Key takeaways
- Day 1 is West Lake: sunrise on the Su Causeway, a boat to the islands and Leifeng Pagoda at sunset.
- Day 2: Lingyin Temple early, Longjing village for lunch and tea, and the Grand Canal or Hefang Street at night.
- From Shanghai the bullet train takes under an hour; stay near the lake, not by the station.
- Late March to April is tea season. Weekends and holidays are very busy — start early.
Hangzhou is the most relaxing stop on a classic East China trip: a lake to walk around, hills full of tea and temples, and some of the best food in the region. Two full days is the sweet spot. This is the plan our guides use.
Day 1: West Lake
Sunrise: start on the Su Causeway, the willow-lined path that crosses the western side of the lake. Early in the morning you share it with joggers, tai chi groups and fishermen.
Morning: take a boat to the island of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon — the scene on the back of the one-yuan note — then continue by boat or on foot to the Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge.
Afternoon: rest, or visit the China National Tea Museum or the Zhejiang Provincial Museum on Gushan island.
Sunset: climb Leifeng Pagoda for the view over the lake, then dinner at a lakeside restaurant.
Day 2: Temples and tea
Early morning: arrive at Lingyin Temple at opening time. The path in passes the Feilai Feng limestone cliffs, carved with hundreds of Buddhist figures, some over a thousand years old.
Midday: drive ten minutes to Longjing village. Walk the tea terraces, watch leaves being roasted by hand in a hot wok and have lunch with a tea-farming family — fresh tea shoots with river shrimp is the classic dish.
Evening: walk the old Qinghefang / Hefang Street area, or take a water bus along the Grand Canal past the Gongchen Bridge.
Approximate tickets (2026)
| Sight | Approx. price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| West Lake and causeways | Free | Open all day |
| Boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon | ≈ CNY 55–70 | Usually includes island entry |
| Leifeng Pagoda | ≈ CNY 40 | Busy at sunset |
| Feilai Feng scenic area + Lingyin Temple | ≈ CNY 45 + 30 | Two separate tickets |
Prices change; check before you go. Tickets are generally sold with your passport details.
Where to stay
Stay near the lake — around Hubin, Beishan Street or the quieter western shore — so you can walk to the water at sunrise. Hotels near Hangzhou East station are convenient for trains but 30–40 minutes from the lake by car.
Getting there and around
High-speed trains from Shanghai Hongqiao reach Hangzhou East in under an hour. In town, the metro reaches the edge of the lake; around it, walk, cycle or use the little electric shuttle carts. A car is handy on day two for Lingyin and Longjing.
What to eat
- Longjing shrimp — river shrimp stir-fried with tea leaves
- West Lake fish in sweet-and-sour vinegar sauce
- Dongpo pork, slow-braised pork belly named after the poet-governor Su Dongpo
- Beggar’s chicken, baked in lotus leaves and clay
Frequently asked questions
Is two days enough for Hangzhou?
When is the best time to see the tea harvest?
Can I combine Hangzhou with a water town?
Sources & official links
Written by our Shanghai-based trip planners, who have been arranging East China journeys for international travellers since 2012.
