It is said that Hangzhou was the first city in Human history with over 1 million in population. Yes, pretty impressive, right?
You can plan on a day trip to Hangzhou from Shanghai, Nanjing or Suzhou, or spend 2-3 days of exploring; There are plenty of things to do.
West Lake (西湖)
West Lake boasts the impressive accolade of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has three causeways and is split into five segments - you will find beautiful gardens, temples and pagodas dotted generously around.
Although visiting the West Lake is free, there are fees to visit certain attractions within the site, these include the Leifeng Pagoda (CNY 40) and the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (CNY 55).
Rent bicycles, walk in and around the lake or take a boat ride to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Tea plantations - most famous Green Tea in China (龙井)
Huddled in the hills surrounding the lake you will find the Meijawu village and tea plantation, a renowned Dragon Well Plantation and major producer of West Lake Dragon Wall tea.
Alternatively, try Longjing village's tea plantations. At over 1200 years old Longjing offers history and culture in abundance.
Both tea plantations are open daily and free to enter. While you are there soak up the atmosphere of the tea fields, and afterwards enjoy a home-made lunch and cup of tea.
Lingying Temple (灵隐寺)
The literal translation is “Temple of the Soul’s Retreat” and this temple is built to impress! Lingying is large and wealthy, and home to stunning grottoes and pagodas.
Hear the fascinating tales about the “Peak flying from afar” - Legend has it that a renowned Buddhist master called Yi Gong foresaw that a hill would fly and land on the village (near the temple) and destroy everything. The villagers were reluctant to believe his story, and wouldn’t hear his pleas to leave the city.
So, Yi Gong kidnapped a bride from her ceremony and was promptly chased by the villagers – out of the city and to safety. If you wonder what happened with the peak? Well, it is there, next to the temple.
Lingying Temple is open every day from 07:00 to 18:15 and admission is CNY 45 for the Peak and 30 CNY for the temple itself.
Liuhe (6 harmonies) Pagoda and Leifeng Pagoda
You can’t visit Hangzhou without seeing a pagoda close up. Liuhe (literally translated as "six harmonies " pagoda), is based at the base south-west to the West Lake, facing the Qiantang river.
Liufeng Pagoda is located on and facing the West Lake, and was originally built back in AD 975.
Both are pleasing on the eye, although Liufeng is more “commercial,” there’s even a lift for those who are less mobile.
Liufeng Pagoda is open daily 06:30 -17:30 and costs CNY 40 to enter.
Liuhe Pagoda is open daily 06:30 – 17:30 and costs CNY 20 to enter.
Old street (河坊街)
For a lively and atmospheric shopping experience head to Hefang Old Street. Here you will find unique stores and vendors specializing in all sorts, from candy sculptures to bonsai trees, paper-cutting and little figurines made from dough. You can also visit stores specializing in Chinese medicine.
If you’re hungry after all that, you can feast on a local delicacy “dragon-whisker” candy or dine in one of the many small bistros.
Xixi Wetlands (西溪国家湿地公园)
If you’re staying in Hangzhou a little longer than a day, go and check out the Xixi wetlands. This park is the country’s first and only one state-level wetland park.
Visitors can spends hours or even the entire day strolling throughout the vast park full of gardens, statues, and small museums.
You can take a battery boat and circulate the water-ways or a battery-car and enjoy a short tours surrounding the area.
The park is open from 8:00-18:30 (Apr.-Oct.) and 8:15-18:00 (Nov.-Mar.) and tickets are 80 CNY for adults and 40 CNY for a child less than 1.2 meters tall
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Suggested Travel Plan
1 Day Tour from Shanghai
There is a bullet train leaving every 15-20 minutes between Shanghai and Hangzhou. Note that majority number of bullet trains leave from Shanghai Hongqiao station and arrive in Hangzhou East station. This means you still need to plan for 40-60 minutes drive to the touristic areas near the West Lake.
As a round trip from Shanghai, a day tour to Hangzhou can include Lingying Temple, a visit to the tea plantations and walking along one of the West Lake's causeways - Bai or Su. It will still account for a "long-day", including the 1 hour train, each way.
Staying Overnight in Hangzhou
If you are planning to stay overnight in Hangzhou, then we recommend you book tickets for the "Impressions of West Lake" show, in the evening. You can add a visit to Xixi wet lands on the next day, or stay around the West Lake area and explore more of the temples and gardens surrounding it.