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Why Hangzhou Needs to be on Your Bucket List

You need to add the city of Hangzhou to your travel bucket list immediately. Simply put, Hangzhou is a magical place. I had no idea how stunning the city was until I arrived. It felt like walking through Central Park, only the entire city was the Park. The town was covered in greenery, rolling hills, and glistening waterways. Needless to say, I was blown away.

First Impressions

Having only been to two other cities in China previously, Shanghai and Shenzhen, I was expecting more of the same modern and progressive influences. But Hangzhou felt like stepping back in time, to the kind of Chinese culture that a Westerner would come to expect, had they never visited before. Hangzhou is known as “heaven on Earth” to the Chinese, and is considered a romantic destination for rest and relaxation.

Being somewhat cynical, I halfway assumed that the “land of paradise” was more of just a marketing gimmick, but boy was I mistaken. Before I came to Hangzhou, I would tell my friends that China is a great place to visit if you happen to be in the area, but I didn’t consider it a vacation spot. After having been to Hangzhou, I now tell people that this city needs to be on your bucket list. Like, seriously.

About Hangzhou

Hangzhou (杭州; Hángzhōu) is the capital of Zhejiang province in East China.

It’s famous for West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is affluent and considered one of the most prosperous cities in China. Hangzhou is named as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China and has a very rich history that can be traced back over 2,200 years. For centuries it has attracted poets and artists from China and beyond. Even Marco Polo noted the town as “beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world.”

China National Tea Museum in Hangzhou, China

Hangzhou is a popular vacation spot for many Chinese locals, and the town is often equated to romance, rest, and relaxation. The streets are remarkably clean with very little to none litter.

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. 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.

How to get to Hangzhou

For my trip 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

I recommend looking on Travel China Guide for a really thorough and detailed explanation of all travel options for Shanghai to Hangzhou.

There is also an airport there - the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) which has frequent airlift from Beijing and Hong Kong. If you choose to fly into the HGH airport, you can take a taxi into the city centre, which is 30 minutes to an hour for about 90 RMB, or you can use a shuttle service for about 20 RMB. If you are going this route, I recommend that you check out the Wiki Travel webpage for Hangzhou which outlines the detailed options.

When to Visit Hangzhou

Tea in a significant aspect of the Hangzhou culture and economy. The region is best known for its Longjing Tea or Dragon Tea, which is a pan-roasted, non-bitter green tea. I recommend trying to visit Hangzhou in the months of March, April, or May, so that you can witness the harvesting process of the green tea from the tea bushes that cover the rolling hills and valleys. The springtime weather is similar to Shanghai with some rain, but it beats the humid summers there. Mid-Autumn timeframe, in September or October, may also be a good time to visit Three Pools Mirroring the Moon on West Lake. It’s the number 1 classic moon-viewing location in China during this festival period. However, you should expect the number of people touring the town to increase at this time.

Getting Around Hangzhou

Becuase I only had 48 hours to explore the city, I opted for a private tour guide option which came with a driver and a tour guide for 2 days. I selected the Private Two Days Hangzhou Highlights Tour - Soul of Hangzhou by China Private Tours after researching all of the options.

Although it’s 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 Private Tour Guide Experience or take the quick quiz below!

But for those of you who have more leisure time to explore the city, you have several options - taxi, subway, water bus, and bike. When opting for a taxi driver, don’t expect them to be able to speak any English. For my tips on how to communicate with your Chinese taxi driver, read my post on Travel Tips for China. Taxi trips start at 11 RMB and are priced by the kilometer.

Water taxi on West Lake in Hangzhou, China

I didn’t try the subway in Hangzhou, but I have been on subways in other parts of China. Hangzhou has 15 lines but they are building more. You can get a subway card or a single-use ticket depending on your length of stay.

If you are around the Grand Canal area and need to cross, you can get a ferry ride - some people use it functionally to get to the other side while others use it as a tourism opportunity to see the West Lake. It takes about 30 minutes to cross but does not run past 6:00 PM.

Hangzhou is a very bike-friendly city. If I had had more time in Hangzhou, this would have been my preferred option, as the weather was beautiful. The city has rentable bikes spread across the city - they are typically red. For the locals, Hangzhou is a cashless society, so if you want to access these bikes, you need to purchase a card from a storefront marked as “Selling of Public Transport Coupon.” Having not tried this myself, I cannot tell you how hard or easy this process is but you can likely speak with your hotel or hostel concierge to learn more about this mode of transportation.

custom travel planning - the jet set blonde - brittany ryan

custom travel planning with brittany

Major Attractions in Hangzhou

West Lake is probably the #1 reason to visit Hangzhou.

It’s enormously scenic and is surrounded by temples, pagodas, and gardens. There are also lots of ponds with Koi fish! It’s a great way to immerse yourself in nature for a day with a good novel and picnic fixings. West Lake is also considered a romantic site.

Since the 9th century, West Lake has attracted poets and artists that celebrate its natural beauty and historic relics. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has influenced garden design in the rest of China, as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries.

Leifeng Pagoda is nearby and worth a visit for getting the best views of West Lake in the city.

There’s a love story legend about the White Snake Lady that involves the Pagoda, which is well known in the area.

Lingying Temple is definitely worth seeing - it’s one of the 3 oldest and most famous temples in China.

Lingying Temple means “heart of the soul’s retreat” and is still an active Buddhist temple. The Buddha caves and grottoes are not to be missed!

To get a cultural experience, visit the Meijiawu Tea Village to try authentic pan-roasted Longjing (aka Dragon Well) green tea and learn about how it’s made in the process. The food there is also delicious!

There are of course even more highlights to see and things to do in Hangzhou if you have the time, but for me, I had to make the most of my 48 hours, so I was able to see the highlights. To get a more detailed account of the attractions that I was able to see, read my posts Day 1 and Day 2!

Make sure that you check out my post Travel Tips for China before you jet set to Hangzhou...it will save you from making a few mistakes that I’ve learned the hard way!

>>> Want to experience the same amazing tour as me? Book it here! <<<

Have you ever traveled to China before? What was your favorite destination? Have I convinced you to add Hangzhou to your bucket list? I hope so!