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🗓 Hangzhou Itinerary · 5 Days 4 Nights · 2026

Hangzhou Without the Rush —
5 Days of Lake, Tea and Water Towns

West Lake at dawn, a thousand-year-old temple in a bamboo forest, the Longjing tea terraces, Wuzhen water town lit up at night, and a bullet train to Suzhou's UNESCO gardens — this plan misses nothing.

Why 5 days?

Hangzhou rewards the traveller who slows down

Hangzhou is not a city to hurry. There's an old Chinese saying — "In heaven there is paradise; on earth, Suzhou and Hangzhou" — and the moment you reach West Lake at dawn, with mist drifting over the water and willows trailing along the causeways, you understand why emperors and poets fell for it a thousand years ago. The city comes in layers: West Lake first, then the old temples and the tea terraces in the western hills, and finally the ancient canal towns a short ride beyond.

This plan is built to be different from a quick 2–3 day trip — it includes a full day at the Wuzhen water town (Day 3), a high-speed rail escape to Suzhou (Day 4), and a final day given over to the Grand Canal and the old streets at a walking pace. If it's your first time and you want nature, culture and a canal town in one trip, this is the right rhythm.

Before you book, read the Hangzhou attractions overview for the full picture, and pick a hotel from the 10 best hotels in Hangzhou — which neighbourhood you choose shapes how convenient each day of this plan feels.

5 Days · 4 Nights West Lake + Temple + Tea Hills 2 Day Trips — Wuzhen + Suzhou Budget ¥700–1,400/person/day
1
Day 1
West Lake, the Su and Bai Causeways, and Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset
West Lake in Hangzhou — calm water, willows along the causeway and green hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
🌅 Morning
Start at the heart of the city — West Lake (西湖), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and entirely free to enter. Come early for the mist over the water and the locals doing their morning exercises. Walk or rent a bike along the Bai Causeway (白堤), crossing Broken Bridge (断桥) — the setting of the Legend of the White Snake — out to Gushan Island. Read the full guide first at West Lake.
☀️ Afternoon
Take a boat out to Xiaoying Island (Three Pools Mirroring the Moon 三潭印月) — the scene on the ¥1 banknote. The leisure boat costs ¥55 (~฿275), the painted pleasure boat ¥70 (~฿350) per person, island admission included. Then walk the Su Causeway (苏堤), 2.8 km of tree-shaded path built by the poet Su Dongpo a thousand years ago. This is Hangzhou at its quietest and loveliest.
🌙 Evening
Close the first day at Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) on the lake's southern hill, admission ¥40 (~฿200). Ride up at sunset for a view across the whole lake to Baochu Pagoda on the far shore — this is "Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow," one of West Lake's ten classic scenes. Read ahead at Leifeng Pagoda. For dinner, the restaurants along Nanshan Road by the lake are an easy choice.
Tip: West Lake is bigger than it looks — the full loop is around 15 km and easily fills a day. Rent a public bike (scan Alipay/WeChat) or hop on the sightseeing buggy to save your legs. Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao (龙翔桥) is the closest station to the lake's eastern shore.
2
Day 2
Lingyin Temple, Feilai Feng, the Longjing Tea Hills and the Tea Museum
Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou — ancient Buddhist halls set among green forest and the Feilai Feng peak
🌅 Morning
Head this morning to Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) — one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in China, over 1,700 years old, tucked into the forest at the foot of the hills. Beside it stands Feilai Feng (飞来峰, "the Peak that Flew Here"), its cliffs and grottoes carved with more than 300 Buddhist figures. Since 1 December 2025 the Feilai Feng scenic area is free to enter, but Lingyin Temple itself still charges ¥30 (~฿150), and the whole zone uses a real-name reservation system — book at least one day ahead through the Alipay/WeChat mini-program, as numbers are capped. Open 07:30–17:30. Bus K7/Y1/Y2 from the lakeside (there's no metro to the temple). Read ahead at Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng.
☀️ Afternoon
From the temple, take a bus south to Longjing Tea Village (龙井村) — the source of "Dragon Well" green tea, the most famous tea in China. The terraced fields climb the hillsides; you can wander them for free and stop for a cup at a farmer's teahouse. Late March to April is the prime spring-harvest season (明前茶, "pre-Qingming tea"). Read ahead at Longjing Tea Village. Take bus 27 or Y3 to Shuangfeng stop.
🍵 Late Afternoon
Nearby is the China National Tea Museum (中国茶叶博物馆) — free entry, telling the story of Chinese tea from its history to the ceremony, with tea-ceremony demonstrations. Closed Mondays (except public holidays). In the evening, head back into town for Hangzhou's local classics — don't miss Dongpo pork (东坡肉) and West Lake vinegar fish (西湖醋鱼). See the full list in our Hangzhou food guide.
Tip: Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea hills are in the same western-lake zone, so they pair comfortably into one day. If you want serious tea, buy real Longjing leaves direct from farmers in the village — but beware imitations on the tourist stalls. A shop with its own fields is the safer bet.
3
Day 3 — Out of the City
Wuzhen Water Town — Venice of the East, 1,300 Years Old
Canal and traditional waterside houses in the Jiangnan style, representing the atmosphere of Wuzhen water town near Hangzhou
🚌 Morning — Getting to Wuzhen
Wuzhen (乌镇) is one of the best-preserved canal towns in China — black-and-white timber houses over the water, arched stone bridges, wooden rowing boats and traditional indigo dye-houses. Leave early to make the most of a full day. Getting there: direct buses from Hangzhou's Hangzhoucheng or Jiubao stations run straight to the scenic zone in about 1.5–2 hours, ¥31–50 (~฿155–250). Alternatively, take a high-speed train to Tongxiang Station, then bus K282/K231 (about 70 minutes total).
🛶 All Day — East and West Scenic Zones
Wuzhen splits into two zones. The East Scenic Zone (东栅), ¥110 (~฿550), open 07:00–17:00, is smaller and focused on traditional daily life — distilleries, dye-houses, old workshops — and good for the morning. The West Scenic Zone (西栅), ¥150 (~฿750), stays open until 22:00, is larger and more beautiful, and is best of all after dark, when lanterns reflect along the whole length of the canal. A combined ticket is ¥190 (~฿950). With only one day, give most of it to the West Zone and stay for the evening lights.
🌙 Evening — Back to Hangzhou
If you stay for the evening lights in the West Zone, check the last bus back to Hangzhou carefully (they often stop running by early evening). Or spend one night in a canal-side guesthouse in the West Zone — a genuinely special experience — and return to Hangzhou the next morning.
Alternative — a closer water town: If you'd rather not travel so far, Xitang (西塘) and other old towns near Hangzhou are equally lovely and a shorter trip. See all the options in our Hangzhou day trips guide before deciding.
4
Day 4 — Out of the City
Suzhou by High-Speed Rail — UNESCO Gardens
Suzhou classical garden — pavilions, ornamental rockeries and a still pond, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
🚄 Morning — Train and Arrival
"On earth, Suzhou and Hangzhou" — time to see the other half of the saying. Depart from Hangzhou East Station (杭州东站), the city's main high-speed rail hub (Metro Lines 1/4). Take a G or D train to Suzhou Station (苏州站) — journey time 1.5–2.5 hours (noticeably further than from Shanghai). A 2nd-class ticket starts around ¥45–120 (~฿225–600). Trains run frequently all day; buy in advance through the 12306 app or the station counter — your passport is required.

On arrival, head straight to the Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园) — the largest classical garden in the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admission ¥90 (~฿450). Built in the Ming dynasty around 1509, it's a complex arrangement of pavilions, covered walkways, stone bridges and lotus ponds. Allow at least 1.5–2 hours.
☀️ Afternoon — Pingjiang Road
Walk to Pingjiang Road (平江路) — a Song-dynasty canal street where whitewashed houses lean over narrow waterways. Teahouses, silk shops, and a bowl of Suzhou-style noodles from a street stall for about ¥15. The atmosphere is quieter than anything comparable in Shanghai. If you have the energy, Lion Grove Garden (狮子林) is nearby — ¥30, famous for its surreal limestone rockery maze.
🚄 Evening — Return to Hangzhou
Take an evening train back to Hangzhou East. Because the distance is longer than the Shanghai day trip, it's worth booking your return ticket in advance and checking the last departure. Back in Hangzhou, rest up before the final day.
A note on distance: Suzhou is further from Hangzhou than it is from Shanghai, so this trip involves around 3–5 hours of travel round-trip. Plan it as a full day — early out, late back. If you'd prefer something lighter, swap Day 4 for more time in Hangzhou itself. For ticketing, see the China high-speed rail guide.
🚄
China High-Speed Rail
Book your own HSR tickets with the 12306 app — or in advance via Trip.com
Book train tickets →
5
Day 5
The Grand Canal, Xixi Wetland and Hefang Street — a Slow Last Day
Hefang Street in Hangzhou — a historic pedestrian street of traditional shops and street food
🛶 Morning — The Grand Canal
Start at the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal (京杭大运河) — the longest and oldest hand-dug canal in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Hangzhou at its southern end. The best-value way to see it is the water bus — just ¥3, running every 30 minutes or so, 07:00–18:00 — gliding past the historic three-arch Gongchen Bridge (拱宸桥) and the old waterside neighbourhoods. Read ahead at the Grand Canal.
🌿 Afternoon — Choose Your Pace
The final afternoon is yours. Three honest options:

If you like nature: Xixi National Wetland Park (西溪湿地) on the city's western edge, admission ¥80 (~฿400) — take an electric boat (¥60) through marshes, channels and birdlife. It was the filming location for the movie Love is Not Blind. Read ahead at Xixi Wetland.

If you like old streets: Hefang Street / Qinghefang (河坊街 / 清河坊), a historic pedestrian street in the centre — old Chinese pharmacies, fan shops, scissor makers and street food down both sides, free to enter. Read ahead at Hefang Street and our Hangzhou street food guide.

If you want to breathe: a long coffee in a lakeside café, watching the city go by, is not a bad way to end a Hangzhou trip.
✈️ Departure
Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport (HGH 杭州萧山) sits about 27 km east of West Lake. You can reach it by Metro Line 7 transferring to Line 1 (¥4–8, ~50–70 min), the Airport Express bus (¥20–30, ~60 min), or taxi/DiDi (¥120–150, ~50 min). Allow at least 2.5–3 hours before an international flight.
Last-minute gifts: Hangzhou's classic souvenirs are real Longjing tea leaves, silk fans and paper umbrellas — all easy to find on Hefang Street before the airport. If you're buying tea as a gift, choose a shop with a certificate of origin to be sure it's the real thing.
Before You Go

Where to Stay and How to Get Around

🏨
Which Neighbourhood for This Plan
For this itinerary, staying around the eastern shore of West Lake / Hubin (湖滨) makes the most sense — walking distance to the lake, with malls and Metro Line 1 right there. Days 1, 2 and 5 are all around the lake; for Days 3 and 4, the metro takes you to Hangzhou East to pick up trains and buses.

If you prefer a modern downtown, Wulin Square (武林) is well-connected too. Travellers with a bigger budget often choose a resort in the western hills near the temple and tea fields.
Luxury: Four Seasons West Lake · Amanfayun · Banyan Tree Mid-range / budget: Atour · JI Hotel · Hubin-area hotels See the 10 best hotels in Hangzhou →
🚇
Getting Around — Metro and Buses
Hangzhou's metro is one of China's largest (12+ lines), fares ¥2–9 per trip — though a few sights still need a bus connection:

Line 1 — West Lake east shore (Longxiangqiao) ↔ Hangzhou East
Line 7 — to Xiaoshan Airport (HGH)
Bus K7/Y1/Y2 — to Lingyin Temple (no metro direct)
Bus 27/Y3 — to the Longjing tea hills and Tea Museum
Payment: Scan Alipay/WeChat QR at the gate, or buy a transport card at the station Navigation: Amap (高德地图) is far more accurate in Mainland China than Google Maps
Budget

What 5 Days in Hangzhou Actually Costs

Figures below are per person per day, excluding flights and travel insurance. Accommodation uses mid-range hotels (¥400–800/night/room). Two people sharing a room cut the accommodation figure significantly.

Item Days 1–2
(Lake+Temple)		 Day 3
(Wuzhen)		 Day 4
(Suzhou)		 Day 5
(Easy)
Accommodation (per person) ¥400–800
~฿2,000–4,000		 ¥400–800 ¥400–800 ¥400–800
Admission ¥70–150
~฿350–750		 ¥150–190
~฿750–950		 ¥90–120
~฿450–600		 ¥0–80
~฿0–400
Train / Metro / Bus ¥10–30 ¥62–100
(bus return included)		 ¥90–240
(HSR return included)		 ¥6–20
Food ¥120–250 ¥100–200 ¥100–200 ¥120–250
Total / person / day ¥600–1,230 ¥712–1,290 ¥680–1,360 ¥526–1,150
5-day total per person (estimate): ¥3,500–6,500 (~฿17,500–32,500) including accommodation, admissions, food and rail. Budget travellers (hostel + cheap eats + free sights): ¥1,800–2,800 (~฿9,000–14,000). Luxury (5-star lakeside): ¥8,000+ (~฿40,000+).

See all hotel options at Top 10 Hangzhou Hotels or 6 Best Lakeside Luxury Hotels.

Plan Further

Read Before You Go

Hangzhou Attractions
West Lake · Lingyin Temple · Leifeng Pagoda · Longjing tea · Grand Canal
Read →
Hangzhou Day Trips
Wuzhen · Suzhou · Xitang — ancient water towns around Hangzhou
Read →
West Lake in Full
Su Causeway · Bai Causeway · Broken Bridge · Three Pools · boat cruise
Read →
Lingyin Temple + Feilai Feng
Thousand-year temple · cliff carvings · reservation system · which bus
Read →
China High-Speed Rail Guide
How to buy 12306 tickets · G vs D trains · using your passport at the gate
Read →
What to Eat in Hangzhou
Dongpo pork · West Lake vinegar fish · Longjing shrimp · beggar's chicken
Read →
Starting from scratch? See the complete Hangzhou travel guide — hotels, sights, food and transport all in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions

Before Your 5-Day Hangzhou Trip

Is 5 days enough for Hangzhou?
Five days is genuinely comfortable — you can cover every major highlight (West Lake, Lingyin Temple, the tea hills, Wuzhen, Suzhou) without rushing, and still have time to sit by the lake and watch the city. For a shorter trip, start with West Lake and Lingyin Temple — but Hangzhou is a place that rewards slowing down.
Do I need to book Lingyin Temple in advance?
Since 1 December 2025, the Feilai Feng scenic area is free to enter, but Lingyin Temple itself still charges ¥30 (~฿150), and the whole zone uses a real-name reservation system. Book at least one day ahead through the Alipay or WeChat mini-program — daily numbers are capped. Open 07:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00). Check before you go, as the policy can change.
How long does the train from Hangzhou to Suzhou take?
A G or D high-speed train from Hangzhou East Station (杭州东) to Suzhou takes roughly 1.5–2.5 hours — much longer than the half-hour hop from Shanghai. A 2nd-class ticket starts around ¥45–120 (~฿225–600). Trains run frequently throughout the day; book the return leg ahead. Buy through the 12306 app or at the station counter with your passport. Full instructions in the China high-speed rail guide.
When is the best time of year to visit Hangzhou?
March–May (spring, with green willows over the causeways and the tea harvest) and September–November (autumn, when osmanthus scents the whole city, with clear skies) are ideal. June–August is hot, humid and rainy; December–February is cold, though West Lake under snow is magical. Avoid China's National Day (1–7 Oct) and Labour Day (1–5 May) holidays, when West Lake is overwhelmed.
Which apps do I need to get around Hangzhou?
For the metro, scan an Alipay or WeChat QR code at the gate or buy a transport card at the station. For intercity trains, use the 12306 app (available in English). For maps and finding restaurants, Amap (高德地图) is far more accurate than Google in China, since Google Maps is blocked. Lingyin Temple and many attractions are reserved through Alipay/WeChat mini-programs.
Do I need a VPN in Hangzhou?
If you use Google Maps, Instagram, WhatsApp or similar services, download and test a VPN before leaving home — you cannot install VPN apps inside Mainland China. For navigation, Amap (高德地图) works without a VPN and is more accurate than Google Maps in China anyway. WeChat and Alipay work normally without a VPN.
Klook · Hangzhou Activities

West Lake cruises, Lingyin Temple tours and water-town day trips — all on Klook

Klook has tickets and tours for much of this itinerary — West Lake boat cruises, Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng entry, and guided day trips to Wuzhen and Suzhou with transfers included.

Browse Hangzhou on Klook →
Wherebest is a Klook affiliate partner — we may earn a commission when you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.