Hangzhou 杭州

Written By Maggi

Hangzhou is easily one of my favorite cities in China. I’ve visited at least four times now, and each trip has been its own kind of peaceful. No matter the season or reason for going, it’s always a place I genuinely enjoy returning to.

Travel

Train

I usually take the train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East, which takes about an hour. It’s quick, efficient, and pretty stress-free.

Transportation to the hotel

Once I arrive, I almost always take the metro to get to my hotel. I’m usually trying to save where I can, and the metro only adds about 15 minutes compared to a Didi, but it’s way more affordable. If you’re traveling light, I’d definitely recommend the metro. But if you’re carrying a lot or just don’t want to deal with stairs, a Didi is easy to get from the station and still relatively cheap.

Accommodations

I’ve stayed in several hotels while I’ve been in Hangzhou depending on my needs for the trip.

Five-Star Bay Hotel

  • Chinese Name: 五星湾酒店（杭州西湖湖滨涌金广场店）

  • English Address: 1st Floor, Yongjin Plaza, No. 135 Yan'an Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

  • Room Type: Smart Room (Double Bed) (Special Promotion) · 1 Room

  • Cost: CNY 196 for 1 night

  • Comments:This place is located near a McDonald’s, which I weirdly appreciated. It’s not a standalone hotel building, more like a floor inside a larger complex, so I was a little confused finding it at first. The location is fairly central though, about a 15 to 20-minute walk to West Lake. The downside was that my room didn’t have a window, and I could hear people in the hallway. It wasn’t terrible, but I’d probably look for a different hotel next time.

  • Overall Rating: 3/5

  • Booking Link: https://www.trip.com/t/IJ6mapieqS2

JunCeng City Hotel (Near East Railway Station)

  • Chinese Name: 君成酒店（杭州火车东站东广场店）

  • English Address: Room 102, 1st Floor, Building 4, Huanyi City, Hongtai Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

  • Room Type: Superior Queen Room · 1 Room

  • Cost: US$28.18 for 1 night

  • Comments: I booked this one for convenience since it’s super close to Line 1, just one metro stop from Hangzhou East Railway Station. The room had two beds, but one was oddly tucked away in a corner nook. There’s a flight of stairs at the entrance, so you’ll have to carry your luggage up. Also, they didn’t provide real towels—only thin disposable ones. It did what I needed for one night, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re desperate and just need a quick stay near the station.

  • Overall Rating: 3/5

  • Booking Link: https://www.trip.com/t/PjP561heqS2

Hangzhou Lighting Lanshan Youth Hostel (for a concert trip)

  • Chinese Name: 杭州拣枝而栖青年旅舍（龙湖滨江天街江陵路地铁站店）

  • English Address: Room 205, Tianheng Building, No. 1509 Binsheng Road, Xixing Subdistrict, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

  • Room Type: Goddess Four-Bed Dormitory - Upper Bunk · 1 Room

  • Cost: CNY 52.00 for 1 night

  • Comments: This was my first time staying in a hostel in China, and it honestly made me more open to hostels in the future. There were lockers with locks, the bathrooms were fine, and the vibe was casual. For the price, it was more than fair. If you're okay with shared spaces and want to save money, this is a solid option.

  • Overall Rating: 4/5

  • Booking Link: https://www.trip.com/t/PjDBFrjeqS2

Attractions

Below is an overview of the attractions I went to and how I’d rate them.

  • Chinese name: 西湖
    Address: Xihu District
    Cost: Free
    Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

  • Chinese name: 西溪湿地
    Address: Xihu District
    Cost: ¥80 (there’s a free section that seems to be nice, but the paid area, and especially the boat experience, is not worth it)
    Rating: ⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ (2/5)

  • Chinese name: 青山湖
    Address: Lin’an District
    Cost: ¥60–¥80
    Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Budget Breakdown

Because I’ve been several times, the cost changes each time. Below are an estimate for what you can expect to pay.

  • Round-trip train (Shanghai to Hangzhou) - ¥160–¥320

  • Accommodation (1 night) - ¥180–¥400

  • Transportation - ¥40–¥350 (depending on if you take a Didi or Metro)

  • Food - ¥140–¥280

  • Activities - ¥50–¥350 (depending on how many activities you go to)

  • Souvenirs - ¥50–¥400

Total ~ ¥620-¥2,100

Final Thoughts

I truly love Hangzhou personally, but if you’re strapped for time, I don’t think it’s a necessary stop depending on the other destinations on your trip.

If you found this article helpful or interesting, you might want to check out these others that I did for the other cities.

*Disclaimer: This post might include a few affiliate links. If you end up booking or buying something through them, I’ll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do, thank you! It really helps support me and this journey I’m on.

Maggi
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