Perfect 5-Day Hangzhou Itinerary

Hangzhou is the Chinese city to fall for. It has a UNESCO-listed lake in the middle. Tea hills and Buddhist grottoes are just a short bus ride. High-speed rail makes Shanghai 50 minutes down the line. The city is enough to explore in five days. This Hangzhou itinerary is made for Singapore travellers.

Hangzhou Itinerary at a glance

Day 1: West Lake on Foot and by Boat

The lake is free and open all day; People walk the lake counter‑clockwise from the east shore before eight o’clock, when the causeways belong to joggers, not to tour flags.

Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway

• Opening hours: 24 hours.
• Location: Beishan Road, Xihu District (metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then 15 minutes on foot).
• Ticket price: Free.

The White Snake legend starts here; walk west to Gushan Island for the classic view back to the city, then south for the boats.

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Xiaoyingzhou)

• Opening hours: boats run roughly 08:00–16:45.
• Location: Island in the lake's south-west; board at Huagang or Zhongshan Park piers.
• Ticket price: ¥55 (about S$11) for the return cruise, including island admission.

The one-yuan note image in real life; a hand-rowed sampan for up to six costs about ¥180 (S$35) and is far quieter than the ferries.

Su Causeway at Sunset

• Opening hours: 24 hours.
• Location: Runs north–south across the lake's western half.
• Ticket price: Free.

Rent a shared bike (¥1.5 per 15 minutes via Alipay) and ride the 2.8 km causeway at dusk; its willows and six arch bridges are the lake's most photographed stretch.

Impressions West Lake (Zuiyi Shi Hangzhou)

• Show times: 19:40 nightly, second show 21:10 on Fridays and Saturdays, roughly 50 minutes.
• Location: Beishan Road 82, opposite Yuewang Temple.
• Ticket price: main stand from about ¥360 (S$69); premium seats from about ¥430 (S$83).

Zhang Yimou's floating stage production, first staged for the 2016 G20 summit. Book ahead for weekends and bring a jacket.

Day 2: Grottoes, Temples And a Lake Pagoda

Lingyin–Feilaifeng Scenic Area

• Opening hours: daily 07:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00).
• Location: Lingyin Road, Fanyun Lane 1, Xihu District.
• Ticket price: Free since 1 December 2025 but advance online booking is compulsory.

Reserve a slot through the "杭州灵隐飞来峰" mini-programme on Alipay or WeChat: booking opens seven days ahead, same-day booking is refused, and daily caps apply (35,000 on weekdays, up to 65,000 on holidays). Bring your passport; visitors aged 70 and over need no booking.

Feilaifeng is the reason to come: 300-odd Buddhist figures carved into limestone cliffs between the 10th and 13th centuries, older than the temple most visitors photograph.

Yongfu Temple and the hillside walk

A 15-minute uphill walk brings you to Yongfu Temple, a terraced complex with a vegetarian canteen.

Leifeng Pagoda

• Opening hours: 08:00–20:00 (1 May–31 October); 08:00–19:00 (16 March–30 April); 08:00–17:30 (1 November–15 March).
• Location: Nanshan Road 15, on the lake's south shore.
• Ticket price: ¥40 (S$8); combined tickets with Yuewang Temple from¥60 (S$12).

A 2002 reconstruction on Song foundations, with escalators to the top and the best elevated view of the lake. Go before sunset.

Day 3: Wetlands and a Song Dynasty Show

Xixi National Wetland Park

• Opening hours: 07:30–18:30 (1 April–7 October); 08:00–17:30 (8 October–31 March).
• Location: Tianmushan Road 518, Xihu District (metro Line 3 to Xixi Wetland South, exit A, then 300 m to the Zhoujiacun main gate).
• Ticket price: ¥80 (S$15).

China's first national wetland park and the setting for much of If You Are the One: 16 km of dykes, persimmon trees and heron-filled ponds. Go on a weekday.

Songcheng Park and the Romance of the Song Dynasty show

• Opening hours: park from 09:30; shows at 13:00, 14:00, 15:20, 18:00 and 19:20 — book a slot.
• Location: Zhijiang Road 148, Xihu District.
• Ticket price: from ¥280 (S$54).

Cheesy in places, genuinely spectacular in others. Children love it; adults allergic to theme parks should swap in Liangzhu Archaeological Site Park.

Day 4: Longjing Tea Country and the Jiuxi Valleys

Longjing Village and the Eighteen Imperial Tea Bushes

• Opening hours: village open all day; Old Longjing Imperial Tea Garden 08:30–17:00.
• Location: Longjing Road, Xihu District (bus 27 or 87 to Longjing Village, about 20 minutes from the lake).
• Ticket price: village free; Old Longjing garden ¥10 (S$2).

A one-street village hemmed in by tea terraces. The walled Old Longjing garden holds the spring and the Eighteen Imperial Tea Bushes the Qianlong Emperor is said to have picked from. 

The China National Tea Museum's hillside site above the village (Wengjiashan 268) is free, 09:00–16:30, and closes Tuesdays rather than Mondays.

Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies (Jiuxi Shiba Jian)

• Opening hours: open all day; walk it in daylight.
• Location: the valley linking Longjing Village, Yangmeiling and Jiuxi Road on the Qiantang side.
• Ticket price: Free.

A stream path that is 5 kilometres long made up of stones shaded by camphor trees and surrounded by bamboo. Walk it downhill starting from Longjing Village to Jiuxi Road. It takes between 2.5–3.5 including stops. At the Xizhongxi (溪中溪) junction the valley splits. One path leads to Jiuxiyanshu(九溪烟树), where maplesre at their peak from mid-November to late December. The other path leads to Li’an Temple(理安寺), a courtyard that is hidden among the trees.

The best time to go is after rain when there is mist. A drizzly morning is better than a day. Buses 280, 291 and 808 go back from Jiuxi station.

If you have energy, the Shililangdang (十里琅珰) ridge path starts from Longjing and goes up to the best view of the whole trip. It takes about 2 hours.

 Day 5: Old Hangzhou and the Grand Canal

Hefang Street and Chenghuang Pavilion

• Hefang Street: all day, shops from about 09:00–22:00 · Chenghuang Pavilion: 08:00–20:00.
• Location: Hefang Street, Shangcheng District (metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road).
• Ticket price: street free; pavilion ¥30 (S$6).

Hefang feels as crowded with tourists as Chinatown does. Hefang sits on the heart of the Southern Song imperial city. Behind Hefang is where locals eat. You can climb the pavilion for a rooftop view of the town.

Grand Canal: Gongchen Bridge and Xiaohe Street

• Opening hours: streets open 24 hours; canal cruises run until about 21:00.
• Location: Gongshu District (metro Line 5 to Gongchen Bridge East).
• Ticket price: free to walk; evening cruise from Wulinmen dock roughly ¥100–150 (S$19–29).

Hangzhou is the terminus of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, which has been listed by UNESCO since 2014. The restored Qiaoxi block and the restored Xiaohe block are quiet on weekdays. The free China Grand Canal Museum by Gongchen Bridge explains how the waterway was dug. If you visit Hangzhou, you will find that the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal is a piece of history.

Where to Stay in Hangzhou?

 Four reliable picks: 

• Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake.
• Grand Hyatt Hangzhou (east shore).
• Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake (good for families).

What to Eat in Hangzhou?

Travel Tips for Singaporeans Exploring Hangzhou

• Cashless is king. Before you fly, set up Alipay and WechatPay using a Singapore Visa or Mastercard. Metro gates, bikes and most restaurants accept QR payment.
• Getting around is easy. The metro is cheap and covers every sight here. DiDi works with a number. If you want to go to other cities, China high-speed rail is the best transport.
• Best time to visit is March to May for cherry blossom and tea harvest. Late September to November is best for osmanthus and ginkgo. Skip 1–7 October, Lunar New Year, and 1–5 May.
• Walking on Days 2 and 5 will take you on hill days. Bring shoes insect repellent and a light rain jacket.
• Stay connected by getting a China eSIM before departure. This will skip the airport SIM queue.