Hangzhou First-Time Itinerary 2026: West Lake, Tea and Water Towns2026 杭州首访攻略：西湖、茶香与水乡

1 The short answer: how many days do you need in Hangzhou? 一句话结论：杭州待几天？

For a first visit, plan two full days in the city plus one relaxed day trip. Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province and the home of West Lake (Xī Hú), one of China's most celebrated landscapes. The city is famous for calm water, classical gardens, Longjing tea and a slow lakeside rhythm that pairs well with a stop in nearby Shanghai or Suzhou.首次到访，建议市区安排 2 个整天，再加 1 天从容的周边游。杭州是浙江省会，也是西湖的所在地，而西湖是中国最负盛名的景致之一。这座城市以静水、古典园林、龙井茶，以及能与邻近上海或苏州完美搭配的慢节奏湖畔生活闻名。

Most visitors come for West Lake and stay for the tea hills. Two days lets you walk the lake, visit Lingyin Temple and taste Longjing tea without rushing. A third day opens up Xixi Wetland or the longer Thousand Island Lake trip. Keep it simple: Hangzhou is a place to wander, not a checklist to complete.多数游客为西湖而来，却会为茶山停留。两天时间足够你环湖、游灵隐寺、品龙井茶而不仓促。第三天可以留给西溪湿地，或路程更远的千岛湖。保持简单：杭州是用来漫步的地方，不是用来打钩清单的。

• Visa.签证。 Before anything else, confirm your entry permit with our China visa guide入境许可（见中国签证指南）.
• Payments.支付。 Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly出发前先设好支付宝或微信支付 so metro and markets are painless.
• Connectivity.联网。 Read our eSIM vs SIM vs roaming guideeSIM、SIM 卡与漫游对比指南 so maps work on arrival.

This guide covers what to see, how to eat, how to get around, where to stay, a relaxed day-by-day plan, and the practical setup (visa, payments, internet) that makes a first trip to China feel easy rather than overwhelming.本攻略会讲清楚看什么、怎么吃、怎么走、住哪里，给出一个轻松的逐日安排，以及让首次中国行变轻松而非手忙脚乱的实务准备（签证、支付、上网）。

2 Getting to and around Hangzhou 怎么到杭州，以及在城里怎么走

Most international visitors arrive via Shanghai and take the high-speed train, but Hangzhou also has its own international airport, Xiaoshan, about 30 kilometers from the center. From Shanghai Hongqiao the train reaches Hangzhou East in roughly one hour, and Hangzhou East is a major hub on the national high-speed network, so it is an easy stop between Shanghai, Huangshan and Fuzhou.多数国际旅客先到上海再坐高铁，但杭州本身也有国际机场——萧山机场，距市中心约 30 公里。从上海虹桥坐高铁到杭州东站约一小时，而杭州东站是全国高铁网络的重要枢纽，因此它是上海、黄山、福州之间很顺路的一站。

Inside the city, the metro is clean, cheap and signed in English as well as Chinese, and it reaches West Lake and the main stations. DiDi滴滴 (the local ride app) is the simplest way to go point to point, and you hail it from inside Alipay or WeChat. The flat lakeside is also perfect for the shared bikes you will see everywhere, especially for a slow loop around West Lake.市内地铁干净、便宜，中英文都有标识，能到西湖和主要车站。滴滴（本土打车 App）是点对点最省心的方式，在支付宝或微信里就能叫车。平坦的湖畔也特别适合随处可见的共享单车，环西湖慢骑尤其惬意。

Our high-speed rail guide高铁指南 walks through booking trains and choosing seats, which is handy if Hangzhou is one stop on a multi-city trip. For everything else, see our first 24 hours guide「抵达后 24 小时」指南.如果杭州只是你多城之行的其中一站，我们的「高铁指南」会讲怎么订票、怎么选座。其余事项请看「抵达后 24 小时」指南。

3 The must-sees in the city 市区必看

West Lake (Xī Hú) is the reason many people come. Go early to walk the causeways before the crowds, rent a bike to loop the water, or take a short boat ride past the islands and bridges. The lake is free to stroll and beautiful at sunrise and after dusk, when the light show on the far shore begins.西湖是许多人来杭州的原因。早点去，趁人少走一走湖堤；租辆单车环水慢骑，或坐一程小船经过岛屿与拱桥。湖畔散步免费，日出与日落后最美——对岸灯光秀开始的时候尤为动人。

Lingyin Temple (Língyǐn Sì) is one of China's most important Buddhist temples, set in wooded hills with carved stone figures at Feilai Feng just outside the gate. Arrive early for the quiet. For tea culture, head to the Longjing village area or Meijiawu, where family farms offer tastings among the terraced bushes. Back in town, Hefang Street is a busy old lane of snacks and crafts.灵隐寺是中国最重要的佛教寺院之一，坐落林木葱郁的山间，寺门外飞来峰还有石刻造像。早点去更清静。想体验茶文化，去龙井村一带或梅家坞，家庭农场在层层茶垄间提供品茶。回到城里，河坊街是热闹的老街，两侧满是小吃与手作。

If you like a museum morning, the China National Tea Museum tells the story of Longjing and Chinese tea more broadly, with a quiet garden you can actually sit in. None of these need more than a few hours each, which is why two days in the city feels calm rather than crammed.若想有个博物馆上午，中国茶叶博物馆讲述龙井与中国茶的故事，还有一处可以静坐的清幽庭园。这些景点每个都不超过几小时，所以「2 天」才显得从容而非拥挤。

4 The best day trips from Hangzhou 杭州周边一日游

Xixi Wetland (Xīxī Shīdì) is the easy half-day escape: a rare urban wetland of waterways, reed beds and villages you explore by electric boat. It is calmer and less famous than West Lake, which is exactly why locals love it. Go on a weekday morning if you can.西溪湿地是最轻松的半日游：一处罕有的城市湿地，水道、芦荡与村落可乘电瓶船探访。它比西湖安静、名气也小，而这正是当地人钟爱它的原因。尽量选工作日上午去。

For a full day out, Thousand Island Lake (Qiāndǎo Hú) is about two hours by bus or train, a vast reservoir dotted with green islands where you can boat between them and eat fresh lake fish. It rewards nature lovers more than sightseers, and pairs well with an extra night if your schedule allows.若要一整天外出，千岛湖约两小时车程或火车可达，是一片点缀着绿色小岛的大水库，可以乘船穿梭其间、品尝鲜鱼。它更对自然爱好者的胃口，若日程允许，多住一晚会更尽兴。

If your time is tight, do Xixi and skip the longer lake. It is the one out-of-town spot most first-timers can enjoy without a full travel day.如果时间紧，只去西溪、舍去更远的湖。它是多数首次到访者不必花一整天就能享受的一处城外去处。

5 Eating in Hangzhou (without over-ordering) 在杭州吃（又不至于点太多）

Hangzhou cuisine is one of China's refined regional styles, lighter than Sichuan or Hunan and built around river fish, bamboo shoots and a gentle sweetness. Try Dongpo pork (Dōngpō ròu), braised in wine and soy until meltingly soft, and West Lake vinegar fish (Xīhú cùyú), a whole fish in a sweet-sour sauce.杭州菜是中国精致的地方菜系之一，比川菜或湘菜清淡，以河鲜、竹笋和淡淡的甜为主。试试东坡肉——用酒与酱油慢炖至入口即化；还有西湖醋鱼，一整条鱼裹上糖醋汁。

Longjing shrimp (Lóngjǐng xiārén) pairs the local tea with tender river shrimp, and beggar's chicken is a clay-wrapped roast worth sharing. Tea is everywhere: order a pot of Longjing with your meal, and visit a tea house by the lake for the full slow experience. Portions are made for sharing, so order a few dishes and taste widely.龙井虾仁把本地茶与鲜嫩河虾相配，叫花鸡则是值得分享的泥裹烤制。茶无处不在：用餐时点一壶龙井，再临湖找家茶馆坐坐，才算完整的慢体验。菜量适合分享，所以多点几样、广撒网式地尝。

One cultural note worth knowing: tipping小费 is not a Chinese custom. You will not be expected to tip in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and adding a tip can confuse rather than please. Pay by scanning a QR code with Alipay or WeChat, and keep a little cash only as a fallback.有个文化点值得知道：中国没有给小费的习惯。餐厅、出租车、酒店都不会预期小费，硬加小费反而让人困惑。用支付宝或微信扫二维码付款即可，留一点现金只作备用。

6 Where to stay and a relaxed day-by-day plan 住哪里，以及一个轻松的逐日安排

Stay near a metro line so the whole city is reachable. The area around West Lake's east shore puts you steps from the water but costs more, while staying near Hangzhou East or along metro line 1 gives easy station access and lower prices. The lakeside quarters are quieter and more atmospheric if you want gardens over high rises.住在地铁线附近，全城就都能到。西湖东岸一带出门即水，但价格更高；住杭州东站附近或地铁 1 号线沿线，则车站通达、价格更低。若你偏好园林而非高楼，湖畔片区更安静、更有味道。

A relaxed three-day plan: Day 1, walk West Lake at opening, then Hefang Street and a lakeside tea house. Day 2, Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng in the morning, Longjing village for tea in the afternoon, with a canal-side dinner. Day 3, Xixi Wetland half day, or a Thousand Island Lake trip if you added the night. Build in empty afternoons for tea and wandering.一个轻松的 3 天安排：第 1 天，清晨游西湖，接着河坊街与临湖茶馆。第 2 天，上午灵隐寺与飞来峰，下午龙井村品茶，傍晚运河边用餐。第 3 天，半日西溪湿地；若多留一晚，就去千岛湖。请留出空白的下午给茶与漫步。

The point is not to tick every box. Hangzhou rewards lingering, so let the lake set the pace and treat the tea hills as the real highlight.重点不在于把清单打满。杭州奖赏「逗留」，所以让湖来定节奏，把茶山当作真正的重头戏。

7 Before you go: visa, payments and staying connected 出发前：签证、支付与保持联网

Three setups make or break a first China trip, and all are easier to do before you fly than after you land. First, confirm your visa or visa-free eligibility with our China visa guide中国签证指南. Second, link an international card to Alipay and WeChat Pay支付宝与微信支付 so you can pay by phone almost everywhere. Third, sort your internet before arrival, because Google, Gmail, WhatsApp and Google Maps are filtered inside China on a local connection.有三件事决定首次中国行顺不顺利，而且都在「出发前」做比「落地后」做容易得多。第一，用我们的「中国签证指南」确认你的签证或免签资格。第二，把国际银行卡绑到支付宝和微信支付，这样几乎处处都能手机付款。第三，在到达前把上网搞定，因为 Google、Gmail、WhatsApp、Google 地图在本地网络上会被过滤。

The simple, legal-friendly answer for internet is an international eSIM or your home carrier's roaming, which routes your traffic outside China so the apps you rely on just work. Our eSIM vs SIM vs roaming guideeSIM、SIM 卡与漫游对比指南 explains the options, and the tool above helps you match a plan to your trip length and budget. Do this at home on normal Wi-Fi, because the app stores you would use are harder to reach once you land.最简单、也最合规的上网答案是国际 eSIM 或本国运营商的漫游——它们把你的流量引出中国，于是你依赖的 App 照常可用。我们的「eSIM、SIM 卡与漫游对比指南」会讲清选项，上方工具则帮你按行程长短和预算挑方案。请在家里、用正常 Wi-Fi 时完成，因为你落地后想用的应用商店会变得很难访问。

China's inbound tourism set a record in 2025: 154.5 million visits (up 17.1% year on year), including 35.17 million foreign visitors (up 30.6%). Visa-free entries by foreigners reached 30.08 million (up 49.5%), about 73.1% of all foreign arrivals, as China expanded unilateral visa-free access to 48 countries and extended the 240-hour transit visa-free policy to 65 ports (National Bureau of Statistics 2025 communiqué; National Immigration Administration; Ministry of Culture and Tourism).2025 年中国入境游创下新高：入境游客 1.545 亿人次（同比 +17.1%），其中外国游客 3517 万人次（+30.6%）；免签入境外国人 3008 万人次（+49.5%），约占入境外国人的 73.1%——中国已将单方面免签扩至 48 国，并把 240 小时过境免签适用口岸扩至 65 个（国家统计局 2025 年统计公报；国家移民管理局；文化和旅游部）。

• Set up at home.在家里就设好。 Connectivity, payments and app downloads are easiest on unrestricted Wi-Fi.
• Carry a little cash.带一点现金。 A few hundred yuan covers the rare cash-only stall or a dead phone.
• Screenshot the essentials.截图关键信息。 Save hotel address and train bookings for offline use.

8 More China cities to explore 更多值得加入行程的中国城市

Hangzhou is a natural stop on a longer China trip, and pairing it with a few other first-time favorites makes the most of your visa. If you liked the water-and-hill rhythm here, these city guides are the next logical stops:杭州是更长中国行中很自然的一站，把它和几座其他首访热门城市搭配，能让你的签证物尽其用。如果你喜欢这里水光山色的节奏，下面这些城市攻略就是顺理成章的下一站：

• Beijing First-Time Itinerary 20262026 北京首访攻略 - the Great Wall, Forbidden City and northern cuisine.——长城、故宫与北方风味。
• Shanghai First-Time Itinerary 20262026 上海首访攻略 - Hangzhou's nearest hub, one hour by train.——杭州最近的中转站，高铁一小时。
• Chengdu First-Time Itinerary 20262026 成都首访攻略 - pandas, hotpot and a slower pace.——熊猫、火锅与更慢的节奏。
• Xi'an First-Time Itinerary 20262026 西安首访攻略 - the Terracotta Army and the old city wall.——兵马俑与古城墙。
• Guilin First-Time Itinerary 20262026 桂林首访攻略 - karst peaks and the Li River.——喀斯特群峰与漓江。
• Zhangjiajie First-Time Itinerary 20262026 张家界首访攻略 - avatar mountains and glass bridges.——阿凡达群山与玻璃桥。
• All China city guides (hub)中国城市攻略总览（合集） - the full city index.——完整城市索引。

Each guide follows the same format as this one: how many days, how to get around, the must-sees, what to eat, where to stay, and the visa, payment and connectivity setup that makes a first China trip easy.每篇攻略都和本文同一格式：待几天、怎么走、必看什么、吃什么、住哪里，以及让首次中国行变轻松的签证、支付与联网准备。

9 Typical costs 大致花费

The ranges below are typical 2026 examples for independent travelers, not fixed prices — your actual spend depends on season, booking lead time and travel style.以下为 2026 年独立旅行者的典型示例区间，并非固定价格——实际花销取决于季节、预订早晚与玩法。

Frequently asked questions常见问题