Hangzhou (杭州)

Attractions in Hangzhou

West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda, Xixi National Wetland Park, Longjing Tea Village, Grand Canal, Song Dynasty Town, Alibaba Xixi Campus.

Popular Routes

Day 1: West Lake cruise → Leifeng Pagoda → Su Causeway; Day 2: Lingyin Temple → Longjing Tea Village; Day 3: Xixi Wetlands → Grand Canal → Song Dynasty Town.

Food & Dining

Dongpo pork, West Lake vinegar fish, Longjing shrimp, Beggars chicken, pian er chuan noodle soup, Youma gao oily hemp cake, Hangzhou xiaolongbao.

Shopping

Yan-an Road, Wulin Square, Hangzhou Tower, Intime City, Qinghefang Historical Street, Xixi Wetland souvenir shops, Longjing tea market.

Local Vibe & Fun Facts

Local Vibe: Hangzhou is elegant, green, and slightly smug about its lake. Locals bike around West Lake, drink Longjing tea, and complain about the summer humidity. The city balances tech wealth with classical Chinese aesthetics.

Fun Facts:

• West Lake is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has inspired Chinese poets and painters for over 1,000 years.

• Hangzhou is home to Alibaba, one of the world's largest e-commerce companies, founded by Jack Ma in an apartment here.

• The Grand Canal, which runs through Hangzhou, is the longest artificial river in the world and over 1,700 years old.

Speak Like a Local

Hangzhou locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:

伢儿 (yá ér) — Kid / child — a Hangzhou way to refer to young people.

落胃 (là wèi) — Comfortable in the stomach — the perfect description of a satisfying meal.

蛮好 (mán hǎo) — Pretty good / not bad — typical Hangzhou understatement.

Famous People

• Su Shi (Su Dongpo) — The Song dynasty poet and governor built the famous Su Causeway across West Lake.

• Jack Ma — Founder of Alibaba Group, one of China's most influential entrepreneurs, started his company in Hangzhou.

• Yue Fei — The legendary Song dynasty general is buried and honored near West Lake.