2 Days Private Hangzhou City Tour

Welcome to Hangzhou! Whether your arrival is at the airport or the railway station, your guide and the driver will pick you up and then escort you in a private car to the downtown hotel for check-in. Once the capital of China in the 12th and 13th centuries, Hangzhou has long been known for its quiet and classical charm, and is now emerging as an important tech hub with some of the world’s leading Internet behemoths.

Once settled, we’ll explore its past today, beginning with a cruise on West Lake for 1 to 2 hours. No other lake has a closer connection with a city than West Lake, so how does it shape the fame of Hangzhou? For artists and poets, its arched bridges, surrounding mountains, towering pagodas, and pavilions grace their masterpieces, while for locals and domestic tourists, it’s more a place steeped in poignant tales of love than just a picturesque environment. During your sailing, keep your eyes peeled for the Long Bridge, where Chinese Romeo and Juliet said goodbye 18 times; the Broken Bridge, a sad reminder of a white snake spirit and her earthly husband obstructed by a monk; and the Xiling Bridge, which has witnessed the immortal love story of the Lady of the Camellias in the Chinese version. Your guide will point them out to you along the way.Next, your guide will accompany you to Lingyin Temple, where you’ll marvel at the gilded seated statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in its main hall, carved from a one-piece camphor tree over 800 years ago. It has one important feature to help you distinguish different Chinese temples: the Buddha’s right hand holds a sword that touches the ground, which symbolizes a welcoming gesture, but doesn’t allow overnight stays; if the sword rests upon the arm or forearm, it showcases a deeper level of hospitality with an overnight-stay permission.

Just a stream away lies the Peak Flown From Afar, whose exposed rocks were sculpted by groundwater erosion into various fantastic shapes that have inspired many rockery designs in Chinese garden art. Today’s sightseeing will conclude here, and you’ll enjoy a private transfer back to your hotel.

You’ll spend today exploring a modern Hangzhou! The quality of life in a city can be seen in two places: its airport and local market. After the hotel pick-up, your guide and the driver will first escort you to Wen’er Market, whose chic billboards, witty slogans, and bamboo-weaving designs cleverly bridge the gaps between the old and the young, far beyond a traditional market. Along the street are shops featuring openable windows and bar-style tables, exuding a chill Parisian vibe. You may spot locals gathering at trendy cafes, discussing their daily lives.

★ Experience Hangzhou’s Tech Frontier

Next, we’ll drive 1 hour to Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City to experience the vitality of China in high-tech fields such as e-commerce, social media, AI research and development, and robotics. Let’s embark on an exciting 20-minute, driverless bus experience! Navigating in a world woven by intricate algorithms and laser radar, you’ll view the steering wheel spin automatically while running safely at 40 km/h (25 mph), accurately yielding to pedestrians along the way. A safety monitor will be onboard for oversight. The route offers a view of the tech giants, including the sprawling Alibaba Headquarters, parent company of China’s largest online shopping platform, Taobao, and the leading payment app, Alipay. You’ll also see the building of ByteDance Hangzhou R&D Center, the home of the social media sensation, TikTok. Here, employees can step outside the modern glass walls and rejuvenate amidst the artificial lake and garden after brainstorming sessions to grab huge deals. The adjacent commercial blocks are also set for their convenience.

Following that, we’ll drive back to downtown and connect Hangzhou’s past and future together at Hefang Street. Discover the traditional Chinese medicine workshop established in the late 19th century, admire intricate paper fans and dyed clothing in time-honored stores, and indulge your senses in tantalizing street food stalls. 

Your 2 days Hangzhou city tour will end here, and then your guide and the driver will escort you to the airport for your return flight. Alternatively, if you’re off to explore the adjacent city by high-speed train, they’ll also be delighted to convoy you to the railway station. Wish you a safe and joyful journey!