China
Hangzhou is the classical garden city of eastern China, the former Southern Song capital and home of West Lake, a UNESCO-listed lake of causeways, bridges, pagodas and tea-covered hills that has inspired poets and painters for a thousand years.
Around the lake you can walk the free shoreline, climb to Leifeng Pagoda for sunset and stroll the lantern-lit lanes of Hefang Street, while in the hills Lingyin Temple and the Feilai Feng rock carvings give the city its spiritual centre. West of the lake, the terraces of Longjing tea country and the boat channels of Xixi Wetland offer quieter days, the Grand Canal district shows the working waterway that links the city to Beijing, and Zhang Yimou’s water-stage show lights up the lake in the evening. Wuzhen, a classic canal town, is an easy day trip.
West Lake (Xi Hu)
Hangzhou’s UNESCO-listed lake of causeways, bridges, islands and tea-covered hills, free to walk and the heart of every visit. Boat rides and some pavilions charge, but the shoreline itself costs nothing.
Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng
One of China’s great Buddhist temples, set in a wooded valley beside the Feilai Feng rock carvings. Since December 2025 the scenic area has been free to enter, but you now need a real-name time-slot reservation.
Longjing Tea Village and Tea Plantation Tour
Dragon Well tea is China’s most famous green tea, grown on the hills just south-west of West Lake. A guided tea experience takes you through the terraces and village houses to taste it where it is grown.
Leifeng Pagoda
A rebuilt five-storey pagoda on the south shore of West Lake, tied to the legend of the White Snake and best at sunset. An elevator takes you up for lake views over the whole shoreline.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeHangzhou’s UNESCO-listed lake of causeways, bridges, islands and tea-covered hills, free to walk and the heart of every visit. Boat rides and some pavilions charge, but the shoreline itself costs nothing.
FreeOne of China’s great Buddhist temples, set in a wooded valley beside the Feilai Feng rock carvings. Since December 2025 the scenic area has been free to enter, but you now need a real-name time-slot reservation.
Dragon Well tea is China’s most famous green tea, grown on the hills just south-west of West Lake. A guided tea experience takes you through the terraces and village houses to taste it where it is grown.
A rebuilt five-storey pagoda on the south shore of West Lake, tied to the legend of the White Snake and best at sunset. An elevator takes you up for lake views over the whole shoreline.
A restored Southern Song-style street of shops, snack stalls and old pharmacies, just a short walk from the lake. It is free to stroll, lively in the evening and good for souvenirs and local snacks.
A quiet maze of canals, fish ponds and causeways less than five kilometres from West Lake, best explored by boat. It is the city’s green escape, and a gentle half-day away from the crowds.
The northern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, with a free museum on the canal, a Ming-era stone bridge and a lively waterfront. A relaxed, free half-day with a very different feel from West Lake.
Zhang Yimou’s outdoor water-stage show on the lake, about an hour of music, dance and light. Check the evening schedule, since the show is open-air and weather can cancel a night.
A 60-metre brick-and-wood pagoda on a hill above the Qiantang River, long the best spot for watching the tidal bore. A half-day tour pairs it with Lingyin Temple, with views across the river.
A canal town of stone bridges, wooden houses and lantern-lit waterways, about an hour and a half from Hangzhou. Choose one of its two scenic areas, the quieter East Gate for a day trip or the West Gate for evenings.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Lingyin Road (north-west West Lake)
A low-rise, garden-style luxury resort on the north-west side of West Lake, with a spa, private boat transfers, villas and a quiet setting close to Lingyin Temple.
Check rates →
$$$West Lake Avenue (Shangcheng)
A five-star riverside hotel on West Lake Avenue, a four-minute walk from the lake and ten minutes from Hefang Street, with an indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants.
Check rates →Xixi Wetland (Xihu)
A large waterside resort beside Xixi Wetland, with refurbished rooms, an indoor pool, boating and bikes, and a quieter, greener base about fifteen minutes from West Lake.
Check rates →Zhonghe North Road (Xiacheng)
A modern mid-range hotel in the Xiacheng district with 292 rooms, a gym, a restaurant and bar, and a handy spot beside restaurants and a shopping centre about a twenty-minute walk from the lake.
Check rates →Jiangcheng Road (Shangcheng)
A budget-friendly 147-room hotel in Shangcheng, a short walk from Hefang Street and the railway station, with sound-insulated rooms, a gym and free parking.
Check rates →The practical primer for a first visit to Hangzhou: West Lake, Lingyin Temple reservations, tea villages, the evening show, how many days to plan and getting around.
A neighbourhood guide to Hangzhou: the east shore and Hefang Street, the quiet north-west lakeside, Xixi Wetland and the budget-friendly city side.
