East China · 8–10 hours: West Lake is the draw, and the city is compact
Hangzhou layover guide
West Lake, tea culture, temples: one hour from Shanghai by train
Nora Li· Transit visas, city trips and shopping
Last updated
Times, fares, and routes are indicative. Confirm with the operator before you travel.
Why Hangzhou works for a layover
Hangzhou is the classic Chinese postcard: a vast lake ringed by pagodas and willow trees, temples tucked into forested hills, and tea fields on the edge of the city. It is also only about an hour from Shanghai by high-speed rail, so it works as a day trip from a Shanghai stop as well as a layover on its own.
The route
Start at West Lake, walk the Su Causeway or the shoreline near the broken bridge. Head to Lingyin Temple, one of China’s most important Buddhist temples, set among carvings and forest. Then visit the Longjing (Dragon Well) tea village for the tea terraces and a tasting. If time allows, Hefang Street and the illuminated Leifeng Pagoda round out the day.
Food to try
Longjing shrimp (cooked with the local green tea), West Lake fish in vinegar, and Dongpo pork. Hangzhou cuisine is lighter and sweeter than Sichuan or Cantonese food.
Timing notes
Hangzhou is compact, so a well-planned 8–10 hours is genuinely rewarding. If you are coming from Shanghai by high-speed rail, remember it departs from Hongqiao station, not the airport, and you need your passport to book and board.
Pairing with Shanghai
A common route is to land in Shanghai, ride the high-speed train to Hangzhou for West Lake, and return. See the Shanghai layover itinerary for how to fit the transfer, and China airport-to-city transfers for the rail connections.