China

Hangzhou Travel Guide

Hangzhou pairs the graceful West Lake with green wetlands, old streets and a food culture that favors delicate, fresh flavors.

West LakePhoto: Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Before you go

When to go and how long to stay

Plan two or three days, with a full day for West Lake and a second for the old streets or Xixi. Spring and autumn suit lake walks. Start early on weekends when the main paths fill up.

Entry documents

Check your passport’s eligibility with China’s National Immigration Administration before booking. A tourist visa, ordinary visa-free entry and visa-free transit are different options. Transit eligibility depends on your passport, approved ports, permitted area and confirmed travel onward to a third country or region. Save your first hotel’s address in Chinese and keep your onward itinerary handy for the arrival form.

Getting to the city

Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport (HGH) has Metro service. Line 1 can take you to Longxiangqiao near West Lake, and Line 19 is useful for some rail connections, including Hangzhou East.

Hangzhou East and Hangzhou Railway Station are different terminals. From Shanghai, check which station your train uses at each end before you plan a hotel transfer.

Getting around

The Metro is useful to reach the eastern side of West Lake. Walk or take a boat for the lake itself. Its western and southern shores take longer to reach, so select a specific pier or entrance when planning those stops.

Payments and mobile data

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an eligible international card before flying. Keep some small RMB notes and a backup card, and save your hotel and station names offline. Check whether your phone supports roaming or a travel eSIM. When booking intercity rail through 12306, enter your passport name exactly and bring the same original document to the station.