Hangzhou
Paradise on Earth · West Lake & Longjing Tea Hills
Handpicked itineraries
About Hangzhou
Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang — the “Hang” in the old saying “above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou”. At its heart is West Lake, six and a half square kilometres ringed by hills and shaped for over a thousand years by poets and garden makers. Its ten classic views each belong to a season, from Spring Dawn on Su Causeway to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon; cycling the full loop takes about two hours and is the most pleasant way to see it. The Buddhist carvings at Lingyin Temple, the tea hills of Longjing village and the reeds of Xixi Wetland are all within half a day, and a Song Dynasty live show fills an evening. Xiaoshan Airport and Hangzhou East station put Shanghai 45 minutes away and Suzhou an hour, making this the easiest link in an East China itinerary. Allow two to three days; spring and autumn are best.
Hangzhou tours & packages
Travel guides for Hangzhou
Solo Female Travel in China: Safety, Night Transport and a 2026 Checklist
Registration, late-night rides, payments and emergency numbers: a practical 2026 checklist for women travelling alone in China.
China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit in 2026: 57 Countries, 65 Ports, 10 Days
Transit visa-free is no longer 72 hours: citizens of 57 countries may enter via 65 ports and stay up to 240 hours in 24 provinces. Four hard conditions, how the clock runs, and three 10-day routes.
The Best Time to Visit China: A Region-by-Region and Month-by-Month Guide
China has no single best season. A region-by-region and month-by-month guide, with the 2026 holiday calendar, Jiuzhaigou ticket rules, Tibet permit changes and crowd-dodging tactics.
Hangzhou In Depth: Walking West Lake, the Two Tickets at Lingyin, and Where to Drink Longjing
West Lake is free — but how do you split the 15 km loop, why does Lingyin need two tickets, and which tea village should you choose? Plus 3-day and 5-day plans.
Plan your Hangzhou trip
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