Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province and its political, economic and cultural center. With its famous natural beauty and cultural heritages, Hangzhou is one of China's most important tourist venues.
The City, the southern terminus of the Grand Canal, is located on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River in southeast China, a superior position in the Yangtze Delta and only 180 kilometers from Shanghai. Hangzhou has a subtropical monsoon type climate with four quite distinct seasons. However, it is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter making it a year round destination.
The West Lake is undoubtedly the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, noted for the scenic beauty that blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites. In this scenic area, Solitary Hill, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, the Six Harmonies Pagoda and the Ling Yin Temple are probably the most frequently visited attractions. The "Ten West Lake Prospects" have been specially selected to give the visitor outstanding views of the lake, mountains and monuments.
A number of national museums can be found in Hangzhou and are representative of Chinese culture. Fine examples are the National Silk Museum and Tea Museum. Along with the other museums in Hangzhou, they provide a fascinating insight into the history of Chinese traditional products.
One of the most important parts of traveling is tasting the local delicacies. Hangzhou dishes are noted for their elaborate preparation, sophisticated cooking and refreshing taste. Many local specialties will be sure to make your trip a cultural experience. We recommend that you try Beggar's Chicken (a chicken baked in clay), West Lake Fish in Sweet Sour Source (vinegar coated fish fresh caught from the lake), Dongpo Pork (braised pork) and Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea, etc.
The shopping environment in Hangzhou is exciting and convenient. Travelers and tourists like to go to Qing He Fang Street. It is one of the most famous and historic streets in the city and reflects many of the features of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Shoppers will admire the antique buildings while purchasing items from a wide range of local goods such as silks, tea or maybe a silk parasol, brocade or a beautiful Hangzhou fan. These are just some of the items to be found but there are many more.
At night Hangzhou has much to offer and teahouses and various kinds of pubs are both plentiful and popular. Choosing one overlooking the West Lake for a pleasant chat over a cup of tea is sure to make you feel totally relaxed and refreshed.
While much of the ancient city that had been the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in the mid-nineteenth century, today's Hangzhou is a modern and vibrant economical center. As such it provides a base for many talented and skilled people. Never the less, thanks to its unique setting by the West Lake it continues to enjoy the many benefits of the natural surroundings that have delighted visitors for centuries. Not only was it much vaunted in his writings by the 13
century explorer, Marco Polo but the Lake and its environs have inspired poets of great renown such as Bai Juyi and Su Dongpo down the ages. There can be no doubt that visit here is certain to be a memorable one.
Recommended Hangzhou Package Tour Itinerary:
Essence of Hangzhou: 3 Days to Six Harmonies Pagoda & West LakeRecommended Tour including the visit to Hangzhou:
East China Tour: 13 Days to Shanghai-Hangzhou–Suzhou...Nanjing-BeijingMore Hangzhou Tour Information:
Hiking Tours: Information about hiking in Hangzhou for your reference
Golf Tour: 9 Days Golf Tour of Hangzhou, Ningbo, Putuo, Shanghai
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Travelers' Voices on Hangzhou
1.
Jun. 27,2009 08:11 Reply
Mr.ARMANDNEJAD(Iran (Islamic Republic Of)) said:
Dear All.
I am going next week to Lin'an in Hangzhou. I am looking for a cheep hotel (10-15 July) near the Zhejiang Forestry University. Also I need an English map from Linan please.
Jun. 28,2009 20:08
Ms.Ellen replied:
Hello, hotel for reference:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/hotel/hangzhou-hotels.htm
You can choose the hotel near Wulin Square, which is not far away from the place you will go. Hope it helps.
Jul. 1,2009 22:55
Mr.Sheridan(China) replied:
Lin'An is 45km to the west of town. Choosing a hotel in the heart of the city (Wulin Sq) is not a good idea, the traffic morning and evening to the west is a nightmare. If you want to be somewhere near Hangzhou City, try the west side, for example the Ouhuazhou on Wensan Xi Lu
2.
Jun. 29,2009 04:42 Reply
Mr.ananth(India) said:
My son is visiting Hangzhou from South India next week . He has been booked a five star hotel for accomadation. but the problem with his pure veg food is there good veg restourants
Jun. 30,2009 03:05
Mr.James replied:
Merits & Virtues （Gong-de-lin)
Addr: Chengzhan Rd/111, Gaoyinjie, Shangcheng District
Wingyiyuan
Addr: 21, Qingchun Rd, Shangcheng District
There are some others, he can choose the nearest to him.
3.
Jun. 27,2009 06:24 Reply
Mr.Bill Jacot(USA) said:
I want to advise travelers to Hangzhou to avoid reserving rooms at two hostels: The West Lake Youth Hostel and Wushanyi International Youth Hostel. I attempted and was unable to reserve rooms at both of these places this week. My request was met with indifference, they gave me misleading information, were deceitful and uncaring in their attitude. I guess the thousands of tourists to this beautiful city each year allow them to stay in business, but I would avoid them like the swine flu if I were you. If you want to know the specific facts of my experience, please send me an email, to billjacot@yahoo.com and I will forward you copies of all of the emails we exchanged so you can see the evidence for yourself.
4.
Jun. 25,2009 09:20 Reply
Mr.lee(malaysia) said:
Hi, can i know which are the district should i visit while in zhejiang province. how far from hangzhou to shanghai tq
Jun. 27,2009 00:50
Mr.Frank replied:
What do you mean by district? City? Well, the most valuable should be Hangzhou City, then its nearby ancient water towns, such as Wuzhen and Xitang. The distance between Hangzhou and Shanghai is about 200 kilometers. There are frequent trains and buses running between them everyday.
5.
Jun. 24,2009 13:48 Reply
Ms.Cat(USA) said:
Hi,
I'm trying to plan a very packed backpacking trip around China in just three weeks, and I'm wondering, how far is the Hangzhou East station from the Hangzhou West? According to your website, the bus from Huangshan would drop us off at the Hangzhou West bus station, and I would like to catch a train to Guilin, which would leave from the Hangzhou east station. Also, how long is the ride from the mountain back to the Hangzhou? So would it be possible to leave the mountain, get back to Hangzhou, and catch the train to guilin? Also, regarding the hotels on the mountain, do they fill up around this time of the year, or can I find a room once i get to the mountain, or to Hangzhou, etc.?
Sorry for such loaded questions.
Jun. 25,2009 21:24
Ms.Evelyn(China) replied:
You can go from the Hangzhou West Bus Station to Hangzhou East Railway Station by bus. The direct bus routes to the East Railway Station include:B支2，K179
You can go to Guilin by train from Hangzhou East Railway Station. The trains nos. are K149, K181, K859, and K537. The train trip costs about 21 hours.
From Huangshan to Hangzhou, you can take the long-distance bus at Huangshan (Tunxi) Bus Station. From Huangshan (Tunxi) Bus Station to Hangzhou West BUs Station, the bus runs for about 3.5 hours.
It's said that the first run to Huangzhou is at around 06:50 and the final run is at around 15:10.
The trains from Hangzhou East Railway Station to Guilin leave at 11:08, 18:31, 18:53 and 19:05.
So, you need to calculate the time well.
6.
Jun. 22,2009 00:43 Reply
Mr.Rudi(Indonesia) said:
Hello, I have aplane to visit Ningbo next week. I just want to know, is there any transportation from Hangzhou to Ningbo?
Jun. 22,2009 04:36
Mr.lian(cn) replied:
Yes, train and bus are both ok. Train is much cheaper than bus and you can tak a train in Hangzhou Railway Station. Good luck!
Jun. 22,2009 04:57
Mr.Shan replied:
Yes, Lian is right that you could take a train. However, I think taking a bus to Ningbo from Hangzhou is much easier. At Hangzhou East Bus Station, there are frequent buses leaving for Ningbo from 06:00~20:00 at an interval of about 8 hours. It just takes 1 hour and 40 minutes en route and costs 57RMB per person~ The train will take 2.5 hours!
7.
Jun. 20,2009 09:32 Reply
Ms.Felicia(Malaysia) said:
hai, i will be there for next week, can i know what is the famous food in Hangzhou or some recommendation pls? thanks a lot
Jun. 20,2009 21:58
Mr.Sandy replied:
Dongpo Pork, West lake vinegared fish and so on, Hangzhou also has some delicious dim sum and tranditional desserts.
Here is some recommendation for food streets in Hangzhou: Hefang Jie, also Qing He Fang, is a famous old street of the city with many old buildings. There are time-honored shops, handicrafts shops and etc.
Jingzhou Rd is a newly rising food street in the west of the town
Hedong Road: a popular food street in busy city center
Jinjiang and Huanglong seafood markets: good place to tase cheap sea food
8.
Jun. 18,2009 07:46 Reply
Mr.Mashuk(Bangladesh) said:
Dear please let me know the following route on Air- First how will I fly from Bangladesh to Wenling City, Zhejiang, China. Then I want to go Zhuji City by air. After that I want to go Zhangjiagang city of Jiangsu Province also by air and then I want to fly Changzhou city of Jiangsu. Please give me the complete route with indicating the nearest airport.
Jun. 19,2009 02:09
Mr.Tom replied:
Hi, from Bangladesh to Wenling, you need to transfer at Guangzhou Airport. The route should be Dhaka->Guangzhou of Guangdong Province (by air)->Hangzhou Airport of Zhejiang (by air)->Wenling (by bus)
From Wenling to Zhuji, both of the two cities don't have airport, so you have to take a bus from Wenling.
Zhuji is about 300 kilometers to Zhangjiagang, so please get to Hangzhou by bus firstly and then take coaches from Hangzhou North Bus Station to Zhangjiagang. The Zhuji Bus Station has frequent buses to Hangzhou South Bus Station from 06:30 to 16:30.
From Zhangjiagang to Changzhou, the Zhangjiagang Bus Station has frequent coaches to Changzhou from 06:00 to 18:00 everyday. The journey is just 1.5 hours and costs 26RMB.
9.
Jun. 14,2009 18:48 Reply
Mrs.nita(Indonesia) said:
Can you give me information about my traveling if I arrive at hangzhou at 22.00 pm at june 30th is there any train to go to shanghai aor beijing after 22.00 pm what time train to go to beijing? and how the chima weather in july?
Jun. 18,2009 02:42
Mr.Sam(CN) replied:
Hi, I'm afraid that you will miss the train either to Shanghai or to Beijing after 22:00. The last train to Shanghai leaves at 21:28 and the one to Beijing leaves at 22:58 (at least 1 hour is needed from airport to the railway station). Well, you could search the train information at http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/
These three cities should be in hot summer. Hangzhou and Shanghai may be muggy due to the rainfall sometimes. Beijing is hot and dry but much cooler in the early morning and at late night.
10.
Jun. 17,2009 14:48 Reply
Mrs.NARCELINA(Indonesia) said:
how to shiaoshan air port from shanghai railway station
,os is there shuttle bus from shanghai air port to shiaushan air port??? thank you very much
Jun. 18,2009 02:36
Mr.Hank replied:
From Shanghai Railway Station, you could take a train to arrive at Hangzhou Railway Station in 2 hours. And then, take the airport shuttle to reach Xiaoshang Airport. Tips, the Shanghai South Railway Station has much more trains to Hangzhou. The subway Line 1 is running between these two stations frequently.
The Pudong Airport has buses to Hangzhou downtown area. So, when you arrive in Hangzhou, please take taxi to Wulinmen where the airport shuttle departs.