The history of Hangzhou can be traced back to more than 2,000 years in the Qin Dynasty, and the five dynasties of Wu and Yue and the Southern Song Dynasties all once set their capitals here. Known as “Heaven on Earth” since ancient times, Hangzhou boasts mountains, springs, lakes, bridges, pagodas and temples. The colors in the landscape also gradually diversified over time.

Along the West Lake, there is no absolute boundary between the city and the park. Lush trees and plant blends in with small shops. Everywhere is surrounded by the nature of green, but there is no sense of emptiness away from the city. That’s exactly what makes the city attractive and special. Moreover, Hangzhou offers much more for you to taste: retreat your soul at Lingyin Temple, have a fantastic view of Qiantang River on the top of Six Harmonies Pagoda, stroll into Dragon Well Tea Plantation to see how tea is planted, picked and processed to become fragrant liquid in your teacup…

Now, take time to check out the Top 14 attractions & places to visit in Hangzhou and plan your Hangzhou tour in 2024.

Top Recommended Hangzhou China Tour:

☛ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

☛ 3 Days Hangzhou & Suzhou Beauty Tour by High Speed Train

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour

No.1: West Lake – Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of the Scenery
Hangzhou West Lake
Hangzhou West Lake

Lingering Snow over the Broken Bridge in Winter
Lingering Snow over the Broken Bridge in Winter

• Type: Park, Lake

• Recommended Length of Visit: at least half a day

• Address: West Lake Scenic, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang (杭州市西湖区)

West Lake (Xi Hu), long considered one of the scenic wonders of China, is the most famous attraction in Hangzhou. West Lake, a place of tranquility, is surrounded by hills on three sides while Hangzhou City itself is on the eastern shore.

To have in-depth exploration of the beauty of West Lake, you should not miss the “Ten Scenic Spots in Xihu”, which makes West Lake a charming fairyland with endless interests. Take a cruise for an afternoon on the water, stroll leisurely along the shady Bai and Su causeways, or bike around the lake… all are fantastic experiences.

• Recommended West Lake Tour: ✔ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

No.2: Lingyin Temple – Visit the Oldest Ancient Temple in Hangzhou
Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple

Buddhist Sculptures at Feilai Peak
Buddhist Sculptures at Feilai Peak

• Type: Historic Sites, Religious Sites

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 hours

• Tickets: 75 RMB/person on season; 45 RMB/person off season

• Address: No.1 Fayun Alley, Lingyin Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou (杭州市西湖区灵隐路法云弄1号)

Founded in AD 326, Lingyin Temple (Temple of Soul’s Retreat) is one of the most significant and beautiful Buddhist monasteries in China. The Ligong Pagoda at the entrance was built in honor of the Indian Monk, Hui Li, who gave the mountain its eccentric name. Hui Li though it was the spitting image of a hill in India and asked whether it had flown here. The famous Feilai Peak (飞来峰) is known for the dozens of Buddhist sculptures carved into the rock, many dating from the 10th century.

• Recommended Hangzhou Tour with Linyin Temple Visit: ✔ 2 Days Hangzhou Sightseeing Tour with Cycling Fun

No.3: Longjing Tea Plantation – Pick the Fresh Tea and Enjoy the Idyllic Life
Longjing Tea Plantation
Longjing Tea Plantation

Tea-picking at Dragon Well Tea Plantation
Tea-picking at Longjing Tea Plantations

• Type: Tea Village

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-5 hours

• Address: Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou (杭州市西湖区龙井路)

Besides the gorgeous scenery, Hangzhou is also famous for its Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea. The Longjing Tea Plantation is a picturesque wonderland surrounded by mountains with large areas of tea trees. The tea pavilions, tea houses you could see here and there where you could relax and enjoy tea. You could also wander around the tea terraces, catch glimpses of the different stages of production – cutting, sorting, and drying – and also buy the tea. Besides, the famous Dragon Well, Royal Tea Plantation, Hutong Temple, 9 streams and 18 gullys are also the highlights. Longjing Village and Meijiawu Village are top 2 Longjing tea plantations to go.

• Recommended Hangzhou Tea Tour: ✔ 3 Days Classic Hangzhou Tour Plus Tea Plantation Exploration

No.4: Hefang Street – Enjoy Local Snacks
Hefang Street
Hefang Street

Hefang Street
Panoramic View of Hefang Street

• Type: Sights & Landmarks，Ancient Street

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 hours

• Tickets: Free

• Address: Hefang Street, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou(杭州市上城区河坊街)

Hefang Street is the most famed street in Hangzhou City. Dating back to the time South Song Dynasty, Hefang Street was a rather prosperous business site and the center of culture and politics. Nowadays, Hefang Street is the most famous and the only well-preserved ancient street in Hangzhou. Vising this busy but interesting street, you can catch a glimpse of antique buildings and long-survived stores, taste local snacks as well as savor the beautiful artifacts.

• Popular Hangzhou Tour with Hefang Street: ✔ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

No.5: Hu Qing Yu Tang – Learn More about Chinese Medicine
Hu Qing Yu Tang
Hu Qing Yu Tang

The Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Type: Theme Museum

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 hours

• Tickets: CNY 10/person (ticket for the museum)

• Address: Qingbo Street, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou(杭州市上城区清波街道)

The Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hu Qing Yu Tang) is the only state-level Chinese medicine museum in China. It consists of five parts: an exhibition hall, a hall of medicine preparation, a health care clinic, a sales department and a restaurant of medicine diets. It is more than simply a museum. You’ll know some history and development of traditional Chinese medicines, appreciate the traditional architecture and design, and buy the traditional medicine in this functioning pharmacy…

• Popular Hangzhou Tour with Hu Qing Yu Tang Visit: ✔ 2 Days Relaxing Hangzhou Tour with West Lake Sightseeing

No.6: China National Tea Museum – Explore Chinese Tea Culture
China National Tea Museum
China National Tea Museum

China National Tea Museum
China National Tea Museum

• Type: Theme Museums, Culture

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 hours

• Address: No.88, Longjing Road, Shuangfeng Village, Xihu Distict, Hangzhou (杭州市西湖区龙井路88号)

China National Tea Museum, in the southwest of West Lake, is very popular among visitors who love tea culture, and many G20 leaders’ wives have visited here in September 2016. In this garden-like museum, you can learn about the tea culture and tea history from more than 4700 years ago in China, see the exhibition of tea sets in different periods from China to other countries, sample diverse kinds of tea, and enjoy wonderful tea ceremony performances in rich styles. Besides, the China National Tea Museum provides a very pleasing natural and cultural environment for you to relax and breathe the fresh aroma of tea trees that are growing around on the mountain.

• Recommended Tea Museums Exploration Tour: ✔ 3 Days Classic Hangzhou Tour Plus Tea Plantation Exploration

No.7: Former Residence of Xueyan Hu – Visit the Top Mansion in Jiangnan
Hefang Street
Former Residence of Xueyan Hu

Qingya Hall in Former Residence of Hu Xueyan
Qingya Hall

• Type: Historical Site，Architecture

• Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

• Tickets: CNY 20/person

• Address: No.18 Yuanbao Street, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou(杭州市上城区元宝街18号)

Former Residence of Xueyan Hu (胡雪岩故居) is the Top mansion in Jiangnan. It was first built during the Qing Dynasty and renovated in 2001. The enclosure with a height of more than 10 meters and the main gate hidden in the alley give the compound a sense of mystery. The former residence of Hu Xueyan has a large scale. After entering the door, the east and west sides of the courtyard are divided by the central axis, clearly showing the layout of the ancient residence. The most prominent feature of Zhi Garden on the west side is the sightseeing route made up of the ubiquitous fake rocks, which visitors can walk through. The former residence is located at the intersection of Zhonghe Road and Wangjiang Road. Across the Zhonghe Road from here are the Drum Tower and the Southern Song Imperial Street (Nan Song Yu Jie).

No.8: Xixi National Wetland Park – Have a Peaceful Break
Paper Making in Gutian
Xixi National Wetland Park in Summer

Peitian Ancient Dwellings
Xixi National Wetland Park in Winter

• Type: Parks

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 hours

• Address: No.518 Tianmu Mountain Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou(杭州市西湖区天目山路518号)

• Distance from Hangzhou City Center: 14km, takes about 35-45 minutes by car.

Xixi National Wetland Park collecting city wetland, ecological wetland and cultural wetland together, is the first national wetland park in China. With a peaceful environment and beautiful waterscapes of colorful flowers, green reeds and other plants to admire, it attracts lots of tourists to have sightseeing and relaxation.

For its amazing natural scenery and brilliant culture, Xixi National Wetland Park is recognized as a National AAAAA Scenic Area and an International Important Wetland. Many streams, moderate temperature and fresh air in Xixi National Wetland Park draw birds and animals to reside here.

No.9: Six Harmonies Pagoda – Admire the Masterpieces of Ancient Chinese Architecture
Six Harmonies Pagoda
Six Harmonies Pagoda

Qiantang River Tidal Bore
Qiantang River Tidal Bore

• Type: Architecture Buildings, River Tidal Bore

• Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

• Tickets: RMB 20/person (Excluding the Pagoda Climbing Fee); RMB 10/person for pagoda climbing

• Address: No.16, Zhijiang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou (杭州市西湖区之江路16号)

The Six Harmonies Pagoda is one of the true masterpieces of ancient Chinese architecture. Why is it named “Liuhe”? It is said to signify the harmony of heaven, earth, and the four directions: east, west, south and north. Standing beside the railway bridge on the northern shore of Qiantang River and on the southern of West Lake, Liuhe Tower is all that is left of an octagonal temple first built in AD 970 to placate the tidal bore. Climbing onto the top, visitors could have a spectacular view of Qiantang River and surrounding hills. Around the Mid-autumn Festival, it’s one of the best places to appreciate the magnificent wonders of Qiantang River Tidal Bore in Hangzhou.

• Popular Qiantang River Tidal Bore Tour in Hangzhou: ✔ 3 Days Charming Hangzhou Photography Tour

No.10: China National Silk Museum – Learn more about Chinese Silk
China National Silk Museum
China National Silk Museum

China National Silk Museum
China National Silk Museum

• Type: Theme Museums, Culture

• Recommended Length of Visit: 2-3 hours

• Address: No.731 Yuhuangshan Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou (杭州市西湖区玉皇山路731号)

Newly reopened in July 2016, China National Silk Museum (short for CNSM), located on the south side of West Lake, is not only the first state-level specialized silk museum in China, but also the largest silk museum in the world at present. China National Silk Museum displays about 5000 years silk history and culture, which is regarded as an educational and amazing window for travelers to have a better understanding of Chinese silk and the Silk Road and have a new respect and appreciation for Chinese and Western silk art and fashion.

• Recommended Chinese Silk Exploration Tour: ✔ 3 Days Charming Hangzhou Photography Tour

No.11: Enduring Memories of Hangzhou – Watch the New Version Impression West Lake
Enduring Memories of Hangzhou
Enduring Memories of Hangzhou

Enduring Memories of Hangzhou
Enduring Memories of Hangzhou

• Type: Night Shows, Entertainment

• Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

In the poetic and romantic city – Hangzhou, no matter when you come, you’ll have a lot of choices to enjoy every moment. You can take the rare chance to enjoy the awesome landscape subject-live performance Enduring Memories of Hangzhou, which will show you the beautiful Hangzhou Legends, or take a night cruise to enjoy the beauty of Hangzhou from a different perspective.

Staged entirely upon the lake itself (a stage has been built 3 centimeters below the surface), Impression West Lake is a spectacle of light, music, dance and theatrics. Using the lake and its surroundings as props, lights and hundreds of actors create a sensational performance. Impression West Lake will show you the beautiful Hangzhou Legends, like “The Legend of White Snake”. Directed by Zhang Yimou (the same man who directed the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony), it lasts about one hour, consisting of five parts: “Encounter”, “Fall in Love”, “Say Goodbye”, “Memory”, and “Impression”.

• Recommended Hangzhou Night Tour with Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show: ✔ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour

No.12: Grand Canal Night Cruise – Take a Cruise to Enjoy Hangzhou City from the River
Grand Canal Night Cruise
Grand Canal Night Cruise

Qiantang River Night Cruises
Qiantang River Night Cruises

• Type: Cruise, Entertainment

• Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hours

If you want to explore Hangzhou in the most relaxing way, Hangzhou is a city of water, and it is on the water where you can really experience the charm of Hangzhou. West Lake, the Grand Canal and Qiantang River all offer night cruises. Set sail at dusk and dim the lights, and get ready to enjoy the true beauty of Hangzhou scenery. The Grand Canal Cruise and Qiantang River night cruises are in service only in summer or peak seasons. Please check the availabilities with your travel consultant.

Grand Canal Cruise Route (1 hour): Wu Lin Men Pier -> West Lake Cultural Square -> Fuyi Cabin -> Xiangji Temple -> Gong Chen Bridge -> Wu Lin Men Pier

Qiantang River Night Cruises Route (1-1.5 hour): Qian Jiang Long Pier -> Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center -> Urban Balcony -> Hangzhou CBD -> Fuxing Bridge -> Qian Jiang Long Pier

• Recommended Hangzhou Night Tour: ✔ 2 Days Essence of Hangzhou Tour

No.13: Wuzhen & Xitang – Row on the River and Appreciate the Beauty of Water Town
Wuzhen Water Town
Wuzhen Water Town (Tongxiang)

Xitang Water Town
Xitang Water Town (Jiaxing)

• Type: Water Town, Historic Sites, Ancient Towns

• Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 Days

• Top Recommended Places to Visit: Wuzhen Water Town; Xitang Water Town

Once, visiting Hangzhou, taking 1-2 days to visit Jiangnan water town will be the highlight of your trip. There are many famous water towns around Hangzhou, among which, Wuzhen (about 70km from Hangzhou, takes about 1.5hrs by car) and Xitang (about 130km, takes about 2hrs by car) are top recommended for visitors.

Wuzhen Water Town, known as one of the six famous ancient towns in South China, is at the center of a triangle formed by Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. With a history of 1,300 years, it displays its profound culture and history.

Usually, you’ll visit Wuzhen East and Wuzhen West. In the east part of Wuzhen, you could visit the ancient bed museum, wine workshop, indigo fabric workshop, woodcarving workshop, shadow play, local opera…In the west part, you could see the soy sauce workshop, foot-binding culture museum, old post office, children’s museum and so on. In the daytime, you may find a bit crowded, yet by night less people here, you’ll immerse in the most atmospheric with the light-ups.

Xitang Water Town is conveniently located in Jiashan County. This historic ancient town was listed as the National AAAA Tourist Attraction. It is like an ancient piece of jade, glittering and translucent.

This ancient town has a history of more than one thousand years. What attracts visitors most is the easygoing lifestyle that local residents have followed for thousands of years. Unlike the ancient towns of Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen, Xitang is not a bustling village where people in the town live ordinary and peaceful lives.

• Recommended Jiangnan Water Town Tours: ✔ 3 Days Best Hangzhou Tour with Wuzhen Water Town | ✔ 2 Days Poetic Hangzhou with Xitang Water Town Tour