13+ must-see & best places to visit in Hangzhou

December 29, 2024

Hangzhou is always an ideal destination because of its picturesque natural scenery. Discover top Hangzhou Hangzhou attractions that you should not miss! So, where to visit in Hangzhou? Let’s check out 13+ must see places in Hangzhou, must visit places in Hangzhou and best places to visit in Hangzhou below!

West Lake, Hangzhou | best places to visit in Hangzhou

Wuzhen water town | best places to visit in Hangzhou

Hangzhou street food | best places to visit in Hangzhou

Hangzhou cuisine | best places to visit in Hangzhou

Nestled in the midst of beautiful natural scenery, Hangzhou is an ancient historical city with more than 2000 years of formation, once the capital of many dynasties, especially the Wu Yue and Southern Song dynasties. Known as “Heaven on Earth”, this place stands out with the harmony of mountains, rivers, lakes, bridges, pagodas and towers. The charm of Hangzhou comes not only from its natural beauty but also from its rich culture and unforgettable dishes.

Sheng Li He Street | best places to visit in Hangzhou

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West Lake Scenic Area in Hangzhou – China (#best places to visit in Hangzhou)

Address: No. 1 Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City

Xihu, Hangzhou | best places to visit in Hangzhou

One of the most attractive destinations in Hangzhou is West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lake covers an area of 6.39 square kilometers and is about 15 kilometers in circumference, divided into five parts by three embankments.

The lake is surrounded by pagodas, towers, pavilions, gardens and artificial islands, creating a beautiful space that perfectly combines nature and culture. This place has inspired many poets and artists, typically Su Dongpo, who compared the beauty of the lake to Xi Shi, one of the four famous beauties of China.

Xihu Lake | best places to visit in Hangzhou

Each season, the lake has its own beauty: peach blossoms in spring, lotuses in summer, bright moon on the lake, and snow-covered Duanqiao Bridge in winter. The “Ten Scenes of West Lake” is famous for its diverse beauty, each scene is charming.

You can choose to cycle along the winding stone roads such as Su Causeway, Yanggong Causeway, or Baidi, take a boat to Solitary Hill, Lesser Paradise Island or leisurely stroll to admire the beautiful scenery of West Lake.

Leifeng tower in Hangzhou – China

Address: 15 Nanshan, West Lake, Hangzhou

Stretching along the poetic West Lake, Lei Feng Tower stands out with its historical beauty and unique architecture. Built in 977 under the Northern Song Dynasty, the tower was once called Huang Fei Tower before being named Lei Feng. The tower is famous for its magnificent beauty, especially the “Lei Feng Tower in the evening”, considered one of the ten most beautiful scenes of West Lake.

Lei Feng Tower has gone through many ups and downs, was devastated and completely collapsed in 1924. However, after excavation and restoration, a modern construction was built, restoring the tower’s brilliant beauty. The tower is now 72 meters high, with two elevators taking you to the top of the tower to admire the panoramic view of West Lake and Hangzhou city.

Poetic and charming scene on Hangzhou | best places to visit in Hangzhou

Inside, you will find precious artifacts such as gilded bronze Buddha statues, bronze mirrors, coins and Buddhist relics. In addition, the tower is also associated with the touching love story between White Snake and the scholar, a part of Chinese culture.

Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou – China

Address: No. 16, Zhijiang Road, Tay Ho District, Hangzhou

Coming here, you will admire the majestic appearance of the temple as well as the majestic scenery of the Qiantang River and a corner of Hangzhou city on the top of the tower. | best places to visit in Hangzhou

An ancient treasure located on the Xiangjiang River, Liuge Pagoda (Six Harmonies Pagoda) always attracts visitors with its majestic beauty and long history. Built in 970 AD, the tower has 13 floors, nearly 60m high, located on Yuelun Hill, standing out in the quiet natural space of Hangzhou.

Inside, the seven floors of the tower are connected by a spiral staircase, along with more than 200 delicate carvings. Throughout the tower are poems praising the beauty of the tower and the Xiangjiang River, making the space more poetic. Standing on the top of the tower, the panoramic view of the Xiangjiang River and the modern city of Hangzhou spread out before your eyes, creating a wonderful natural picture.

September is the ideal time to visit the temple, when the Xiangjiang River tide rises strongly, bringing a spectacular view. The entrance fee to the tower is 20 RMB/person, the tower climbing fee is an additional 10 RMB/person.

Hefang Ancient Street in Hangzhou – China

Address: Hefang Street, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou

The destination that shopping enthusiasts cannot miss in Hangzhou is Hefang Street. This place carries the glorious historical mark of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), when Hangzhou was once a glorious capital. At that time, Hefang was a bustling commercial center, with shops, restaurants, teahouses and bustling entertainment areas.

Today, the ancient space is still preserved, helping visitors feel the breath of ancient times. Local specialties such as dragon beard candy, stinky tofu, beggar chicken, or West Lake sour fish always attract diners. Don’t forget to admire traditional art through paper cutting, clay statues, and blowing sugar – cultural features passed down through generations.

Qinghefang Ancient Street | best places to visit in Hangzhou

In addition, Hefang is also an ideal place to shop for exquisite handicrafts such as Jiangnan silk, tea sets, paper fans, and oil paper umbrellas. At night, Hefang street becomes sparkling with brightly lit food and souvenir stalls for you to take photos.

Wuzhen Water Town Near Hangzhou

Address: Wuzhen, Tongxiang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang

Located about 80km from Hangzhou and Suzhou, Wuzhen is one of the six most famous ancient towns in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, with a history of more than 6,000 years. Stepping into Wuzhen is like stepping into a watercolor painting, where gray-black tiled roof houses, pristine white walls and ancient stone bridges blend with the peaceful river.

A small winding river with small stone bridges connecting the two sides of the canal.

This ancient town is divided into four areas: Dongzha (East Area), Nanzha (South Area), Xizha (West Area) and Beizha (North Area). Dongzha still retains its traditional features, while Xizha is bustling with shops and restaurants, highlighted by the “bridge within a bridge” combining the two ancient bridges Tongji and Renji. In Dongzha, the Museum of Ancient Beds showcases exquisite handicrafts, while the Museum of Folk Customs of the Lower Yangtze River recreates the daily life of the people here.

In addition to exploring the culture, try specialties such as river fish, Qingtuan cakes, stewed lamb and delicious tea at traditional teahouses. To get to Wuzhen, you can travel by bus from Hangzhou, Suzhou or Shanghai. The entrance fee here is from 110 to 190 yuan, depending on the area.

Nostalgic Xitang Ancient Town in Hangzhou

Address: Jiashan District, Jiaxing, Zhejiang

Xitang Ancient Town – a vivid and charming picture of the Jiangnan region, attracts visitors with its ancient beauty and rare peace. Xitang is a famous ancient town nominated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, Xitang still retains its intact small stone-paved alleys, black-tiled houses and white walls. A covered corridor of more than 1km long surrounds the neighborhood, helping residents and visitors avoid the sun and rain. The landscape becomes more poetic with ancient stone bridges spanning winding canals.

When you come to Xitang, you will feel the local culture through exploring the West Garden, the Lu family cemetery with ancient ginkgo trees, and many old houses. Museums such as the Wine Culture Museum or the Button Museum bring interesting experiences. In particular, the narrowest and longest Shipi stone alley here is an ideal place to feel the slow, peaceful pace of life, or take “vintage” photos.

Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou

Address: Fayun Alley No. 1, Lingyin Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou

Surrounded by lush green forests in Hangzhou, Lingyin Temple is a Buddhist masterpiece that has existed for nearly 1,700 years. The tall ancient trees, multi-storey pagodas and Buddhist caves create a harmonious picture between architecture and nature.

Admire the majestic appearance of the temple as well as the majestic scenery of the Qiantang river

The temple is known for its architectural works such as Heavenly Palace, Great Hero Hall – where the large sandalwood statue of Buddha Sakyamuni is located, Medicine Buddha Palace and Ji Gong Palace. On major festivals such as the Buddha porridge distribution ceremony, the Shilu ceremony or the charity alms-giving ceremony, the atmosphere in the temple becomes more vibrant, bearing the mark of Buddhist culture.

Nearby, Feilai Peak with its exquisite sculptures is another highlight. From April to October is the ideal weather to visit and enjoy delicious vegetarian cuisine at the temple restaurant.

Feilai Mountain (Peak Flown From Afar) in Hangzhou

Address: Lingxi South Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou

Feilai limestone mountain is 168 meters high, located in the northwest of West Lake, in front of Lingyin Temple, creating a beautiful and Buddhist scene. Since 1982, Feilai Peak has been recognized as an important national cultural heritage.

This place impresses with its fascinating cave system and ancient Buddha statues. More than 470 statues were carved from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty, notably the largest and oldest Maitreya statue in China. Caves such as Long Hong (with the statue of Guanyin), Shen Xu (with the image of “a path of heaven”), and Tang Liu (with the sound of flowing water) all carry mysterious stories.

Lingyin Temple, the only remaining relic from the Ming Dynasty in Hangzhou, and small temples commemorating national hero Yue Fei are also worth exploring. March to May, when the flowers are in full bloom, is the ideal time to visit this place.

Xixi National Wetland Park – Hangzhou

Address: Tianmushan Road, West Lake District, Hangzhou

As China’s first national wetland park, Xixi captivates visitors with the peaceful beauty of winding streams, lush vegetation, and colorful flowers. The park stretches for about 10 square kilometers and is divided into three areas. The eastern area is the main destination with attractions such as Hazy Fisher Village, Anchorage Thatching Cottages, and Xixi Plum Villa.

Three prominent trails – Fudi, Liudi, and Shoudi – guide you through the park’s diverse beauty. Don’t forget to stop by the riverside teahouse to enjoy tea and learn about local culture. The park is open 24 hours a day, but shops close around 10:00 p.m. Admission is 80 CNY/person. Taxis or private cars are the best way to get to the park. Inside the park, visitors can choose from electric boats, rowboats, or electric bicycles to explore.

Longjing Tea Village – Hangzhou

Address: Southwest of West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Longjing Tea Village, with its lush green tea hills, is the ideal place for you to enjoy the fresh air and admire the rows of tea trees as straight as a watercolor painting. Here, Longjing tea is known as the “Green Queen” of Chinese tea, with a history of more than 1,200 years.

March and April are great times to join the locals in harvesting tea, as well as learn about the traditional tea processing process. Don’t forget to visit Hugongmiao Temple, where you will see ancient tea trees over 250 years old, once harvested by Emperor Qianlong.

Enjoy Longjing tea at traditional teahouses, or take a walk on the Shililangdang trail, where you will see the panoramic view of the beautiful tea hills. Longjing Tea Village is not only a tourist attraction but also a place for you to explore the culture, history and enjoy the natural beauty of Hangzhou.

China National Tea Museum – Hangzhou

Address: No. 88, Longjing Road, Shuangfeng Village, Xihu District, Hangzhou

If you are a tea and culture lover, then the China National Tea Museum is a place not to be missed. Located amidst the lush green tea hills in Changfeng Village, Hangzhou, the museum offers a peaceful space, suitable for learning about the long history of Chinese tea ceremony.

Here, hundreds of famous tea samples and a collection of exquisite teacups from different periods are displayed, giving you an insight into the development of tea ceremony. Join tea ceremony classes and enjoy tea, you will experience the sophistication of traditional tea making art.

In addition, the museum also organizes activities such as spring tea picking and tea factory tours, which help you better understand the tea production process. The museum is free to enter, but there is a fee for English and other language guides.

Former Residence of Hu Xueyan in Hangzhou

Address: 18 Yuanbaojie, Zhejiang Sheng, Hangzhou

Built in 1872, Hu Xueyan’s old house is a fusion of traditional architectural styles and Western influences, clearly reflecting the wealth and influence of its owner.

With a total area of up to 5,815 square meters, the house is decorated with luxurious interiors made of redwood, sandalwood and many other rare woods. The meticulous design of the house includes living areas, bedrooms for the wives, and the beautiful Zhiyuan Garden. The garden features a lake, arched bridges and the largest man-made cave in China.

Not only a historical heritage, this place is also a museum displaying exquisite works of art and craft, including calligraphy by famous painters. Coming here, you will admire the magnificent architecture and learn about the ups and downs of Hu Xueyan’s life and the rich culture of Hangzhou.

Grand Canal – Hangzhou

Address: North Huancheng Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou

The Grand Canal is an ancient engineering wonder stretching over 1,700 km, connecting Beijing with Hangzhou, considered the longest artificial waterway in the world. This canal has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, playing an important role in trade and is a symbol of the wisdom and labor of the Chinese people.

The Grand Canal connects many large river systems, making it convenient to transport goods and food from the South to the North. Today, a cruise on a section of this canal will bring you interesting experiences.

The poetic scenery with ancient towns, ancient houses and stone bridges will make you unable to take your eyes off. The trip is also an opportunity for you to enjoy local cuisine and learn about the unique culture of the region. To get to the Grand Canal, you just need to go by bus or subway and join short or long-term boat tours here.

A trip to Hangzhou will take you into a paradise-like scene. The lush green tea hills, the majestic and ancient Lingyin Temple, the poetic West Lake with its famous scenery, and the bustling Qinghefang Ancient Town, all create a beautiful picture for this land. Hangzhou is also attractive because of its long-standing culture through vivid legends, ancient architecture and the gentle beauty of the local people.

The post first appeared on Klook Vietnam and was translated, more compiled and edited by Living Nomads. If you find any images or text that belong to you, please contact us, so we can credit you or give us permission to use them. Thank you very much!

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