Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that the blog may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
How to Spend Two Days in Hangzhou
Hangzhou needs to be on your bucket list. If you need convincing, read my post on why Hangzhou needs to be on your bucket list.
There are some things that you need to keep in mind though, before you make this trip, to help make it the best experience possible. Although Hangzhou is only an hour bullet train ride away from Shanghai, do not expect it to be as English-friendly as the metropolitan city. I can't speak a lick of Chinese, but I am able to get around Shanghai decently. Taxi drivers rarely speak any English no matter where you are in China, in my experience, but overall I felt that Shanghai was pretty English-friendly. In comparison, Hangzhou will be harder to navigate on your own.
>> Related reading: Travel Tips for China <<
Furthermore, I only had two days to explore Hangzhou. Which is why I decided to book a 48-hour Viator tour. This way, I could make sure that I experienced as much as possible while in Hangzhou, and didn’t waste any time dealing with communication or transportation issues. I pride myself on being able to navigate foreign countries as solo female in regards to transportation and communication with locals, but when it comes to tight timelines, I prefer to rely on the native experts to help me along the way. That was definitely a more costly way to travel, it's absolutely worth the investment when you don't have a ton of time to explore...AND that investment is even more valuable when you are in a city that does not speak a ton of English. If you are debating on whether to book a tour guide experience versus making your way solo, read The Pros and Cons of Booking a Tour Guide Experience.
I paid $362.67 for the 2-day tour, and I can honestly say it was worth every penny. Without this tour, I would not have been able to see or do half of the things I experienced in my tight timeline of 48 hours.
‘Why only two days?’ you might be wondering...I was working full-time as a marketing and event manager, so I occasionally got a little time before/after my trade shows and events to explore. You gotta try and make the most of your travel experience, no matter how short - amirite?! Get the full story on my About Me page.
Getting to Hangzhou
I flew into Pudong Airport (PVG) in Shanghai. Once there, you have several options to get to Hangzhou.
High speed train - 1 hour, CNY 50-80
Normal train - 2-3 hours, CNY 25-30
Long-distance bus - 2.5 hours, CNY 70-100
Taxi/Private car - 2-2.5 hours, CNY 700-1,000
Though I’ve traveled using the high speed train in Shanghai before, this time I chose the private car transfer. There were a few reasons I had chosen this.
First, I happened to arrive the day of the Qingming Festival in China. The Qingming Festival (also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day) is a day for families to pay homage to their ancestors. They visit their ancestors’ gravesites, pray, and make ritual offerings. It is either April 4th or 5th every year depending on the Spring Equinox. Because it was a public holiday, the train and bus stations were quite overcrowded. Since I can’t speak any Mandarin, I felt that this would be too overwhelming for me, being the introverted traveler that I am.
>> Related reading: What is an Introverted Traveler? <<
Second, I had to get to Hangzhou the same day that I had landed in Shanghai. After a 16 hour flight, I am pretty out of it. I didn’t feel up to the challenge of navigating how to get out of the airport, then to a train station, then to find my train, purchase a ticket, and find out how to get to my hotel upon arriving in Hangzhou at that train station.
Third, my local co-workers recommended the private car service...it helped that my company was covering this travel cost. After discussing the options with them, they suggested that the car service would be the easiest route in this scenario. Had I been in Shanghai overnight and able to rest from the long flight, I likely would have been in better condition to navigate my transportation the next day, but in light of these three reasons, I went with the more expensive, but most convenient option.
I recommend looking on Travel China Guide for a really thorough and detailed explanation of all travel options for Shanghai to Hangzhou.
Day 1 of Two Days in Hangzhou
I suggest first visiting West Lake and Leifeng Pagoda in the morning of Day 1. To read about my experiences on Day 1 in greater detail, check out my post How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Hangzhou - First Day.
Destination #1: West Lake
West Lake is probably the most famous tourist destination in Hangzhou. You didn’t really see Hangzhou if you didn’t go to West Lake.
Highlights:
Huagang Park
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Guozhuang Garden and koi fish
Lotus Pool
Boat cruise (CNY 55, $8 USD) (Check Travel China Guide for the most up-to-date prices.)
Destination #2: Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda gives you the best views of West Lake. It also has a romantic legend behind the five-story tower and showcases wood carvings, relics, and a gold dome.
Highlights:
Panoramic views of West Lake
High relief wood carvings depicting The Legend of the White Snake
Remains of the original pagoda built in AD 975
Golden dome featuring hundreds of Buddha statues
In the afternoon, head to Meijiawu Village for an authentic Chinese lunch, followed by Yunqi Bamboo Forest.
Destination #3: Meijiawu Tea Village
See the rolling hills of tea bushes in this sleepy village and learn about the process of harvesting and pan-roasting Longjing Tea.
Highlights:
Try delicious local food unique to the flavors of the tea village
Witness the superb landscaping of hills and valleys covered in green tea bushes
Learn how Longjing Tea is made
Participate in a tea ceremony
Destination #4: Yunqi Bamboo Forest
Experience the tranquility of the bamboo forest which features a reflection pond, winding pathways, and trails among the towering plants over 1,000 years old.
Highlights:
Mind Purifying Pond
Yunqi Temple
Pool for Freeing Captive Fish
Day 2 of Two Days in Hangzhou
To read about my experiences on Day 2 in Hangzhou, check out my post How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Hangzhou - Second Day.
Destination #5: China National Tea Museum
The China National Tea Museum is the only museum in China mainland that covers Chinese tea and their tea culture. Tea in China dates back to at least over 4,700 years ago, so it’s an important aspect of Chinese culture to learn about.
Highlights:
Hall of Tea History
Kaleidoscope Hall
Hall of Tea Properties
Tea-Friendship Hall
Tea Sets Hall
Tea Customs Hall
Participate in a tea ceremony
Destination #6: Lingyin Temple and Fei Lai Feng
Before you arrive to Lingyin Temple, there are over 470 Buddhas carved into the mountainside, dating from the 10th through 14th centuries. Lingyin Temple is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China and features some prominent relics important to the Buddhist faith.
Highlights:
Explore Fei Lai Feng’s caves and grottoes with Buddha carvings
Hall of the Heavenly Kings
Witness the largest wooden Buddha structure in China in Mahavira Hall
Hall of the Five Hundred Arhats - see the tallest solid bronze structure in the world
Destination #7: Liuhe Pagoda
Liuhe Pagoda (aka Six Harmonies Pagoda) is a seven story octagonal pagoda dating back to the 5th century. Liuhe Pagoda is one of the three most famous towers in Hangzhou.
Highlights:
Appreciate the ancient architecture of this brick and wooden structure
Admire the 200+ carvings and colorful paintings of different characters, symbols, and animals on the interior
Reach the top floor to get the best views of Qiantang River and the city skyline of Hangzhou
Destination #8: Hefang Street
Hefang Street is the most famous street in Hangzhou as it’s regarded as an ancient symbol of the city. This is an interesting and busy cobbled street, full of street vendors and unique food shops, where you can try the local snacks and drinks.
Highlights:
Experience walking down the most famous and well-preserved ancient street in Hangzhou
Stop in the herbal medicine shops and museum to learn about traditional Chinese medicine culture
Try delicious local delicacies
Purchase an authentic hand-made souvenir, such as clothing or a tobacco smoking set
Want to book the same awesome experience as me? Book it here —
Have you been to Hangzhou? If so, what did you experience while there? If you’re planning a visit, I’d love to know how you decide to spend two days in Hangzhou!
Travel well and often,
author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
