How to Get to & Around Hangzhou West Lake

Visiting Hangzhou, one shall not miss the West Lake, the best place to visit in the city and the most poetic site in while China! As the proud World Heritage site full of picturesque gardens, waterscape, old bridges and causeways, elegant gardens and pavilions and more great view, West Lake worth more than once visiting in one’s life. So where is Hangzhou West Lake and how to get there? Here we’ll show you the detailed location of West Lake and detailed info of how to get there from the airport and railway stations, and also how to travel around West Lake for your Hangzhou trip in 2024/2025! Let’s go!

Where Is Hangzhou West Lake

Hangzhou West Lake is rightly situated in the downtown of this city, which is only 1.5 kilometers from the city center around Wulin Gate (Wulinmen) and Wulin Square, about 27 kilometers from Hangzhou Airport, about 6.5 kilometers from Hangzhou East Railway Station and about 2.3 kilometers from Hangzhou Railway Station. Besides, private car, metro lines, many public buses, local taxi, bicycles, etc. are available as well.

Recommended West Lake Tour Packages:

☛ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

West Lake Location Map

West Lake Location Map

Hangzhou West Lake is Large - Decide Where to Arrive

Yes, West Lake is really large, covering an area of 6.39 s.q.km and the scenery attractions are comparatively scattered around the lake, so it is highly suggested decide your specific area to arrive in advance. Usually, if you want to see the Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway, you can get off at Hubin Road area. South section of Nanshan Road area is better to admire Orioles Singing in the Willows, Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset, Su Causeway, etc. If you want to admire Fish View at the Flower Pond, you can reach the south edge of Yanggong Causeway. And if you are planning to head to Lotus Swaying in the Breeze, Gushan, etc., Beishan Road is closer. And the following transportation info takes Hubin Road area and north section of Nanshan Road as the destination, which is only for your reference.

Hangzhou West Lake Attractions Map

Hangzhou West Lake Attractions Map

From Hangzhou Airport to Hangzhou West Lake

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is the only airport in Hangzhou, which offers frequent flights from / to over 110 domestic destinations and about 50 international cities (regions). People flying to Hangzhou can transfer to West Lake by our private car, taxi, airport shuttle bus, Hangzhou metro, public bus, etc.

Airport Address: Konggang Avenue, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou (杭州市萧山区空港大道)

Airport ITAT: HGH

By Private Car

It usually needs about 1 hour from the airport to West Lake with about 32-36 kilometers’ driving distance.

By Airport Shuttle Bus

You can take a shuttle bus heading to Wulin Gate (Wulinmen) for about 2 hours and then take a taxi to West Lake for about 8-15 minutes. Besides, many public buses are available from Wulinmen.

By Metro

Take Metro Line 7 to Jianshe Third Road and transfer there to Metro Line 2 to get off at Fengqi Road Station for about 1.5 hours. Then, walk to West Lake for about 15 minutes.

Recommended West Lake Tour Packages:

☛ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

From Hangzhou Train Stations to Hangzhou West Lake

Hangzhou has several train stations, among which Hangzhou East Railway Station and Hangzhou Railway Station are more frequently used. Hangzhou Railway Station is quite close to West Lake and city center. While, Hangzhou East Railway Station is served for more high speed trains from Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Huangshan, Guangzhou, and more cities every day. Visitors also can take a private car, local taxi, metro system, public bus, etc. to get to West Lake.

From Hangzhou East Railway Station

Hangzhou East Railway Station Address: No.2 Quanfuqiao Road, Jianggan District, Hangzhou (杭州市江干区全福桥路2号)

By Private Car

It usually takes about 0.5 hour with 12 kilometers driving on the way.

By Metro

Take Metro Line 1 to get off at Fengqi Road Station or Longxiangqiao Station and walk about 5-15 minutes to West Lake. Such a way needs about 30-40 minutes in total.

From Hangzhou Railway Station

Hangzhou Railway Station Address: No.1 East Huancheng Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (杭州市上城区环城东路1号)

By Private Car

A private car can take you to West Lake directly for about 10-15 minutes, with a driving distance of about 3 kilometers.

By Metro

If you go by metro, you can take Metro Line 1 to Dingan Road Station or Longxiangqiao Station, covering 1-2 stations. Then, walk 5-15 minutes to West Lake.

Recommended West Lake Tour Packages:

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Hangzhou East Railway Station High Speed Train at Hangzhou East Railway Station
Hangzhou Railway Station Hangzhou Railway Station

Which Metro Station is Closer to Hangzhou West Lake

Hangzhou Metro Line 1 and Line 2 are available at West Lake and you can choose from the following three metro stations to visit the lake. However, it still depends on which part of the lake you want to visit.

Fengqi Road Station 凤起路 (Line 1 & Line 2): closer to Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway, walking about 15 minutes (750 meters) to West Lake

Longxiangqiao Station 龙翔桥 (Line 1): closer to West Lake Musical Fountain, 2nd Park, 4th Park, Hubin Road; walking about 5 minutes (250 meters) to West Lake

Dingan Road Station 定安路 (Line 1): closer to Yongjin Park, King Qian Temple, Orioles Singing in the Willows; walking about 15 minutes (700 meters) to West Lake

Hangzhou Metro Hangzhou Metro (Line 2)

Travel Around Hangzhou West Lake

Hangzhou West Lake is surrounded by many top attractions in Hangzhou, and many people would prefer to discover West Lake with more city highlights together. Many tourist bus lines will take you from the lake area to those scenic spots. However, if you want to travel without any worry, you can take a private car or taxi. Contact us if you need any help!
ToDistanceDriving Time
Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak2.5 km15-30 minutes
Hefang Street & Hu Qing Yu Tang1-2 km10-25 minutes
Longjing Tea Plantation (Longjing Village)4 km15-30 minutes
Longjing Tea Plantation (Meijiawu Village)6 km20-30 minutes
China National Silk Museum 1 km5-20 minutes
Grand Canal2 km20-30 minutes

How to Plan a Hangzhou Tour

Things to Do in Hangzhou: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea Plantation, Hefang Street, Xixi National Wetland Park, China National Tea Museum, China National Silk Museum…

How to Get to Hangzhou: International flights from Singapore (5 hrs.), Seoul (6.5 hrs.), etc., domestic flights from Guangzhou (2 hrs.), Beijing (2 hrs.), etc., or high speed trains from Shanghai (1~2 hrs.), Suzhou (1.5~3 hrs.), Huangshan (1.5~2 hrs.), etc.

Best Time to Visit Hangzhou: all year around

Usually, visitors spend 2 days around to enjoy a classic Hangzhou tour to visit the West Lake Scenic Area, including the amazing West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing Tea Plantations, etc. If you want an in-depth Hangzhou tour, you can also pay another half day or so to visit Xixi National Wetland Park, one day around to Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, or one day or so to Thousand Islands Lake, etc. Check all Hangzhou Tours >>

☛ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

☛ 3 Days Classic Hangzhou Tour Plus Tea Plantation Exploration

Also, you can spend 1 day to take a side trip to the nearby water towns like Wuzhen and Xitang in Jiaxing, 2~3 days to Putuoshan - one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, or 1 day to the popular Nanxun Old Town in Huzhou. Check more about Zhejiang Tours >>

☛ 3 Days Best Hangzhou Tour with Wuzhen Water Town

Besides, compared with just travelling Hangzhou, most of the visitors prefer to travel the metropolis Shanghai, Suzhou Gardens and Hangzhou Lakes in One Go! Such an amazing tour will take 5~6 days.

☛ 3 Days Hangzhou & Suzhou Beauty Tour by High Speed Train

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour

Some visitors also ride a high speed train to Huangshan to visit the world-famous Yellow Mountain. A Hangzhou Huangshan tour needs about 5 days around.

☛ 5 Days Yellow Mountain Tour from Hangzhou

Have your preferences? Please feel free to tell us your likes and let our professional travel consultants customize a personal tour for you!

Hangzhou West Lake Hangzhou West Lake Summer Sightseeing Our Customers visited Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Plantation, Hangzhou Our Customers visited Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Plantation, Hangzhou

Get Inspired by Real Travel Stories of Our Customers

Since 2012, we China Discovery have helped numerous customers to visit Hangzhou and surroundings. With our fully-inclusive private tour packages, all of our customers enjoyed their trips to the West Lake, Lingyin Temple, etc. Some of them kindly shared their precious photos and stories about their Hangzhou journey, just get inspired now.

"Impression Show is a must see when visiting Hangzhou…" - shared by Nguyen (Read her entire travel story: The Pursuit of Natural Beauty with the Beloved one - 14 Days Beautiful China Exploring Tour)

"This last night in Hangzhou led us to explore a different side of West Lake, vastly changing our erstwhile bland impression of the famed tourist site…" - shared by CS from Singapore (Read her entire travel story: Delightful Journey to Poetic Jiangnan Area)

Besides the wonderful travel stories, many customers who visited Hangzhou with China Discovery also send us their first-hand feedbacks about their trip, feel free to read the Hangzhou Reviews and learn what they say about their experience. If you want to start your Hangzhou tour now, don't hesitate to contact us.

Recommended Hangzhou Tours

Top 3 Hangzhou tours chosen by most customers to explore Hangzhou in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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