Hangzhou · Place guide
Hangzhou's West Lake
A 6.4 sq km classical lake ringed by pagodas and causeways, free and open 24 hours a day.
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Hangzhou
West Lake, tea and quieter paths
The lake is a starting point, not the whole trip. Explore tea-country paths, temples, canal heritage and wetland guides, then decide how much time to leave beyond West Lake.
Build a manageable trip
Start with these choices.
Know the area before joining the dots
These cards cover central Hangzhou and its wider administrative area. Thousand Island Lake and Liangzhu should be planned as separate outings, rather than added casually to a lake walk.
- Choose a shore or a short walking section rather than assuming you must complete the lake loop.
- Pair tea-related visits with time to walk and pause, rather than filling every gap with another attraction.
- Give canal heritage, wetlands and outlying sites their own transport allowance.
Hangzhou · Experience
Cycle the West Lake Loop
A 12-km clockwise loop around West Lake's southern causeways and Beishan Street, dodges crowds with sunrise starts.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
China National Tea Museum
China's only national tea museum — Jiangnan (water-town region) garden by Longjing fields. Free.
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Hangzhou · Experience
Misty Longjing Tea Trails
A free, uncrowded half-day hike through Hangzhou's Jiuxi valley, Longjing tea terraces, and Shili Langdang ridge panorama.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Lingyin Temple
Hangzhou's oldest and largest Buddhist temple, founded in 326 AD and nestled at the foot of Feilai Peak.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Xixi National Wetland Park
Hangzhou's 5A wetland park with eleven square km of slow rivers, calmer than West Lake, Metro Line 3 access.
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All Hangzhou guides.
18 published guidesAlongside the starting choices above, explore these places and experiences in the wider city area.
Hangzhou · Experience
West Lake Lanes of Hangzhou
A serene West Lake walking route threading Song-era alleys, classical gardens, and lakeside paths on foot or by shared bike.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Leifeng Tower
Five-story pagoda above West Lake, famed for sunset views and the White Snake legend.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Hangzhou Grand Canal Heritage
A preserved Ming-Qing canal town near Gongchen Bridge, where warehouses, temples, and folk museums line the water.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Liuhe Pagoda
970 AD Song-dynasty brick pagoda on the Qiantang River, formerly a tidal-bore lighthouse, now a Hangzhou photo landmark.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City
5,000-year-old UNESCO Neolithic city near Hangzhou with open earthen ruins, jade culture, and the world's earliest large dam system.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Thousand Island Lake
A vast man-made lake of 1078 forested islands west of Hangzhou, famed for clear water and lake-ringed viewpoints.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Faxi Temple
A quiet mountain Buddhist temple near West Lake, famous for love blessings and cheap vegetarian meals.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Manjuelong Osmanthus Valley
Hangzhou's legendary sweet osmanthus valley where autumn rains carpet stone steps in gold.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Yunqi Bamboo Path
A five-kilometer bamboo-lined trail on Hangzhou's western foothills, especially atmospheric in rain and mist, with quiet stone paving throughout.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Jingshan Temple
A 1,200-year-old Zen temple above Hangzhou and the cradle of Japan's matcha ceremony, where pilgrims climb through seven incense-filled halls — each devoted to a different prayer,
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Xiaohe Straight Street
A 200-meter canal-side lane of whitewashed Ming-Qing houses in Gongshu District, where wooden boats slip past flower-decked doorways.
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Hangzhou · Place guide
Hupao Park
Forested southwest pocket of West Lake around Hupao Spring and quiet Li Shutong memorials.
Read the guideTurn places into a route.
Build a route around these guides
Choose the places that matter to you, then use the trip planner to work out your days.
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