Hangzhou · 杭州
Hangzhou is China's e-commerce capital (home to Alibaba) and one of the country's most beautiful cities thanks to the West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It combines cutting-edge technology with centuries of tea and silk tradition.
City map
What to see
West Lake (西湖)
UNESCO World Heritage Site, China's most iconic landscape
Lingyin Temple
One of China's largest and oldest Buddhist temples
Hefang Street
Historic shopping street with traditional architecture and local crafts
China National Silk Museum
Dedicated to the history of silk
Longjing Tea Hills
Plantations growing China's most famous green tea
Getting around
Hangzhou's metro has a station near the Hangzhou International Expo Center. It's only 45 minutes by high-speed rail from Shanghai, so you can combine both cities in one trip.
In mainland China, Google, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram aren't accessible without a VPN arranged before you travel (it can't be installed once you've arrived). Hong Kong doesn't have this restriction.
Most used apps
Frequently asked questions about Hangzhou
When is the best time to visit Hangzhou?
March-April (West Lake in bloom) and September-October.
Do I need a visa to visit Hangzhou?
Always check the current visa policy for your nationality before traveling: China has expanded short-stay visa exemptions to several European nationalities in recent years, but the conditions change frequently. For longer stays or multiple entries, consider arranging a business (M) visa in advance.
Keep exploring
Hangzhou is part of the Zhejiang cluster
Small commodities and costume jewelry (Yiwu is the largest wholesale market in the world), textiles and hardware components.
See the full cluster →Terms you'll need when negotiating in Hangzhou
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