Long celebrated as one of China's most beautiful cities, Hangzhou wraps a willow-lined lake in pagodas, tea hills and causeways. It pairs classical scenery with a buzzy modern tech-city energy.
History & culture
Capital of the Southern Song dynasty and the southern end of the Grand Canal, Hangzhou enchanted Marco Polo and generations of Chinese poets. Its Longjing (Dragon Well) tea has been prized for over a thousand years.
What to see & do
- ◆West Lake by foot, bike or boat (Su and Bai causeways)
- ◆Lingyin Temple and the carved Feilai Feng grottoes
- ◆Longjing tea villages in the surrounding hills
- ◆Grand Canal and the Wushan night market
- ◆Day trip to the Xixi Wetland
What to eat
- ●West Lake vinegar fish
- ●Dongpo braised pork
- ●Longjing tea-infused shrimp
Getting there
Hangzhou's airport and high-speed rail link it to Shanghai in under an hour. The metro reaches West Lake and both rail stations.
Avoid the pitfalls
- West Lake is free but enormous and very busy on weekends — start early.
- Buy Longjing tea from village co-ops or reputable shops, not roadside 'farmers'.
- Boat touts overcharge; use the official ferry piers.
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