Hangzhou is China’s most romantic lake city: willow-fringed West Lake, Longjing tea hills, ancient canals and a soft green pace — and it is an hour from Shanghai.
“Tea terraces on the hills, a lake full of causeways, and long lunches that quietly eat the day.”
2 days in Hangzhou
The same sights, spread over 2 days rather than one; Mar–May & Sep–Nov is the friendliest window; room for a day trip and one unplanned afternoon.
Use this planWhat to bring home
Chinese Tea from this region, shipped with your trip. Browse the shop →
Best time to go
Mar–May & Sep–Nov. Shoulder weeks are quieter and cheaper.
Getting there & around
High-speed rail links most of this from the majors. Rail guide · Auto privado con conductor
Visa & entry
Transit and visa-free rules change often — check the current list against your passport before booking.
Mejor época para visitar
March–May (misty spring, tea harvest) and September–November (clear, cool, osmanthus in bloom) are the loveliest. July–August is hot; winter is damp and grey but often near-empty and atmospheric.
How many days
- 1–2 días — West Lake and the old quarters.
- 3 días — add Longjing tea villages, Xixi Wetland or a water town.
Getting there & around
From Shanghai Hongqiao, high-speed rail reaches Hangzhou East in about 45–60 minutes. Xiaoshan Airport links by metro. Use the metro, lake cruise boats and DiDi; the lake is best circled on foot or by bike.
Top things to do
- West Lake — Su Causeway, Broken Bridge, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and a boat to Xiaoyingzhou.
- Leifeng Pagoda for lake-and-city views.
- Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng grottoes.
- Longjing (Dragon Well) tea village and Meijiawu for a tea-farmer lunch.
- Hefang Street and Qinghefang old quarter.
- Xixi National Wetland by rowboat.
- The Grand Canal at dusk and Wulin night market.
Day trips from Hangzhou
- Water towns — Wuzhen, Xitang or Nanxun.
- Shaoxing — old streets and huangjiu rice wine.
- Qiandao (Thousand Island) Lake or the Putuoshan islands.
A 2-day Hangzhou itinerary
- Día 1 — West Lake walk and boat → Leifeng Pagoda → Hefang Street food → night fountain.
- Día 2 — Longjing tea village → Lingyin Temple → Xixi Wetland or the Grand Canal.
What to eat
Longjing shrimp, Dongpo pork, beggar’s chicken, Songso fish soup, cat-ear noodles and osmanthus desserts, with fresh Longjing green tea.
Preguntas frecuentes
- How many days do you need in Hangzhou? — Two days covers West Lake and the old quarters; add a third for Longjing tea villages, Xixi Wetland or a water-town day trip.
- When is the best time to visit Hangzhou? — March to May for spring and tea-picking, and September to November for cool, clear autumn and osmanthus. Summers are hot and winters damp.
- Is Hangzhou a good day trip from Shanghai? — Yes — high-speed rail links Shanghai to Hangzhou in about 45 to 60 minutes, one of China’s easiest and best city day trips.
Planifica el resto de tu viaje
Mejor época para visitar China · ¿Necesito visa? (verificador) · Fin de semana en China · Planificador de viajes con IA · Calculadora de costos · tours por China · Chófer privado · eSIM para China
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