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Top 8 Things to Do in Hangzhou

Written by Sally Guo Updated Apr. 6, 2021

One hour away from Shanghai, by high-speed rail, Hangzhou has been a renowned city for over 2,000 years in China, and for centuries it has shimmered with the charms of West Lake. From an iconic boat trip on West Lake to a perfect side trip to Wuzhen water town, we’ve listed the 7 best things you should not miss out on when traveling in Hangzhou.

1. Boat on West Lake

If you haven’t visited West Lake, you cannot say you have been to Hangzhou. It is a large lake with several causeways and verdant islets and has been nationally famous for the “Ten Scenes of West Lake” (ten famous scenic spots in West Lake) since the South Song dynasty (1127-1279).

However, most of them are seasonal and you can’t see all of them at one time. The best way to see most sights of the lake is to walk along the path on a clear day, take a boat ride, or take a ferry to visit one of its islets.

2. Greet the Carved Buddhas in Lingyin Temple

Located to the west of West Lake, Linyin Temple is the oldest temple in Hangzhou with a history of almost 1,700 years. (It was built in 326 when an Indian monk called Hui Li brought Buddhism to Hangzhou.)

The surroundings of the temple are tranquil but you can see many worshippers there every day because they believe the Buddha will help their wishes come true.
In front of the temple is Flying Peak (飞来峰). Along the way up you will be greeted by many different statues of Buddha carved into stones. Take note that one must buy the ticket for Flying Peak before entering the temple. There is free entry for Flying Peak Scenic Area before 5:30 in the morning. 2 hours is enough time for a comfortable visit.

3. Overlook from the Top of Six Harmonies Pagoda

Sit on the Yuelun Hill overlooking the Qiantang River and see Six Harmonius Pagoda.  Literally, the Six Harmonies (Liuhe) Pagoda, was built for suppressing the Qiantang tide in 970. Visitors can get views of the Qiantang River and its bridge from the top of this 7-story (13-story from the outside pagoda.

Now there is a new park set up near the pagoda with hundreds of replicas of the most renowned pagodas in China, reflecting the cultures of different ancient dynasties and districts. The park aims to present the essence of Chinese pagoda culture.

4. Hang Out in Qinghefang Ancient Street

Qinghefang Ancient Street is the best-preserved ancient neighborhood in Hangzhou, which was Hangzhou’s business center from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) until 1948. Today the area is full of teahouses, curio shops, and food stalls- good for whiling away free time.
Qinghefang is also home to several traditional pharmacies like Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum, offering the practice of traditional Chinese Medicine and clinical service.

5. Stay Overnight in Wuzhen Water Town

Only a one and a half-hour drive from Hangzhou City, Wuzhen Water Town is one of the best choices for travelers in Hangzhou who have one or two days for a side trip.

Blessed with well-preserved old buildings and charming night views, the over-1,300-year-old Wuzhen nowadays serves as a living water town museum with traditional workshops. The east side (Dongzha, 东栅) provides fun museums with things like ancient beds, wine-making, indigo fabric, shadow play, woodcarving, and local operas, while the west (Xizha, 西栅) offers a sauce workshop, an iron factory, a foot-binding culture museum, old post office, and so on.

6. Savor Tea at Meijiawu Tea Plantation

Renowned for planting and producing high-quality Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, Meijiawu Tea Plantation is a large and quiet place ideal for experiencing Chinese tea culture, where you can enjoy a cup of afternoon tea at a courtyard, pay a visit to the houses of local tea farmers, buy some authentic Chinese teas at reasonable prices, or more luckily, join in the work of producing tea.

7. Escape to Moganshan National Park

Moganshan is a tranquil retreat for people in Hangzhou and Shanghai. It is about 1.5 hours' drive from Hangzhou. The park features beautiful natural scenery with dense bamboo forests. It is an ideal place for a family vacation. read more information on the best places to stay in Moganshan 

8. Taste Hangzhou Cuisine at Zhiweiguan Restaurant

If you are looking for some Hangzhou local dishes and snacks in a good environment, try Weizhuang Zhiweiguan Restaurant(知味观.味庄).
With a history of over 100 years, Zhiweiguan specializes in serving local cuisine and has several branches in Hangzhou. The one on Yanggongdi (杨公堤) Road is the most popular as it is near Huagang Park and provides great views of West Lake.

Must-try dishes include Shrimp Meat with Longjing Tea, West Lake Fish in Vinegar, Dongpo Pork, Beggar’s Chicken, and Dragon Well Tea Cake. Though most staff cannot speak English, they offer an English (maybe Chinglish) menu which might help you have some ideas of what the dish may look like.

Experience Hangzhou Your Way

Paradise above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below”, this old saying in China indicates that for the Chinese, Hangzhou shares a similar attraction as paradise. Meanwhile, as home to the e-commerce giant Alibaba, Hangzhou is also an emerging technology hub with ubiquitous hi-tech elements, waiting for your exploration. You can customize an in-depth Hangzhou experience tour with us, or find some inspiration from our tour packages:

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