China
Hangzhou Travel Guide
West Lake's willow-lined causeways, tea hills, and centuries of poets and pilgrims
Nature & OutdoorsArts & CultureFood & Dining
About Hangzhou
Capital of the Southern Song dynasty and, in Marco Polo's telling, among the finest cities in the world. West Lake has shaped Chinese gardens, poetry, and painting for over a millennium.
Top Attractions in Hangzhou
Highlights included in EME itineraries
Architecture2h
Bai Causeway
A willow-lined dike skimming the north of West Lake, linking the Broken Bridge to Solitary Hill in an easy lakeside stroll.
Food & Dining2h
China National Tea Museum
A museum set among working tea terraces, tracing the leaf's culture with tastings of local Longjing.
History2h
Grand Canal
The southern end of the world's longest ancient canal — Gongchen Bridge, guild halls, and a lantern-lit night cruise.
Food & Dining2h
Hefang Street
A restored Qing-era street of medicine halls, silk shops, and Hangzhou snacks at the foot of Wu Hill.
Music & Nightlife2h
Impression West Lake Show
A Zhang Yimou night spectacle staged on the lake itself, dancers gliding on a stage just beneath the water's surface.
Architecture2h
Leifeng Pagoda
A reborn lakeside pagoda over the ruins of its 10th-century original, lit gold at night and tied to the Legend of the White Snake.
Planning Your Hangzhou Itinerary
Hangzhou is one of China's most compelling destinations, known for its Nature & Outdoors、Arts & Culture、Food & Dining. Use EME's free itinerary builder to plan day by day — add Hangzhou to a multi-city route, set your interests, and get a personalized schedule with attractions and travel times built in. No paywall, no sign-up to start.
Currency
CNY
Language
Mandarin Chinese
Visa
Tourist (L) visa required for most nationalities; visa-free transit available in major cities. Check entry requirements.
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