Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital and the former Southern Song capital, is shaped by West Lake, gardens and Longjing tea. Walk the Su and Bai causeways to appreciate the landscape celebrated in Chinese poetry and painting. Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng offer Buddhist architecture and carvings, while the Longjing area introduces tea gardens and traditions. Allow an unhurried half-day for the lake or a tea village.
The best of Hangzhou
Xihu DistrictAbout 4 hoursFree entry
West Lake
When Su Shi governed Hangzhou in the Northern Song dynasty, he organised the dredging of a silting West Lake and used the excavated earth to build the Su Causeway. The work supported drinking water, irrigation and canal transport while creating a path across the lake. Bridges, islands and temple pagodas added over later centuries stand against the surrounding hills, leaving visible clues to how generations of Hangzhou residents reshaped their lake.
Location
West Lake and its lakeside public parks, Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
Admission
Public lakeside parks. Public lakeside parks are free; boat trips, island facilities, separately ticketed sights and commercial services are excluded.
Xihu DistrictAbout 2 hoursFree entry
Lingyin Temple
The Indian monk Huili founded Lingyin Temple in the Eastern Jin period. Centuries later, Daoji, the monk remembered in popular stories as Jigong, entered religious life here. Emperor Kangxi bestowed the name Yunlin Chan Temple, still displayed on its plaque. Nearby Feilai Feng contains rock carvings with both Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist subjects, offering faces, robes and religious imagery from different periods alongside the monastery's familiar stories.
BookingBook a real-name time slot through the official Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak WeChat or Alipay mini-program. On-site registration ended on 1 February 2026; a waitlist operates under official rules.
Location
1 Fayun Lane, Lingyin Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
Opening hours
Lingyin–Feilai Peak scenic area: 07:30–17:30, last entry 17:00; check separate notices for temple event days.
Admission
Lingyin–Feilai Peak scenic area, including Lingyin, Yongfu and Taoguang temples. Admission has been free since 1 December 2025. Booking is still required; previous separate scenic-area and temple ticket prices are obsolete.
Xihu DistrictAbout 1.5 hours
Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda is familiar from the White Snake legend, but Qian Chu, king of Wuyue, originally built it as a Buddhist monument. Some bricks even contained printed scriptures. The old tower collapsed in 1924, bringing its scripture bricks to wider attention; later excavations uncovered elaborate Buddhist offerings in the underground chamber. The reconstructed tower now shelters the original foundations, which can be viewed before climbing above West Lake.
Location
Xizhao Hill on West Lake's southern shore, Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
Opening hours
The tourism bureau's 2022 guide lists Nov 1–Mar 15 08:00–17:30, Mar 16–Apr 30 08:00–19:00, and May–Oct 08:00–20:00. Current hours need reconfirmation.
Admission
A current official adult tariff was not retrieved.
What to eat
Dongpo pork
Dongpo pork is linked by legend to Su Shi, the poet who oversaw the dredging of West Lake. Squares of pork belly are braised slowly in Shaoxing wine and soy until meltingly tender, rich but never heavy, and often served in small clay pots. It belongs with steamed rice.
Longjing shrimp
This Hangzhou dish puts two tastes of West Lake on one plate: freshly peeled river shrimp stir-fried with tender Longjing tea leaves. The shrimp stay pearly, the leaves bright green, and the tea lifts their sweetness. It is best when the spring tea comes in.
Arrive, explore, settle in
Arriving
Fly into Xiaoshan Airport and check the exact station for rail arrivals. Keep your first outing near your base or West Lake’s eastern shore instead of rushing into the hills.
Getting around
Walk West Lake in sections rather than trying to cover the entire shore. Treat Lingyin and Longjing tea villages as hill outings with transport and a return point planned first.
Where to stay
The eastern lakeshore, Hubin or Wulin area suits first visits and evening walks. A hill base can suit tea-country time, provided you check luggage access and city transfers.
Choose a section of Su or Bai causeway and add nearby gardens. Pair Leifeng Pagoda with the southern shore rather than trying to circle the lake in a day.
Route 2
Lingyin and tea villages
Build Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak around current booking arrangements. Give Longjing a separate half-day for village paths and tea culture.
Route 3
Old-city wandering
Choose a walk around Hefang Street and Southern Song Imperial Street, adding nearby lanes if time allows for a city experience beyond the lake and hills.
More planning advice
Start with one stretch of shore or a causeway walk, then decide whether to add a boat trip, an island or another nearby sight. Check the scope of those experiences separately from the public lakeside parks.
Around Lingyin, make room for both the temple halls and Feilai Feng's rock carvings. Check booking arrangements through official channels before visiting and allow time for each.
At Leifeng Pagoda, consider viewing the preserved original foundations before going up for lake views. Reading the remains alongside the White Snake story adds another dimension to the visit.
Good to know
How many days do I need in Hangzhou?
Allow 2–4 days, excluding intercity travel. Leave room for journeys, queues and meals.
When should I visit Hangzhou?
Suggested months: Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov. Check weather, holidays and opening arrangements for your actual dates.
Which sights need advance booking?
Read each sight’s booking note and check official information before fixing your dates. Foreign passport booking channels may differ. Booking with a foreign passport →
Make Hangzhou your own
Put your favourite places on the map, then decide how to spend each day.
