Hangzhou Travel FAQs & Tips

1. When is the best time to visit Hangzhou?

Hangzhou, famed as “the City of Heaven, the most magnificent in all the world”, is good to pay a visit all the round. The West Lake is like a magician, showing its perfect appearance in all seasons and every kind of weather. You could check the detailed information about the best time on our page: Hangzhou Weather & Best Time to Visit >>

2. Is it easy to get around Hangzhou?

Yes, it is easy to get around Hangzhou. There are some options like renting a bicycle, taking a walk, get a taxi or taking the metro…the best things for a tourist is to pick a hotel your planned sightseeing spots (namely, on the West Lake) within walking distance. If you are going for business, pick a hotel near your place of business. Travel with us, you never need to worry about the transfer in & around Hangzhou. We’ll arrange private guide and air-conditioning car for you. You could check the detailed information about the Hangzhou Transportation on our page: How to Get to and around Hangzhou >>

3. Better to visit Dragon Well Tea Plantation or Meijiawu Tea Plantation?

Here, we recommend you Dragon Well Tea Plantations. It is more famous and visit by many tourists from home and aboard. The dragon well tea produced in Shifeng Mountain is the best renowned in the world. At the bottom of the mountain, there is a Hugong Temple, in front of which have 18 imperial tea trees – the most famous attraction in the Dragon Well Tea Plantation. By visiting this plantation, you’ll know as many Chinese tea legends and culture as possible.

4. Does the impression show at the lake only start at night? Or are there daytime shows as well. Also, is it possible to buy tickets on the same day?

Yes. It starts 07:45 pm every night and if it is Friday and Saturday, it will add one round more which will start at 09:15pm. The show lasts for 1 hour. Usually we suggest you book the tickets early. Enjoy more pictures of Impression West Lake >>

5. How far is Wuzhen from Hangzhou Downtown?

It is about 80 kilometer from Wuzhen to Hangzhou Downtown with 1-hour drive. If you take the G-train between Hangzhou and Tongxiang (near Wuzhen Water Town), it just take you around 20 minutes. Check more information about How to Get to Wuzhen from Hangzhou >>

6. I've been reading information on traveling to Hangzhou from Shanghai Hongqiao and came across that there are a few types of train that are serving that route, is it true? What's the difference between G Trains and D Trains?

D train is fast, G train is fastest, but it does not matter between Hangzhou and Shanghai because the distance is short. Usually, It takes 45-60 minutes if you take G-train while 80-90 minutes by D-train. More information about Shanghai Hangzhou Transfer | Shanghai Hangzhou High Speed Train | Shanghai to Hangzhou Real-time Train Schedule | Hangzhou to Shanghai Real-time Train Schedule >>

See other D/G-Trains departing from Shanghai:
Shanghai – Suzhou: G-train: 30 minutes / D-train: 40 minutes
Shanghai – Beijing: G-train: 5 hours / D-train: 10-12 hours
Shanghai – Nanjing: G-train: 75 minutes / D-train: 120 minutes

7. How much time should we get from Hangzhou city center to the airport by taxi?

It depends on where you are located, about 25-30 kilometers. Better allow 1.5 hours, it's 1 hour at most via expressway though. 100-120 Yuan is expected. More information about Hangzhou Airport to City >>

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.

1. When is the best time to visit Hangzhou?

Hangzhou, famed as “the City of Heaven, the most magnificent in all the world”, is good to pay a visit all the round. The West Lake is like a magician, showing its perfect appearance in all seasons and every kind of weather. You could check the detailed information about the best time on our page: Hangzhou Weather Information and Seasonal Activities.

2. Is it easy to get around Hangzhou?

Yes, it is easy to get around Hangzhou. There are some options like renting a bicycle, taking a walk, get a taxi or taking the metro…the best things for a tourist is to pick a hotel your planned sightseeing spots (namely, on the West Lake) within walking distance. If you are going for business, pick a hotel near your place of business. Travel with us, you never need to worry about the transfer in & around Hangzhou. We’ll arrange private guide and air-conditioning car for you. You could check the detailed information about the Hangzhou Transportation on our page: How to Get to and around Hangzhou.

3. Better to visit Dragon Well Tea Plantation or Meijiawu Tea Plantation?

Here, we recommend you Dragon Well Tea Plantation. It is more famous and visit by many tourists from home and aboard. The dragon well tea produced in Shifeng Mountain is the best renowned in the world. At the bottom of the mountain, there is a Hugong Temple, in front of which have 18 imperial tea trees – the most famous attraction in the Dragon Well Tea Plantation. By visiting this plantation, you’ll know as many Chinese tea legends and culture as possible.

4. Does the impression show at the lake only start at night? Or are there daytime shows as well. Also, is it possible to buy tickets on the same day?

Yes. It starts 07:45 pm every night and if it is Friday and Saturday, it will add one round more which will start at 09:15pm. The show lasts for 1 hour. Usually we suggest you book the tickets early.

5. How far is Wuzhen from Hangzhou Downtown?

It is about 80 kilometer from Wuzhen to Hangzhou Downtown with 1-hour drive. If you take the G-train between Hangzhou and Tongxiang (near Wuzhen Water Town), it just take you around 20 minutes.

6. I've been reading information on traveling to Hangzhou from Shanghai Hongqiao and came across that there are a few types of train that are serving that route, is it true? What's the difference between G Trains and D Trains?

D train is fast, G train is fastest, but it does not matter between Hangzhou and Shanghai because the distance is short. Usually, It takes 45-60 minutes if you take G-train while 80-90 minutes by D-train.

See other D/G-Trains departing from Shanghai:
Shanghai – Suzhou: G-train: 30 minutes / D-train: 40 minutes
Shanghai – Beijing: G-train: 5 hours / D-train: 10-12 hours
Shanghai – Nanjing: G-train: 75 minutes / D-train: 120 minutes

7. How much time should we get from Hangzhou city center to the airport by taxi?

It depends on where you are located, about 25-30 kilometers. Better allow 1.5 hours, it's 1 hour at most via expressway though. 100-120 Yuan is expected.

Recommended Hangzhou Tours

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

West Lake Sunset at Changqiao Park

2 Days Hangzhou Essence Tour (Most Time-Efficient)

Hangzhou

Meijiawu Longjing Tea Plantation in Spring

3 Days Classic Hangzhou Tour (at Leisure Pace)

Hangzhou

Wuzhen Water Town - Last Town Resting on Water in China

3 Days Best Hangzhou Tour with Wuzhen Water Town

Hangzhou / Wuzhen

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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