to mention, as the Longjing Tea is the best green tea in China which is really popular among the local people and tourists. Except for tasting and buying some, another choice may provide a different experience for you. Go to the Meijiawu Tea Village if you are really interested in traditional tea culture, for it is one of the main plantations of Longjing Tea in Hangzhou.
Choose a show for relaxing may be the best way to maximize your limited time in Hangzhou, so as to extend your schedule and get closer to the glorious culture in Hangzhou. The Impression of West Lake Show or the Romance of the Song Dynasty Show may give you a great experience during your trip in Hangzhou.
Impression of West Lake Show
More attractions in Hangzhou.
Hangzhou dishes pay more attention to the fresh flavor, and that is what it famous for. Choose fresh seasonal ingredients and put only few seasoning and oil in order to keep the original taste of each ingredient, Hangzhou dishes have a perfect combination of sweet and salty flavor, palatable and delicate. Dishes below may give you some inspirations of what to eat in Hangzhou.
Dongpo Pork
Read more about food in Hangzhou.
►Eastern Area of West Lake
You may choose from all varieties of hotels around this area. Close to commercial area, it’s also convenient for eating, shopping and transportation. You can watch a musical fountain show near the West Lake.
►Near Lingyin Temple
Not so noisy compared to the eastern part of West Lake, with a comfortable environment around. This area is with good conditions of eating and plenty choices of hotels. You can walk to Lingyin Temple and try the vegetarian food inside the temple, which is cheap and delicious for a try.
►Xixi National Wetland Park
A good choice to experience the charm of Xixi Wetland, with fresh air and beautiful natural sceneries, leisure and quiet for slowing down your pace of life. But it’s a little bit far from the West Lake, so that it’s not so convenient to other attractions.
►Siyanjing Area
With a number of hostels and characteristic shops, cheaper with fine conditions, very popular among solo travelers and backpackers. But it’s not so convenient to other attractions in Hangzhou. Better to book ahead of time, because this area is the hottest area for young people.
Usually 2 to 3 days for main attractions inside Hangzhou, you may extend your visiting days according to your interests on other attractions outside the city. You can also consider a connecting trip with Shanghai, only one hour by high-speed train.
What to Do for 2-3 Days
Qiandao Lake
Recommended Hangzhou Tours:
One Day Hangzhou Highlight Tour: West Lake, Huaxiang Guanyu, Lingyin Temple, Peak Flown from Afar
One Day Hangzhou to Wuzhen Water Town Tour: Wuzhen water town
3 Days Hangzhou City Essence Tour: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Meijiawu Tea Plantation, Chenghuang Pavilion, Hefang Street
5 Days Shanghai and Hangzhou Tour: Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Nanjing Road, West Lake, Linyin Temple, Six Harmonious Pagoda, Qinghefang Street, Meijiawu Tea Village
Tailor-made your personal Hangzhou Tour: Free Online Tailor-made Tour
More information about Hangzhou tours.
By Airplane
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, located 30 kilometers away from the city center, is one of the largest international airports in China. This airport is available for flights from most of main cities in China and many international airlines. Shuttle bus in the airport is easily to take, and you can also take airport express to cities near Hangzhou, such as Suzhou, Shaoxing and Yiwu.
| Beijing | Xi’an | Guilin | Chengdu | Guangzhou | Kunming |
| 2h 20m | 2h 20m | 2h | 2h 30m | 2h | 3h |
Shuttle Bus:
►Wulinmen: 20 yuan, 45 minutes.
►Pinghai Road: 20 yuan, 70 minutes.
►Hangzou East Railway Station: 20 yuan, 30 minutes.
By Train
You may take trains from most of cities in China to Hangzhou Railway Station or Hangzhou East Railway Station. Metro is available to take inside the station, and there are a lot of buses can get to train station as well.
| Beijing | Shanghai | Xi’an | Guilin | Chengdu | Guangzhou | Suzhou |
| 5-6 hours | 1h | 7h | 8h 20m | 14h | 6h | 1h 20m |
Tips:
►To Hangzhou Railway Station: Metro Line 1; Bus No. 3, 7, 11, 21, 39, 49, 88, 90, 100, B3, 200, 222, 225 etc.
►To Hangzhou East Railway Station: Metro Line 1/4; Bus No. 864, 320, 9M, B4, 215, 200, 227 etc.
Getting around in Hangzhou
Metro: Line 1, Line 2 and Line 4 are available to take currently, price starts from 2 to 8 yuan.
Bus: Normal bus for 1-1.5 yuan, bus with air-conditioner for 2 to 3 yuan, and BRT for 3-4 yuan, check the price on the station board. There are also special lines for tourism, around the West Lake and for the night time.
Water Bus: For tourism, connected to Xixi, Qiantang River and the Grand Canal, but only available during summer time and peak seasons, from 7:00 to 18:00.
Taxi: flexible for your time, but better to avoid the rush hour in the morning and afternoon.
Bike: Shared bikes are everywhere, you can also use the public bike in Hangzhou, free within 60 minutes,
Read more about Transportation in Hangzhou.
What to Prepare
What to Know
Read more about Hangzhou Travel Tips.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
| 你好 | Nǐhǎo | Hello/Hi |
| 再见 | Zàijiàn | Bye/See you |
| 谢谢 | Xièxie | Thank you. |
| 不客气 | Búkèqi | You’re welcome. |
| 对不起 | Duìbùqǐ | Sorry |
| 请问卫生间在哪里？ | Qǐngwènwèishēngjiānzàinǎlǐ? | Excuse me, where is the restroom? |
| 多少钱？ | Duōshǎoqián? | How much? |
Learn more about Survival Chinese Phrases.
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