Cities
Hangzhou in 2 days: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, and Longjing tea
A 2-day Hangzhou plan: walking West Lake's causeways, booking the now-free Lingyin Temple with a passport, and the tea villages, 45 minutes from Shanghai.
Hangzhou is one of China’s most beautiful cities, built around West Lake: willow-lined causeways, pagodas, and tea-covered hills. It’s an easy trip from Shanghai, and two days lets you see it at a relaxed pace.
Getting there
High-speed trains from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East take about 45 to 60 minutes, and there are trains every few minutes for most of the day. Second class costs about ¥75–90. See how to book trains.
West Lake: free and open all day
There’s no gate and no ticket for West Lake itself: the shoreline paths, both causeways, and the lakeside parks are free, day and night. A few sights inside the area charge, such as Leifeng Pagoda (about ¥40) and the boat to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon island.
Go early in the morning or at dusk, ideally on a weekday. Avoid the first week of October, when the lake is packed.
Lingyin Temple: free, but book ahead
Since December 2025, the Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng scenic area, with its cave carvings and four temples, is free. Many English guides still quote the old ticket prices.
- You must reserve through the official “杭州灵隐飞来峰” mini-program in Alipay or WeChat, choosing the passport option.
- Bookings open up to 7 days ahead; there’s no same-day booking. Choose a morning (7:30–12:00) or afternoon (12:00–17:00) slot.
- If it’s full, join the waitlist, which closes at 20:00 the day before.
- Don’t skip a booking without cancelling: a no-show can suspend your account from booking for 30 days.
Day 1: around West Lake
- Morning: walk or cycle the Su Causeway, a 3 km path across the lake lined with willows and arched bridges. Shared bikes are everywhere; unlock them in Alipay.
- Midday: take a boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon island.
- Afternoon: walk the Bai Causeway to Solitary Hill, then up to Leifeng Pagoda for the view over the lake.
- Evening: the lakeside at sunset, then dinner. Try West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, and Longjing shrimp.
Day 2: Lingyin Temple and the tea hills
- Morning: Lingyin Temple and the Buddhist carvings of Feilai Feng. Allow three hours.
- Afternoon: the Longjing (Dragon Well) tea villages in the hills south-west of the lake. Walk among the tea terraces and stop at a family tea house for a cup. Agree the price before you’re served.
- Evening: Hefang Street in the old town for snacks and shopping.
Where to stay
Stay near the lake’s east shore (around Hubin) for walking distance to the lake and the metro, or in the hills near the tea villages for quiet. Compare on Trip.com or Agoda, and check the hotel accepts foreign guests.
Combine with
Suzhou and Shanghai are both close by high-speed train: together they make an easy week. Or join a day tour from Shanghai.
