Hangzhou
Discover Hangzhou
Hangzhou (杭州; ɦaŋ-tsei in Wu, Hángzhōu in Mandarin) is the capital of Zhejiang province. It is one of the most important tourist cities in China, famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural heritage. Hangzhou serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Zhejiang province. It is a prosperous and highly developed city that attracts many migrants from less affluent provinces seeking employment opportunities. The city experiences high humidity during the summer months, from early June to early September. It has also emerged as a secondary tech hub for China, being home to the corporate headquarters of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and its founder Jack Ma.
What to Experience in Hangzhou
Taste of Hangzhou...
Hangzhou is one of the premier places to eat in China, and its local cuisine features dishes that consist more of pork and seafood rather than beef and lamb, as those are typically found in the north and west of China. Typical Hangzhou specialties include dongpo rou (东坡肉 dōngpō ròu), an extremely fatty chunk of pork in a syrupy sauce, and cùyú (醋鱼 cùyú), which is fish with a vinegar sauce. There are some characteristic local snacks: for example, small steamed buns (小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo), Xiaoshan dried turnip (萧山萝卜干 xiāoshān luóbo gān), and noodles with preserved vegetables (片儿川 piàn'ér chuān). In Wushan Square, you can find lots of food; the prices are cheap and the quality fine. If you do not like Hangzhou cuisine, you can find plenty of excellent Sichuan, Shanxi, and Xinjiang restaurants throughout the city. There are also some Western restaurants, but those tend to be expensive. For budget restaurants, even near the lake, just head into an alley and get some food from a small restaurant or street-side stand. You should judge for yourself how sanitary the food is, but you generally do not need to worry about this in Hangzhou relative to other Chinese cities. These restaurants are all quite similar. If you like dumplings and have just come down the north side of Baochu hill (past the cave and in view of the soccer stadium), one option is to continue across Shuguang Road and up Hangda Road (0.5 blocks east and 1 block north) to Tianmushan Road.
Climate
The local language in Hangzhou is Wu Chinese, commonly referred to today as Shanghainese, though each city in the region has its own variation. Wu Chinese is spoken across a broad area, including much of East China, and is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin (Standard Chinese) or other Chinese dialects. However, most people in Hangzhou are bilingual, speaking both the local dialect and Mandarin. As a major coastal city, Hangzhou also has many migrants from other provinces who primarily speak Mandarin. For most interactions, speaking Mandarin will allow effective communication with nearly everyone in the city, except for a small number of elderly or rural residents. English is not widely spoken, though staff at higher-end hotels may have a basic understanding. It is advisable to have the names of your destinations written in Chinese to show to taxi drivers, and carrying a business card from your hotel is helpful for returning without difficulty.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe airport is located approximately 30 km east of Hangzhou's city center, and the journey by taxi typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes. The fare for a taxi ride to or from the airport is around ¥90. When returning to the airport, it is a good idea to confirm with the driver if they are willing to take the trip before loading your luggage. The standard metered fare applies, with no additional fees for airport travel. A shuttle service (¥20) to/from the Xiaoshan Bus ticket office on Tiyuchang Road next to the KFC just west of Wulin Square. The shuttle bus also stops at the main railway station en route. Buses run every 30 minutes during the daytime and take about an hour; join the queue for your ticket at the booth just outside the exit before boarding the bus. The times refer to waiting time from the first passenger boarding the bus. After all the seats are taken, the bus takes off within 30, 20 or 15 minutes....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The easiest way around Hangzhou is the metro system, with 13 lines and 270 stations operational, covering 516 km as of August 2024. Hangzhou has an extensive bus network. Bus schedules, routes, and on-board announcements are all in Chinese. There are a number of bus types. As of 2012, these include: For those arriving in Hangzhou by train, note that bus K7 goes from the Hangzhou Rail Station to the West Lake for ¥1. Fares can be paid in cash (coins or bills, no change given), by using a dedicated bus card, or by tapping the same card used to rent bikes (see below). The fare will be displayed on the bus stop and on the farebox. You are expected to board via the front doors and leave through the rear (with the exception of the B routes). Buses have very little empty space even when they are not full (which is not common), so do not plan on bringing baby strollers or other cumbersome items. Be prepared at all times for fast turns and sudden braking.
Where to Stay
You can find mid-range hotels all over the city, most of which will take foreigners. Try to bargain for a room. Ask how much they want for one night's stay, then say "what if I stay for 3 nights?" or something to that extent and it will become cheaper. The West Lake is home to many biting insects that may cause allergic reactions in visitors from outside the area.
Money & Budget
Hangzhou is one of the premier places to eat in China, and its local cuisine features dishes that consist more of pork and seafood rather than beef and lamb, as those are typically found in the north and west of China. Typical Hangzhou specialties include dongpo rou (东坡肉 dōngpō ròu), an extremely fatty chunk of pork in a syrupy sauce, and cùyú (醋鱼 cùyú), which is fish with a vinegar sauce. There are some characteristic local snacks: for example, small steamed buns (小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo), Xiaoshan dried turnip (萧山萝卜干 xiāoshān luóbo gān), and noodles with preserved vegetables (片儿川 piàn'ér chuān). In Wushan Square, you can find lots of food; the prices are cheap and the quality fine.
Language & Talk
The local language in Hangzhou is Wu Chinese, commonly referred to today as Shanghainese, though each city in the region has its own variation. Wu Chinese is spoken across a broad area, including much of East China, and is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin (Standard Chinese) or other Chinese dialects. However, most people in Hangzhou are bilingual, speaking both the local dialect and Mandarin. As a major coastal city, Hangzhou also has many migrants from other provinces who primarily speak Mandarin. For most interactions, speaking Mandarin will allow effective communication with nearly everyone in the city, except for a small number of elderly or rural residents. English is not widely spoken, though staff at higher-end hotels may have a basic understanding.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Hangzhou
钱塘江对面的杭州奥体中心体育馆和杭州国际博览中心
a large body of water surrounded by trees
Tea house in Hangzhou
Jixian Pavilion
city skyline across body of water during night time
city skyline under blue sky during daytime
a night view of a city with a lot of tall buildings
a small boat in a large body of water
Golden Westlake
people on brown wooden dock during daytime
钱塘江对面的杭州奥体中心体育馆和杭州国际博览中心
a large body of water surrounded by trees
Tea house in Hangzhou