Hangzhou Transportation -- By Ship

West Lake Cruise Boat
West Lake Cruise Boat
As a city with lakes and rivers, Hangzhou delights visitors who are arriving by ship with views of West Lake, Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and Qiantang River. There are two companies working on water transportation in the city: The West Lake Pleasure Boat Company mainly operates cruises on West Lake, while the Water Bus Company is mainly based on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Qiantang River. Apart from the cruises, visitors can experience the featured transport of this water town—water bus. This is a mode of public transportation by ferry which costs CNY3.

 West Lake Cruise
West Lake Pleasure Boat Company operates cruises on West Lake. The operating time of the boat is from 07:30 to 16:30 in spring and summer, and from 08:00 to 16:00 in fall and winter. Visitors can buy tickets and board the cruise at West Lake Wharves.

 Grand Canal Cruise
The ancient canal has fresh, new scenery that visitors can see while enjoying one of several cruises on the Grand Canal.

 Other Cruises

Routes

Direction

Time

Duration

Ticket Fare

Qiantang River Night Cruise Wulinmen Pier→ Grand Canal → Qiangtang River → Wulinmen Pier 19:15~22:00

3 hours

CNY120

Canal Night Cruise Wulinmen→ West Lake Cultural Square → Gongchen Bridge → Wulinmen 19:30~20:30

1 hour

CNY100

Xiangji Temple Night Cruise Wulinmen → Xiangji Temple Pier 19:30~19:50

20 minutes

CNY30/adult
CNY15/child

Grand Canal Sightseeing Line Wulinmen → West Lake Cultural Square → Gongchen Bridge → Wulinmen 09:00, 13:00

1 hour

CNY50

 Notes:
1. All the night cruises operate between June and October.
2. About Xiangji Temple Night Cruise, the ticket for the one way boat travel is CNY30, admission fee for Xiangji Temple is CNY20, visitors can buy the joint ticket, which is CNY48 per person.
3. All the cruises start from Wulinmen Pier, passengers can buy ticket there.
4. Every year in some festivals and holidays, local Water Bus Company would open some special tourist cruises.

 Hangzhou Water Bus

Route

Direction

Operating Time

Ticket Fare

Line 1 Weekdays: Pujia – Genshanmen – Wulinmen – Xinyifang – Gongchen Bridge;
Weekends: Wulinmen – Xinyifang – Gongchen Bridge

Weekdays: 07:00 – 18:10
Weekends: 07:00 – 18:35

CNY3

Line 2 Wulinmen – Xinyifang – Beixinguan – Hemu – Gucui – Gudun – Zijinghua Road – Yangjia Bridge – Jiangcun – Xixi Wuchang Pier From Wulinmen: 06:20 – 17:30
From Xixi Wuchang Pier:

10:20, 12:00, 14:30, 15:30

CNY3

Line 3 Datieguan – Zhaohui – Gongda – Daguan – Chengbei Sports Park – Xiwen – Gaotingba – Huanxi Yongning – Hangbo – Beijingyuan - Banshan From Datieguan: 06:30 – 16:30;
From Banshan: 07:30 - 17:30

CNY3

Line 7 Chaomingsi Lane – Caishiqiao – Kuiyang – The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine – Hangzhou Railway Station - Meihuabei 07:00 – 17:00   CNY3

 Main Piers:
  • Wulinmen Pier (by the river near Wulin Square)
  • Gongchen Bridge Pier (near Canal Cultural Square)
  • Genshanmen Pier (near Yunhe Bridge, Shaoxing Road)
  • Xinyifang Pier (near Jiangzhang Bridge)

 Notes:
1. Passengers can pay the water bus fare by Hangzhou Transportation Smart Card.

- Last updated on Apr. 12, 2021 -
Questions & Answers on Getting Around Hangzhou By Ship
Asked by Magda from POLAND | May. 05, 2019 02:55Reply
Hi, do you know that Hangzhou canal night Cruise is available now?
And how much its cost? I can buy ticket on boat or somewhere earlier? Maybe i need book it?:)
Answers (1)
Answered by Jerry from USA | May. 07, 2019 02:42
00Reply


Yes, it is available now. You can buy tickets at Wulinmen Wharf and it costs around CNY100 per person.
Asked by Subhash from INDIA | Jul. 23, 2018 01:15Reply
is there a day boat service to shanghai from hangzhou?
please indicate the starting point at HZ and drop off point at shanghai.
Answers (1)
Answered by Riki from SPAIN | Jul. 23, 2018 19:13
00Reply


There is no cruise between the two cities longer. You can choose to take a coach or a high speed train.
Asked by Malini from MALAYSIA | Oct. 31, 2016 21:22Reply
Will the Grand Canal Night Cruise be available in December 2016?
Answers (3)
Answered by Nancy from USA | Nov. 01, 2016 04:31
00Reply


Yes, the night cruise will be available then. The cruises depart at 19:10 and 20:20 from Wulinmen Wharf at No. 208, North Huancheng Road. The trip takes about 1 hour, and the fare is CNY 100. ;)
Answered by Malini from MALAYSIA | Nov. 01, 2016 06:34
01Reply


Thanks Nancy.
However the above paragraph says that the night cruises operate between June and October. So im wondering wtr they dont operate in nov and dec??
Answered by Michael from FINLAND | Nov. 02, 2016 02:56
00Reply


Don't worry. You can still have the night cruise in November and December.
Ask a Question
Question Summary (100 characters)
Details (optional) (2,000 characters)
NameCountryEmail