Last verified: July 2026

Three days is right for Hangzhou: two days circling West Lake — the lake that has defined Chinese scenic beauty for a thousand years — and a third among the temples, tea terraces and stream valleys in the hills behind it. Most of the headline sights are free, the whole city is bike-and-boat friendly, and it’s under an hour from Shanghai. Best months: spring (Mar–Apr) and autumn (Sep–Oct).

A note on how to see West Lake

The lake is organised as north, west and south shores, laced by two famous causeways (Bai and Su) and dotted with islands, with the classic “Ten Scenes of West Lake” scattered around it. You cover it three ways: walk the causeways, cycle the shore (public bike-share racks are everywhere, though several garden sites bar bikes at their gates — park and continue on foot), or take a boat to the islands. Most lakeside sights are free; the boat and a couple of pagodas are the exceptions. Give yourself two unhurried days rather than one rushed loop.

Day 1: The North and West Shores

Broken Bridge (Duanqiao) → Bai Causeway → Solitary Hill (Gushan) → Quyuan lotus garden → Su Causeway → Viewing Fish at Flower Harbour → Maojiabu

Start at the Broken Bridge, where the White Snake legend has its lovers meet, and walk the Bai Causeway to Solitary Hill — home to the Xiling Seal Society and one of China’s great old libraries, and a plum-blossom spot in winter. Lunch at the Louwailou, the 160-year-old Hangzhou-cuisine institution at its foot (expect a queue; the West Lake vinegar fish is the dish). Afternoon along the Su Causeway — the first of the Ten Scenes — to Viewing Fish at Flower Harbour, ending at the quieter, teahouse-dotted Maojiabu inlet as the light softens.

Day 2: The South Shore and the Night

Orioles Singing in the Willows → Leifeng Pagoda → Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (boat) → Wu Hill (Chenghuang Pavilion) → Hefang Street → the West Lake fountain

The south shore: the willow-lined Liulang Wenying, then the Leifeng Pagoda (the White Snake’s prison in legend; rebuilt, with a lift and a lake panorama from the top). From the Huagang pier take the boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon — the island stone lanterns printed on the back of the ¥1 note. Late afternoon at Wu Hill for the Chenghuang Pavilion view over the city, then the old Hefang Street for evening snacks, timed to catch the musical fountain on the lakefront (shows finish by around 9pm — check the board).

Day 3: Temples and Tea

Feilai Feng grottoes → Lingyin Temple → Longjing (Dragon Well) tea village → Nine Creeks (Jiuxi) → Qiantang River Bridge

Into the hills. At the Lingyin scenic area, the Feilai Feng (“Peak Flown From Afar”) carries hundreds of Song-dynasty carved Buddhas along its cliffs — and note the ticketing: you buy the Feilai Feng scenic ticket first, then a separate Lingyin Temple ticket. Lingyin itself is Hangzhou’s oldest and greatest monastery. Then up to Longjing village, source of China’s most famous green tea — sit in a farmhouse teahouse, drink Dragon Well where it grows — and over the ridge to Nine Creeks (Jiuxi Yanshu), a cool, wooded stream valley, before ending at the Qiantang River Bridge for the river view and the Liuhe Pagoda.

If you have less time, or a tea obsession

• One day only: compress to the greatest hits — Su Causeway, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbour, Three Pools by boat, then Feilai Feng and Lingyin Temple in the afternoon. The full lake circuit by bike is doable in a day but leaves no room to linger.
• A tea-focused two days: swap Day 3’s pace for a slower tea itinerary — the China Tea Museum, the Old Longjing Imperial Tea Garden, the temples of Yongfu (a rare quiet one beside Lingyin), and hillside teahouses on Yuhuang Hill with West Lake below. Hangzhou rewards this more than most first-timers expect.

The practical layer

• Getting here: ~45–60 minutes by high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East, trains constantly (train booking options); Hangzhou has its own international airport too.
• Where to stay: the West Lake shore for atmosphere and walkability; the Lingyin area for temple-side calm.
• Payments & maps: QR payments everywhere; Apple Maps works, Google Maps doesn’t: Alipay guide / China travel essentials.
• Entry: most Western passports enter visa-free for 30 days: China visa-free policy.
• Pairing Hangzhou with Shanghai or a wider loop? Shanghai + Hangzhou 5-day itinerary / Jiangnan 4-day itinerary / Jiangnan 9-day itinerary

Every Trawoa itinerary carries a “Last verified” date — ticket structures, transport and closure details were checked on the date shown. If the ground disagrees, tell us: hello@trawoa.com

Every Trawoa itinerary carries a Last verified date. Route logic and planning details were checked in July 2026. If the ground disagrees, tell us: hello@trawoa.com