Hangzhou
Longjing Tea Village Day Tour
Thirty minutes uphill from West Lake, terraced bushes and families pan-firing the country's most famous green tea by hand.
From US$99/per person
View tourHangzhou
West Lake Private Day Tour
The causeways before the crowds, a boat to the island on the ¥1 note, and the hillside pagoda nobody climbs. The lake, done properly.
The short version
West Lake in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, has been composed and recomposed by painters for 1,200 years, and walking it is still the only way to understand why. A full day covers the Su and Bai causeways early, a boat to the island printed on the ¥1 note, and the hillside temples in the afternoon. About 8 hours, mostly on foot.
- Walk the causeways at dawn — the lake belongs to locals until about 08:30.
- The island of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is the scene on the ¥1 note.
- West Lake is free to enter; the boat and a few gardens are not.
- Eight hours, with about 6 km of flat walking.
What not to miss
07:30
Hotel pickup
Metro or private vehicle to the eastern shore. Arriving now means the causeways are still the domain of runners and tai chi.
08:15
The Su Causeway
A 2.8 km walk across the lake on a willow-planted dyke built by the poet Su Dongpo. Six bridges, and the view both ways.
10:00
Boat to the island
Out to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon — the small island with the stone lanterns that appears on the back of the ¥1 note.
11:30
Leifeng Pagoda
The rebuilt pagoda on Sunset Hill, with escalators to the top and the whole lake laid out below.
12:45
Lakeside lunch
A Hangzhou kitchen: West Lake vinegar fish, longjing shrimp, and a plate of seasonal greens.
14:30
North shore, then back
The rest of the circuit along the Bai Causeway and the north shore, ending where the lotus begins. Your guide drops you at the hotel or the station around 16:30.
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Metro fares or private vehicle for the day
- Boat ticket to the island
- Leifeng Pagoda entrance ticket
- Lakeside lunch with longjing tea
- Bottled water
Not included
- Breakfast and dinner
- Gratuities
- The Impression West Lake evening show, bookable separately
- Personal travel insurance
Pickup, timing and getting around
Pickup at 07:30 from hotels in Shangcheng, Xiacheng and near the lake. If you are coming from Shanghai by train for the day, we meet you at Hangzhou East station — tell us the train number and we handle the rest.
October and November are the best months: clear light and the osmanthus in flower. July and August pass 35°C, and we start an hour earlier to stay ahead of the heat.
Route diagrams are schematic and illustrative, not to scale.
More day tours from Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Lingyin Temple & Grand Canal Day Tour
A 1,700-year-old monastery with Buddhist carvings cut into the cliff behind it, then the working southern end of China's imperial canal.
From US$95/per person
View tourFrequently asked questions
How long does it take to walk around West Lake?
About three hours for the full circuit at a normal pace, four if you stop properly. With the boat and the pagoda, the day runs to eight hours including lunch.
Is the lake worth it when it is busy?
Yes, if you sequence it: causeways before 08:30, boat by 10:00, and the north shore in the afternoon. Crowds concentrate on the Broken Bridge and the boat piers, and your guide routes around them.
What province is Hangzhou in?
Zhejiang, on China's east coast south of Shanghai. West Lake is in the city centre, and the hills west of it grow the Longjing green tea the province is known for.
Can I do this as a day trip from Shanghai?
Yes. The fastest trains take 45 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East, which is on the metro. Leave at 07:00 and you are at the lake before 09:00.
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