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What to see and do in Hangzhou in 1 or 2 days
Located in eastern China, just 1 hour from Shanghai Hangzhou is one of the great Chinese cities that is still very unknown to European tourists. There is much to see and do in Hangzhou, so we recommend adding it to your itinerary.
We loved cycling through its green areas, tea shops with local teas, temples full of history and mansions of great merchants. In fact, Hangzhou was a key point on the Silk Road, and even Marco Polo described it in the 13th century as "the finest and noblest city in the world«.
- How to get to Hangzhou from Shanghai
- What to eat in Hangzhou
- What to see in Hangzhou
- Touring West Lake
- Visiting Feilai Feng Grottoes
- Entering the Lingyin Temple
- Climb up to Leifeng Pagoda and enjoy the views
- Getting lost in Hu Xueyan's Mansion
- Visiting Hangzhou Museum of Traditional Medicine – Hu Qing Yu Tang
- Having a cup of tea, something different to do in Hangzhou
- Strolling along Qing He Fang Street
- What to see and do in Hangzhou in 1 or 2 days, recommended itinerary
- Map: What to see in Hangzhou
- Frequently Asked Questions about Hangzhou
Today, Hangzhou remains a hub of innovation, home to tech giants like Alibaba. But what really draws us tourists is the incredible Lake Xi Hu (West lake) and temples like Lingyin dating back to 396 AD
If we're already convincing you to add it to your China itinerary, keep reading and we'll tell you How to get there and what to do in Hangzhou in 1 or 2 days.
ᐈ We recommend you read: 14 tips for travel to China
How to get to to Hangzhou from Shanghai
We have written a complete guide on the different ways to go from Shanghai to Hangzhou, in summary we can say that the best option is in High-speed train from Hongqiao stationThe journey takes about 1 hour and costs between €8 and €10.
The train drops you off at Hangzhou East and from there it takes about 40 minutes by subway to the lake area.
If you are coming from other cities, you also have the option of arriving by plane to Xiaoshan Airport (HGH). Or again, by high-speed train. We leave you our article on How to buy train tickets in China.
What to eat in Hangzhou
The most typical dishes of Hangzhou, and that you will see advertised on the streets near the lake is the carbread with sweet and sour sauce (Xihu Cuyu) y Shrimp infused in green tea (Longjing Xiaren).
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What to see in Hangzhou
About 10 million people live in the city. And although Points of interest are around West Lake (West lake) is still a very large area, so you will have to combine travel on foot, bus, Didi (taxi) or bicycle. We opted to do most of the journeys on the bikes of Alipay and it was a complete success.
Touring West Lake
Without a doubt the most iconic thing to see in Hangzhou is its impressive West Lake. It is surrounded by gardens, pagodas, temples and paths to walk along its shoreIt even has a 3km long floating promenade to cross it from south to north. It is a really beautiful setting and full of locals who go out to do sports or spend the day with their families.
You can walk, take a boat ride or take a kind of shared electric buggy. Everything is booked once you get there.
In fact, ships act as transportation. There are about 10 stops and the ticket is purchased according to the stops you make. It is best to buy one so you can get off and explore the surroundings.
If you prefer, there are also private or shared boats that you can hire for a ride around the different areas of the lake. This is one of the most typical activities to do in Hangzhou.
Years ago there was a light show every night, but not nowadays. Only on special occasions.
Visiting Feilai Feng Grottoes
One of the great must-do's in Hangzhou, It was what we liked the most. It is a green area where you go around the river while you see Buddha statues carved in stoneThey were carved during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) and Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 AD)
There are more than 400 of them in the entire complex, although the main ones that stand out the most are about 30, The most famous being the laughing Buddha., which by the way is much bigger than we expected!
Price: 45CNY or 75CNY for the combined ticket with Lingyin Temple. 5,75€ one 9,50€ – Student discount 50%
Entering the Lingyin Temple
Just a few minutes walk from Feilai Feng Grottoes is another of the best things to do in Hangzhou, entering Lingyin Yes, or the Temple of the Retreat of Souls, is one of the most important and oldest Buddhist temples in China. Founded in 326 AD, the complex houses Buddhist relics so important to the faithful that the atmosphere is almost that of a pilgrimage.
It is a large enclosure with several pavilions, offering halls and a garden area, At its peak, more than 3000 monks lived there.
Around the Lingyin Temple and the Grottoes there is a stone path that goes up the mountain and we loved it. It passes through several temples, garden areas and reaches a point where there are views of the West Lake. In total we spent more than 3 hours. Highly recommended for things to see and do in Hangzhou!
Climb up to Leifeng Pagoda and enjoy the views
Leifeng Pagoda is The best place to see in Hangzhou to have views of the entire West Lake and the city.
The original structure was built in the year 975 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty, but collapsed in 1924. In the 2002, was completely rebuilt, but maintains its traditional architectural style and at the entrance you will see the original foundations.
As I was saying, the best thing about it is the views. We went up when the day was already beginning to fall and it was beautiful. Also, on the different levels there are exhibitions of Chinese art.
Price: 40CNY (5€) – 50% students
Getting lost in Hu Xueyan's Mansion
Hu Xueyan Mansion is one of the most luxurious and best preserved residences of the Qing Dynasty. Built by Hu Xueyan, an influential merchant and banker.
It is a perfect example of traditional Chinese architecture, with spacious courtyards, pavilions and ornamental gardens. This visit to do in Hangzhou will teleport you to how the elite lived in ancient China. And let me tell you, they have nothing to envy of other very famous places like Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai.
Visiting Hangzhou Museum of Traditional Medicine – Hu Qing Yu Tang
For those interested or curious about traditional Chinese medicine, Hu Qing Yu Tang Museum is a must-see stop in Hangzhou. Founded in 1874 by Hu Xueyan himself, the museum and still-operating pharmacy offers a fascinating introduction to traditional remedies. Here you can learn about the different natural ingredients used in Chinese medicine and watch pharmacists prepare prescriptions in the traditional way. Plus, you can buy some unique medicinal products.
Having a cup of tea, something different to do in Hangzhou
Whether you are a tea lover or not, visiting a tea house is a must-do in Hangzhou. They are a truly beautiful place with views of the lake. You can find everything from very elegant places with traditional rituals to more informal stalls where you can enjoy your tea and rest for a while.
El Longjing tea (龙井茶), also known as Dragon Well Tea, is the most typical and famous tea from Hangzhou. It is considered one of the finest green teas in China.
We recommend this park to you Funjing Garden (You have the location on the final map), it is a really nice area, a pleasure to walk around there. We sat in a tea shop with chairs facing the Yudai Qinghong Ancient Bridge.
Strolling along Qing He Fang Street
The best way to end a day in Hangzhou is to stroll along Qing He Fang Street, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the cityHere, Ming and Qing dynasty buildings mingle with craft shops, jewelry stores, and traditional food stalls.
Although today it is a very touristy area, it is still a perfect street to enjoy the local atmosphere, try some food and see artisans.
What to see and do in Hangzhou in 1 or 2 days, recommended itinerary
There are those who choose to come for a day trip from Shanghai (although we recommend spending a night in Hangzhou). In that case Spend the day in the West Lake area, Feilai Feng Grottoes and its surroundings It's a gigantic area! Enter the Lingyin Temple and climb the Leifeng Pagoda.
If you stay overnight, you can take advantage of Take a sunset stroll through Hangzhou Scenic Area to Jindai Bridge (Broken Bridge), an iconic bridge in the city. And end the day having dinner there or in the Qing He Fang Street.
For a second day you can visit the Hu Xueyan Mansion, etc.carYou can visit another pagoda like Baochu, get lost in the city visiting other temples like Yaowang Temple, go to the Chinese Medina Museum or the Longjing Green Tea Museum.
Other things to do in Hangzhou in 2 days
Alternatively you can take a day trip to Meijiawu Tea Cultural Village, a producing area of the famous Longjing tea which is located in an environment surrounded by mountains and tea terraces.
Closer to home, just outside Hangzhou, there is also the option of Visit Xixi Wetlands National Park, a natural environment full of birds where you will forget that you are in a Chinese macro city.
Map: What to see in Hangzhou
We leave you on a map all the points of what to see and do in Hangzhou, but keep in mind that Google Maps does not work well in China so it is only for guidance purposes. and no exact location.
FAQ about Hangzhou
With 1 or 2 days You can see the most important sights. If you only have one day, focus on the lake and its surroundings. With two days, you could add less touristy spots like the ones we recommend throughout this article.
The best area to stay is near the West lake, as most of the tourist attractions are concentrated there. Stay on the east or south side, where there are good public transport connections and plenty of places to eat and stroll.
The best time to visit Hangzhou is in spring and fallDuring these months, the weather is pleasant, there is less humidity, and the scenery around West Lake is at its best.
The fastest way to get there is by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station, a journey that takes approximately 1 hour and costs just under €10.
We hope that all the things we recommend to see and do in Hangzhou, a city that we loved, will help you. To continue organizing your trip, you can read the rest of the articles we have about traveling to Hangzhou. China for free and follow us on social mediaIf you have any questions you can contact us through the comments section.
I love the explanations and recommendations, congratulations, they have helped me a lot to travel around China, 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hi Laura, we are very happy 🙂 Thank you for leaving us a comment!