hangzhou
West Lake's misty waters, Dragon Well tea plantations, and the gentle poetry of traditional Chinese landscapes
Top Highlights
- 1 West Lake
- 2 Lingyin Temple
- 3 Longjing Tea Village
- 4 Song Dynasty Town
- 5 Six Harmonies Pagoda
Visa & Entry
144-hr & 15-day visa-free
Citizens of many countries can enter China visa-free for up to 15 days, or use the 144-hour transit visa-free scheme for shorter visits.
Full visa guideBest Time to Visit
Mar–May & Sep–Nov
Suggested stay: 2–3 days. Avoid the Golden Week holiday (1–7 October) and Spring Festival (Jan/Feb) — crowds are enormous and prices peak.
Seasonal travel guide10 articles — page 2 of 2
All destinations
hangzhouHangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai 2026: West Lake, Longjing Tea & What to See in One Day
The Hangzhou day trip from Shanghai — HSR times and tickets, an efficient West Lake circuit (by boat or on foot), the Longjing tea village 20 minutes from the lake, the Leifeng Pagoda at sunset, and how to make the most of a single day in China's most beautiful city.
Updated May 2026
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hangzhouHangzhou Food Guide 2026: West Lake Vinegar Fish, Dongpo Pork & Longjing Tea Cuisine
Hangzhou's refined Zhejiang cuisine — West Lake Vinegar Fish (西湖醋鱼), Dongpo Pork (东坡肉) braised in Shaoxing wine, Beggar's Chicken cooked in clay, and the tea-infused dishes made with Longjing green tea. Where to eat each properly and what the tourist versions leave out.
Updated May 2026
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hangzhouLingyin Temple Hangzhou Guide 2026: Buddha Grottos, Peak Flying Clouds & Tickets
Lingyin Temple is one of China's most revered Buddhist temples — set in forested hills above Hangzhou with spectacular stone Buddha grottos carved into nearby cliff faces. This 2026 guide covers the temple's 1700-year history, the Peak Flying Clouds stone carvings, ticket prices, queue tips, seasonal highlights, and how to combine it with West Lake for a perfect Hangzhou day.
Updated May 2026
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hangzhouHangzhou Grand Canal Guide 2026: UNESCO Heritage Waterway, Night Cruise & Canal Culture
The Grand Canal in Hangzhou is the southern terminus of the world's longest man-made waterway — 1,794 km of human engineering that connected Beijing to the Yangtze Delta for 1,400 years. This 2026 guide covers the UNESCO heritage canal sections in Hangzhou, the best boat tours, the Canal Museum, canal-side neighbourhoods, combining with West Lake, and practical transport information.
Updated May 2026
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