7-Day Hangzhou Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

TL;DR

Hangzhou (杭州) is a Tier 1 city of 12 million in Zhejiang province, famous for West Lake (西湖). This 7-day itinerary covers West Lake's highlights, day trips to water towns and ancient cities, authentic Zhejiang cuisine, and a relaxing final day. Budget: 800-1,200 CNY/day mid-range. Best seasons: March-May and September-November.

Day 1: Arrival & West Lake Sunset

Morning: Arrive in Hangzhou via Hangzhou East Railway Station (杭州东站) or Xiaoshan International Airport (杭州萧山国际机场). Check into accommodations near West Lake—areas like West Lake Cultural Square or Nanping Road offer convenient access.

Afternoon (14:00-17:00): Explore Hefang Street (河坊街), a 1,000-meter pedestrian food street in Qinghefang Historical District. Sample Hangzhou snacks: sizes (葱包烩), dongpo ya (东坡肉) pastry, and crab roe xiaolongbao.

Evening (17:30-19:30): Walk the western shore of West Lake (西湖) toward Broken Bridge (断桥). Sunset views over the lake's three hills are impressive, especially March through May. The famous "Ten Views of West Lake" include Su Causeway (苏堤) in spring and Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) at twilight.

Dinner: Try Dongpo Pork (东坡肉) at Louwailou (楼外楼, established 1848) near West Lake, approximately 80-120 CNY per dish.

Day 2: West Lake Deep Dive

Morning (08:00-10:30): Take a rowboat from Huagang Dock (花港码头) to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月). The island ticket including boat costs ¥55. The three stone pagodas in the lake are featured on the 1-yuan note.

Late Morning (10:30-12:00): Walk north along the lake to Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔). Ticket price: ¥40 (ground level) to ¥80 (elevator access to top). The 5-story pagoda offers panoramic views of West Lake and Hangzhou's western hills.

Afternoon (13:00-16:00): Stroll along Su Causeway (苏堤), a 2.8km stone walkway built during Song Dynasty (969 AD). Rent a bicycle for 30-50 CNY/hour from docks along the causeway.

Evening: Watch the "Impression West Lake" evening show, a Zhang Yimou-directed performance on the lake itself (verify current ticket prices with official website).

Day 3: Temples & Tea Country

Morning (08:00-11:30): Visit Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺), Hangzhou's most important Buddhist temple founded in 326 AD. Entrance to the temple grounds is ¥45; temple entry is an additional ¥30 (total ¥75). Arrive early to avoid crowds.

Midday (11:30-13:00): Walk to Feilai Peak (飞来峰), a limestone hill with 470 Buddhist statues dating from the 10th-14th centuries. The peak ticket is ¥45 (separate from Lingyin Temple).

Afternoon (14:00-17:00): Drive or bus 40 minutes to Longjing (龙井) village, famous for Dragon Well tea. Tour a tea plantation, participate in a tea-picking experience (spring harvest March-April is best), and sample authentic Longjing Shrimp (龙井虾仁) at a local restaurant. Tea prices: 200-800 CNY per 100g for authentic Longjing.

Day 4: Wuzhen Water Town Day Trip

Full Day (07:30-18:00): Travel to Wuzhen Water Town (乌镇) in Tongxiang. Options:

• Direct bus from Hangzhou's East Bus Station: 1.5 hours, approximately 30-40 CNY
• High-speed rail to Tongxiang (17 minutes), then taxi: total approximately 50-60 CNY

Wuzhen's joint ticket costs ¥110-150. The ancient water town features 1.3km of Ming and Qing dynasty streets, stone bridges, and traditional herbal medicine shops. Don't miss the Shadow Puppet Theater and the Three-Ancient Crafts Workshop (writing, tea, and printing demonstrations).

Alternative Day 4-7: For experienced hikers, replace Days 4-6 with a 2-day trip to Huangshan (黄山, Yellow Mountain). Take HSR from Hangzhou East (2.5 hours), stay overnight at the summit, and hike the famous Beginning to Believe Peak and Reflections of Peaks scenic area. Budget an additional 600-1,000 CNY for transport, accommodation, and cable cars.

Day 5: Shaoxing Ancient Culture Day

Full Day (08:00-19:00): Take the Hangzhou-Shaoxing intercity rail from Hangzhou East: 30 minutes, approximately 20 CNY.

essential sites in Shaoxing (绍兴):

• Lu Xun's Hometown (鲁迅故里): Free entry, includes ancestral residence, Ziyun Pavilion, and Sanxiansheng Bookshop
• Shen Garden (沈园): A Song Dynasty classical garden, 40 CNY
• Xianheng Hotel: Where Lu Xun's father celebrated his success—famous for Shaoxing wine and yellow rice wine shrimp

Shaoxing is China's "Town of Calligraphy"—visit the former residence of Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy, in the nearby mountains.

Day 6: Thousand Island Lake

Full Day (07:00-20:00): Travel to Qiandao Lake (千岛湖, Thousand Island Lake). Bus from Hangzhou South Bus Station: 2 hours, approximately 60-80 CNY each way.

Qiandao Lake features 1,078 islands. A boat tour costs ¥150-200 depending on the route (Meifeng Island, Heart Island, or Snake Island). The lake is in Qiande County, created in 1959 for the Xin'an River dam. This is a long day—depart early and wear comfortable shoes for island walking.

Day 7: Gardens, Tea & Departure

Morning (08:00-11:00): Visit Hangzhou Botanical Garden (杭州植物园) in the western hills. Admission: ¥10. The garden spans 228 hectares with 3,000+ plant species and traditional Chinese landscape gardens.

Midday (11:30-13:30): Tour the China National Tea Museum (中国茶叶博物馆) in Longjing. Free admission. Learn about tea processing, participate in a Gongfu tea ceremony (50-100 CNY), and purchase tea souvenirs.

Afternoon: Return to hotel for checkout. Hangzhou's shopping districts—Shen Lane (胜利路) for silk, Wulin Road for electronics—are convenient for last-minute purchases.

Practical Information

| Category | Details | |----------|---------| | Transport | Get a Hangzhou Metro pass (¥25/day unlimited rides) or use Alipay/WeChat Pay QR codes for all public transport | | Budget | 800-1,200 CNY/day mid-range; 1,500-2,000 CNY/day luxury | | Best Seasons | March-May (peach blossoms, spring tea harvest), September-November (crisp weather, osmanthus flowers) | | Language | Download Pleco or similar translation app; major attractions have English signage | | Payment | Cashless payment is standard—ensure your Chinese bank card or international card works with Alipay/WeChat |

Verify current ticket prices with the Hangzhou Tourism Bureau or individual attraction websites, as prices may change seasonally. Book Huangshan accommodation 2-3 weeks in advance if visiting during peak season (October-November).