The Ultimate Hangzhou 5-Day Trip Planner

For centuries, Hangzhou has been the muse of poets and painters, a city where ethereal mist clings to tea-covered hills and ancient pagodas reflect on tranquil waters. More than just a stop on a China itinerary, Hangzhou is a state of mind. This 5-day planner is designed to move you beyond the postcard views, immersing you in the city’s living culture, sublime flavors, and the vibrant, modern energy that pulses alongside its timeless beauty.

Day 1: The Heart of the Dream – West Lake & Its Poetic Shores

Your initiation into Hangzhou must begin with its soul: Xī Hú (West Lake). The key is not to rush, but to wander with intention.

Morning: A Lakeside Stroll & Leifeng Pagoda

Start early at the Broken Bridge (Duàn Qiáo). Despite its name, it’s perfectly intact, and walking across it offers the classic, framed view of the lake. Follow the Bai Causeway south. This walk, especially in the soft morning light, is an immersion into a living painting. Visit the Leifeng Pagoda (Léifēng Tǎ). While the interior is a modern reconstruction with elevators, ascending to the top provides the single most comprehensive 360-degree panorama of the lake, the city, and the distant hills. It contextualizes the entire landscape you’ll explore.

Afternoon: Island Hopping by Boat

From the park near Leifeng Pagoda, hire a hand-rowed wooden boat (look for the boats with a blue canopy for an authentic, though slightly pricier, experience). Glide across to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Sān Tán Yìn Yuè). This iconic islet, with its three stone pagodas in the water, is the image on the back of the Chinese one-yuan note. Disembark and explore the “lake within a lake” before taking a larger shuttle boat to Solitary Hill (Gū Shān). Visit the Zhejiang Provincial Museum here for a primer on regional history and culture.

Evening: Impression West Lake Show

As dusk falls, secure tickets for the Impression West Lake directed by Zhang Yimou. This outdoor theatrical spectacle uses the entire lake as its stage, with lights, music, and performers on boats creating a breathtaking, surreal performance that interprets the lake’s legends. It’s a mesmerizing cap to your first day.

Day 2: A Sip of Serenity – Longjing Tea & Spiritual Hangzhou

Today, head into the hills that cradle the lake to discover the source of Hangzhou’s most famous export.

Morning: Meijiawu Tea Plantations

Venture to Meijiawu (Měijiāwù), one of the core producing areas for Longjǐng (Dragon Well) tea. It’s less commercial than some neighboring villages. Walk amidst the meticulously terraced green bushes, visit a local farmhouse, and participate in a tea ceremony. Learn to appreciate the flat, jade-green leaves and the delicate, chestnut-like flavor of authentic Longjing. Purchasing tea directly from a farmer here is a wonderful souvenir.

Afternoon: Lingyin Temple & Feilai Feng Grottoes

After lunch, proceed to Língyǐn Temple (Temple of the Soul’s Retreat). This is one of China’s most significant and wealthiest Buddhist temples. Before entering the main temple halls, explore the Feilai Feng (Peak Flown From Afar) grottoes. This fascinating area is dotted with over 300 ancient Buddhist rock carvings etched into the limestone, some dating back to the 10th century. The serene, forested path builds a sense of reverence before you behold the majestic temple complex with its towering 33.6-meter-high camphorwood statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Evening: Hefang Street

Descend from the spiritual heights to the bustling, historic Hefang Street (Héfāng Jiē). This restored Song Dynasty-style street is packed with traditional shops selling silk, fans, scissors (a Hangzhou specialty), and snacks. It’s touristy but undeniably fun. Try local treats like dōngpō ròu (braised pork belly), beggar’s chicken, and sweet osmanthus cake.

Day 3: Water Towns & Modern Marvels

Experience the contrast between ancient canal life and Hangzhou’s cutting-edge present.

Morning: Wuzhen Water Town (East Scenic Area)

Take a day trip (about 1-1.5 hours by car) to one of the grand canal towns. Wuzhen (Wūzhèn) is exceptionally well-preserved. Opt for the East Scenic Area (Dōng Zhà) which feels more lived-in and less staged than the West. Meander along canals, cross stone bridges, watch indigo-dyeing workshops, and see traditional houses on stilts. It’s a glimpse into a slower, waterborne way of life.

Afternoon/Evening: Qianjiang New City & The Hangzhou Grand Theatre

Return to Hangzhou and head to Qianjiang New City, the dazzling central business district across the Qiantang River. This is 21st-century Hangzhou. As evening falls, the skyscrapers, including the iconic Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center (nicknamed “the Big Lotus”), put on a stunning light show. Dine at a restaurant here with a view, perhaps at the Intercontinental Hotel, famous for its golden globe design. For culture, check the schedule at the futuristic Hangzhou Grand Theatre, a architectural marvel resembling a pearl beside the water.

Day 4: Silk, Museums & Creative Revival

Delve into the crafts and history that built Hangzhou’s fortune and its contemporary artistic scene.

Morning: China National Silk Museum & Silk Market

Visit the superb China National Silk Museum at the southern edge of West Lake. It’s the world’s largest silk museum, beautifully tracing the 5,000-year history of sericulture from silkworm to lavish imperial robes. Afterwards, put your knowledge to use at the Hangzhou Silk Market. Hone your bargaining skills for scarves, ties, bedding, or custom-made clothing.

Afternoon: Hangzhou Arts & Crafts Museum & Gao’s Compound

Near the Silk Museum is a cultural cluster. Explore the Hangzhou Arts & Crafts Museum to see intricate bamboo carving, porcelain, and fans. Then, wander into the restored Gao’s Compound (Gāo Yìtáng), a traditional Jiangnan mansion that now houses artisan studios where you can watch masters at work.

Evening: Dawang Lane & Craft Beer

Experience Hangzhou’s hipster side in the Dawang Lane (Dàwáng Lù) and Xiangji Temple Lane area. This network of alleys is filled with independent boutiques, design studios, quirky cafes, and craft beer bars. It’s the perfect place to find unique design souvenirs and mingle with the city’s creative crowd.

Day 5: Hidden Gems & Leisurely Farewells

On your final day, choose your own adventure based on your interests.

Option A: The Bamboo Forest Path – Yunqi Bamboo Trail

For a peaceful, less-trodden nature escape, the Yunqi Bamboo Trail (Yúnqī Zhú Jìng) is a revelation. A 1-kilometer stone path winds through a towering, whispering bamboo forest, leading to a tranquil, ancient temple. The play of light through the bamboo is magical and profoundly calming—a perfect reflective end to your trip.

Option B: The Literary & Culinary Deep Dive – Guo’s Villa & Hubin

Revisit the West Lake area for hidden spots. Guo’s Villa (Guōzhuāng) is a lesser-known but exquisite classical garden on the lake, a masterpiece of landscape design. Afterwards, indulge in a long, luxurious lunch at one of the historic restaurants in the Hubin (Lakeside) area, like the Louwailou Restaurant, famed for its West Lake vinegar fish.

Final Afternoon: Last Moments by the Lake

However you spend your morning, return to your favorite spot by West Lake for a final stroll. Rent a bicycle and ride along the Yanggong Causeway, or simply find a bench and watch the water. Let the rhythm of the city—the tai chi practitioners, the chirping birds, the gentle lapping of waves—settle in your memory.

Essential Hangzhou Travel Hotspots & Tips

Getting Around:

Hangzhou’s metro is efficient and expanding. Didi (China’s Uber) is ubiquitous. For West Lake, public bicycles (use Alipay to scan) or walking are best. The “WeChat” or “Alipay” apps are absolutely essential for payments, metro tickets, and bike rentals.

Culinary Must-Tries:

Beyond the dishes mentioned, seek out Longjing Xiaren (shrimp stir-fried with Dragon Well tea leaves), Jiaohua Ji (beggar’s chicken), and Song Sao Yu Geng (Song sister-in-law fish soup). For a unique experience, book a table at Xīzi Hú Guófù Dītān, a floating restaurant on a replica of an ancient ship.

When to Visit:

Spring (April-May) for blooming flowers and fresh tea, and Autumn (September-October) for clear skies and golden ginkgo trees are ideal. Summer is hot and humid, while winter is chilly but less crowded, and the lake in mist is uniquely poetic.

Hangzhou is a city that reveals its depth to those who linger. This five-day journey weaves together its timeless landscapes, rich heritage, and dynamic present, offering not just a checklist of sights, but a genuine feeling for a place that has captivated hearts for a millennium. From the first sip of Dragon Well tea to the last glimpse of the lake at dusk, you’ll understand why the old saying endures: “Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou.”