Hangzhou
the city Chinese poets called paradise on earth
Chinese poets have called Hangzhou paradise on earth for a thousand years. At dawn, West Lake still looks the way they painted it: mist on the water, pavilions surfacing one at a time, and the Broken Bridge holding soft pink before the first boats leave the dock. By evening, the aromas of Dongpo pork and steamed rice cakes drift through the lantern-lit lanes of Hefang Street, where China's oldest brands still keep their original storefronts.
Why people
come to Hangzhou.
What to see
West Lake(the painted lake of Chinese poetry)
Surrounded by graceful pagodas, willow-lined paths and timeless gardens, West Lake has inspired poets, artists and emperors for centuries.
Its tranquil waters and ever-changing scenery make it one of China's most celebrated landscapes. Whether cruising across the lake or strolling its scenic causeways, every corner reveals a picture-perfect view.
For the best experience, visit early in the morning when the lake is peaceful and wrapped in soft mist.
Lingyin Temple(Soul's Retreat, founded 328)
Founded over 1,700 years ago, Lingyin Temple is one of China's most revered Buddhist temples.
Ancient halls, towering statues and the scent of incense create a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by forested hills. Nearby, the remarkable stone carvings of Feilai Peak add to the temple's rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
Arrive early to experience the temple's tranquil atmosphere before the crowds gather.
Broken Bridge(one of West Lake's Ten Scenes, the Madame White Snake opening)
One of West Lake's most famous landmarks, Broken Bridge is celebrated for its romantic legends and picturesque setting.
Despite its name, the elegant stone bridge remains a symbol of beauty and enduring love. With panoramic views across the lake in every season, it's a favourite spot for photographers and visitors alike.
Visit in the morning for peaceful walks and beautiful reflections across the water.
Leifeng Pagoda(975, rebuilt 2002)
Overlooking the shores of West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda is steeped in history and the famous Legend of the White Snake.
Its elegant architecture and elevated viewing platforms offer spectacular panoramic views across Hangzhou. Blending ancient stories with modern restoration, it remains one of the city's most treasured landmarks.
Visit in the late afternoon to enjoy stunning sunset views over West Lake.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon(stone pagodas on Xiaoyingzhou, on the back of the 1-yuan note)
One of Hangzhou's most iconic sights, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon features three elegant stone pagodas rising from the tranquil waters of West Lake.
Their reflections create a scene celebrated in Chinese art for centuries. Accessible by boat, this peaceful island offers a perfect escape into the lake's timeless beauty.
Choose a calm day for the clearest reflections and unforgettable photographs.
Hefang Street(the old-shop row, the Qing-era heritage axis)
Bursting with history and local character, Hefang Street is lined with traditional architecture, artisan shops and authentic Hangzhou delicacies.
Once the city's busiest commercial street, it remains a vibrant place to experience local culture. From handcrafted souvenirs to regional snacks, every visit offers something new to discover.
Visit in the evening when the lantern-lit streets come alive with energy and atmosphere.
Quyuan Fenghe Lotus Garden(breeze-ruffled lotus, one of West Lake's Ten Scenes)
Renowned for its elegant lotus ponds, Quyuan Fenghe is one of West Lake's most beautiful gardens.
During summer, thousands of blooming lotus flowers create a peaceful landscape filled with colour and fragrance. Shaded walkways and traditional pavilions make it an ideal place to slow down and enjoy nature.
Visit during the lotus flowering season for the garden's most spectacular display.
Faxi Temple(Upper Tianzhu, the prayer hall of the West Lake hills)
Nestled among bamboo forests and quiet hills, Faxi Temple offers a peaceful retreat away from the city's bustle.
With centuries of Buddhist history, its tranquil courtyards and ancient halls create an atmosphere of calm and reflection. Beloved by locals and visitors alike, it is one of Hangzhou's hidden spiritual treasures.
Arrive early to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and serene mountain atmosphere.
Hangzhou Museum(Liangdaoshan, the city's own collection)
Discover the rich history of Hangzhou through fascinating exhibitions showcasing ancient artefacts, traditional crafts and the city's cultural heritage.
From the Southern Song Dynasty to modern times, each gallery tells the story of one of China's most historic cities. It's the perfect place to gain a deeper appreciation of Hangzhou before exploring its famous landmarks.
Visit in the morning for a quieter experience and plenty of time to explore the collections.
What to eat
Dongpo pork(Su Dongpo's pork belly, the West Lake canon)
Dongpo pork is the dish Hangzhou is most famous for, named after the Song-dynasty poet-governor Su Shi who dredged West Lake around 1090.
Pork belly is slow-braised in Shaoxing wine, dark soy, and rock sugar for three to four hours, then served in cubes the size of a matchbox. The fat softens to jelly, the meat gives at the press of chopsticks, the dark glaze tastes deep, sweet, and salty with the warmth of the wine underneath.
We book the upstairs lake-view table at one of the established West Lake restaurants. The seating is held for the off-peak window before the lunch rush. Your guide names the Su Shi connection at the table, so the pork on your plate and the causeway you walked at dawn belong to one story.
Longjing shrimp(first-flush tea and river shrimp, the spring pairing)
Longjing shrimp pairs the two things Hangzhou is best known for: river shrimp from the Qiantang and first-flush Longjing tea picked from the hills west of the lake in mid-March.
The shrimp are peeled by hand into small white curls and stir-fried in a hot wok for under thirty seconds with the fresh tea leaves. Sweet, tender, with a clean grassy edge from the tea and a soft pale-green tint across the plate.
We schedule the dish in March or early April, when the first-flush leaves were picked days ago, not weeks. Your guide names the tea estate the leaves came from at the table. In spring, a tea-house visit in the morning lets you watch the same first-flush leaves pressed by hand in the wok before lunch.
West Lake fish in vinegar(grass carp in sweet-and-sour glaze, the Song widow's dish)
West Lake fish in vinegar carries a Song-dynasty story: a widow named Song Sao cooked it for her brother-in-law while fleeing the imperial court.
A whole grass carp is poached briefly in barely-simmering water and dressed in a sauce of Zhenjiang vinegar, sugar, soy, and grated ginger, served before the skin contracts. The flesh comes off the bone in clean sheets, the glaze is bright, tart, and just sweet enough.
We order from a kitchen that still poaches the fish to the second, rather than letting it sit before service. Your guide tells the Song Sao story at the table, then names the cut of the carp the cook chose for the dish. The plate arrives before the conversation moves on.
Shows and experiences
Impression West Lake(the lake-stage performance, on West Lake water)
Impression West Lake is the show staged on the lake itself, directed by the Zhang Yimou and Wang Chaoge team.
Dancers move across a submerged platform just below the surface so they appear to walk on water, the southern hills lit blue behind them. The hour-long performance weaves folktale, Tang poetry, and the Madame White Snake love story, with rain effects, lantern boats, and drumming.
We only include the show when the season, weather, and your evening schedule align. We book the long centre row, where the submerged stage runs left to right in front of you. The dancers cross closest to the audience there. Your car waits at the exit, so the evening closes back to the hotel rather than a queue for taxis.
Song-style imperial banquet(Hangzhou Gongyan, Southern Song dining recreated)
Hangzhou was the imperial capital from 1138 to 1276 under the Southern Song, and a handful of Hangzhou kitchens now stage that court's banquet as a full evening.
You sit at a long lacquered table under soft lantern light. Hostesses in Song silk pour rice wine from porcelain ewers, a guqin player plays from one corner, and the dishes come in court order.
We book the long table during the quieter midweek seatings, with the central position closest to the guqin player rather than the door. Your guide names the Song poet behind each dish as the course arrives. The evening then plays as a continuous story rather than as a photo opportunity in costume.
Xixi Wetland on an oar-boat(China's first national wetland park, Ramsar-listed)
Xixi is China's first national wetland park, on the western edge of the city and on the Ramsar list of internationally important wetlands since 2009.
The way through is a wooden oar-boat, a local boatman at the helm, gliding past bamboo-lined channels, fishing islets, and persimmon orchards in silence. Best in late autumn, when the reeds turn straw-gold and the persimmons redden over the water.
We book a private oar-boat rather than the shared-boat dock, and take the longer route through the inner waterways the day boats skip. Tea and small seasonal pastries ride with you for the still hour between channels.
What three days
might look like.
- Day 01
Dawn lake, hillside temples, lakeside table.
An early start brings the first step onto Broken Bridge before seven, with pavilions appearing through the mist and the bridge soft pink ahead. The morning moves up into the Lingyin valley for the Feilai Feng cliff carvings before the gates open, then continues higher to Faxi Temple on the wooded ridge above. Lunch is Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp at one of the established West Lake restaurants. The afternoon closes at Leifeng Pagoda, with the south shore turning gold from the top deck in late-afternoon light.
- Broken Bridge at dawn
- Feilai Feng cliff carvings
- Lingyin Mahavira Hall
- Faxi Temple
- Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp lunch
- Leifeng Pagoda top deck
- Day 02
Inner lake, the city's spine, lake-stage evening.
Spend the morning on a ferry to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, with a slow loop of Xiaoyingzhou before returning to the south shore. Lunch is West Lake fish in vinegar at one of the houses on the bank. The afternoon goes to the Hangzhou Museum on Liangdaoshan, where Liangzhu jades and the Warring States crystal cup anchor the city's history. As night falls, Impression West Lake stages an hour-long performance on the lake itself, with dancers crossing the submerged stage and the southern hills lit blue behind them.
- Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
- Xiaoyingzhou island loop
- West Lake fish in vinegar lunch
- Hangzhou Museum
- Warring States crystal cup gallery
- Impression West Lake (weather dependent)
- Day 03
Heritage row, wetland reeds, court-style evening.
Begin the morning on Hefang Street, walking south to north past Hu Qing Yu Tang, Zhang Xiaoquan, and Wang Xing Ji. Dingsheng cake comes fresh from the Jiangnan Chun steamer counter as you pass. Late morning moves west to Xixi Wetland for a private oar-boat through the inner waterways the day boats skip. The afternoon turns slower: tea on a Quyuan Fenghe pavilion in lotus season, or back to the hotel before evening. The night closes on a Song-style imperial banquet, the dishes arriving in court order under lantern light.
- Hefang Street old-shop row
- Hu Qing Yu Tang medicine museum
- Jiangnan Chun Dingsheng cake
- Xixi private oar-boat
- Quyuan Fenghe (June to September)
- Song-style imperial banquet
Best time
March to May · September to November
Days needed
2 to 3 days
Where it sits
45 minutes south of Shanghai by high-speed rail
Questions worth
answering early.
Two nights covers Hangzhou cleanly. Day one takes you to West Lake at dawn, then Lingyin and Faxi Temples on the hills, with lunch on the lake. Day two covers Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the Hangzhou Museum on Liangdaoshan, and Leifeng Pagoda in the late-afternoon gold. Stretch to three nights to add the Hefang Street old-shop walk and Xixi Wetland on the oar-boat. You can also choose between a Song-style imperial banquet and the Impression West Lake show.
You enjoy the trip,
we do the rest.
From your first enquiry to your last airport pickup, our specialists design your trip and stay in contact every step of the way. The guides, drivers and hotels you'll meet are part of our trusted network we've worked with for years, briefed to the same standards.
- Dedicated specialists, start to finish
- Guides briefed to our standards
- Fully transparent, no hidden costs
- No deposit until you confirm
Stretch the trip. Stitch in another.
Shanghai
Forty-five minutes by high-speed rail. The natural anchor for Hangzhou: two or three nights east-coast, then back to Shanghai for the flight.
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Suzhou
The classical-garden city west of Shanghai. Hangzhou and Suzhou are the canonical Shanghai pair, two or three nights each side.
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Beijing
The imperial-spine pair. Hangzhou for the lake-poet south; Beijing for the dynasties that ruled from the north.
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Useful before
you enquire.
China tourist visa for US travellers
American passports still need a tourist visa for China under current rules. How the L-visa works, what we handle as part of your booking, and what is on you.
Read this guide
When to visit China, month by month
March to May and September to November are the cleanest windows for Hangzhou. The whole year, by climate and crowd.
Read this guideHow our pricing works
What sits inside the figure on your quote, and what sits outside it. The structure, written out.
Read this guide
Payments and connectivity in China
Alipay and WeChat Pay now take overseas Visa and Mastercard. The practical setup to do before you fly.
Read this guide
Design your Hangzhou trip
Start with your preferences. We'll craft a private itinerary in Hangzhou that fits how you like to travel.
Jack Guo
Your travel specialist
Jack has spent ten years working with the guides, drivers and hoteliers across China. He'll be your contact from first enquiry to final airport pickup.