Hangzhou Travel Guide
Perhaps for the very first time, the hyperbole from the Chinese tourist brochure that surrounds Hangzhou and its infamous West Lake is justified in its over-the-top accolades. As they say around these parts: “Above is Paradise, below is Hangzhou.”
The city itself is pleasant in its own right, but is transformed into one of China’s top destinations by the gorgeous West Lake and its fabulous green environs.
The very definition of classical beauty in China, West Lake has inspired generations of writers, painters and poets throughout Chinese history. Created from a river lagoon in the 8th century, it still mesmerises tourists and today (methodical prettification working its cunning magic too).
Hazy hills rise above the willow-lined banks, forming crinkled silhouettes that are punctuated by solitary pagodas. Tiny boats float lazily by. Its landscapes are quintessentially Chinese, and there’s more than enough walking, cycling and green spaces to keep everyone leisurely occupied. You’ll need roughly three days to fully savour what’s on offer but the inclination is to join the lilting willows in taking root and staying put.
Be warned, though: Hangzhou is one of the country’s most famous tourist attractions. Droves descend from all over China to digitally capture West Lake, especially on holidays and weekends in the summer. This results in a blight of overpriced, fully booked hotels and chattering tour groups. But don’t despair, the area is large enough to absorb the swell and still leave pockets of tranquillity.
Hangzhou is one of China’s most famous tea-growing centres and tours can be made to nearby Longjing Village, which bestowed the name for the city’s most famous export: Longjing tea, the best-known and one of the most-loved green tea in China. The surrounding hills also house China’s only tea museum.
For centuries Hangzhou has been a cultural melting pot, so it offers museums, galleries and theatres too, showcasing everything from silk making to calligraphy.
Modern influences also abound: chic cafés skirt the lakeshore, foreign brands fill the shopping centres and western-style bars serve drinks long into the night. But despite these touches of modernity, Hangzhou still offers China in all its authenticity.
As the most southerly point of the Grand Canal, the home of poetic West Lake and the recipient of the world’s largest tidal bore, water runs through Hangzhou’s history.
The Grand Canal, which ran from Hangzhou to Beijing, was completed in 609 and put the city on the map.
The poet Bai Juyi (772-846 CE) was one of the first artists to mention West Lake when it was still part of the Qiantang River. As a governor of Hangzhou, he also built a dam for irrigating nearby farmland.
It wasn’t until sediment from the Wu and Baoshi Mountains cut the Qintang River off that it became a lake. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), West Lake would dry up during droughts, so the city’s governor built an underwater system to divert water into the lake.
Hangzhou became the Wuyue state capital during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era (907-960) and by the time Marco Polo arrived in the city in the late 13th century, he believed that it was “without a doubt the finest and most splendid city in the world”.
Money came in as rice and silk went out of the port in Hangzhou Bay until the inlet built up with sediment and the harbour became unusable.
In 1860, the Taiping Rebellion ravaged the city. Hangzhou was a mere blot on the 17 provinces the revolt ended up controlling, killing some 20 million people in the process.
Today, cotton, tea and silk are the main industries, while boat trips on West Lake or the Qiantang River tidal bore bring the tourists.
When Polo passed through in the 13th century, the city had an estimated population of nearly 1.5 million people.
President Nixon visited West Lake during his 1972 China trip, thawing the icy relations between the USA and China.
West Lake was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2011.
Hangzhou has a humid subtropical climate, characterised by its four distinctive seasons. The city also experiences two rainy seasons; the Plum Rain Season (late June to early July) and the heavy rainfall season which comes with potential typhoons (August to September).
Spring (March to May) is a lovely time to visit Hangzhou as it brings peach blossom to trees surrounding West Lake. Temperatures gradually increase from highs of 14ºC (57.2ºF) in March to highs of 26ºC (78.8ºF) in May.
Summer (June to August) weekends bring hordes of domestic tourists from places such as Shanghai and Beijing, and this often means hotel rooms can be hard to find, so booking ahead is advisable. The summer months can also be uncomfortably hot and with temperatures going over 33°C.
Autumn (September to November) especially October provides the best combination of mild temperatures and little rain. The average temperatures in October are about 18°C.
Winters (December to February) are fairly cold and the weather is made worse by the city’s high humidity. Don’t let that stop you as there are numerous sights to see like the plum blossom and snowy scenery in West Lake.
Getting around Hangzhou
Hangzhou Public Transport Travel Service
A comprehensive bus network plies the city streets but is difficult to navigate for those who can’t speak or read Chinese. If you fancy trying, bus Y1 does a handy circuit of West Lake.
Hangzhou’s 21st-century metro system has three lines (Line 1, 2 and 4), with more under construction. The original line connects Hangzhou East Train Station with the main railway station and skirts the northeast corner of West Lake between the two. Longxiang Qiao is the nearest station to the lake itself.
At West Lake you’ll also see plenty of electric buggies whizzing tourists around. These are handy if you in a hurry – or just knackered. You can ask for a complete circuit of the lake, or else just hop on until the buggy stops where you want to get off.
Daxing Taxi
Telephone: +86 571 8530 4083
Hangzhou Shengzhong Taxi
Telephone: +86 571 8801 2909
Taxis are plentiful, safe and reliable, but drivers don’t speak English, so remember to carry with you the name and address of your intended destination in Chinese characters so you can show it to the driver when you hail a cab.
Phoning for a taxi is unnecessary, and generally isn’t done in China. Your hotel may be able to help, but note, you’ll have to pay extra if you call the taxi, as the driver will also expect to be paid for the trip to come and get you.
Leave this to the more capable hands of the locals. Not only are the roads in Hangzhou confusing and congested, but questionably translated road signs and the need for a valid Chinese driving licence mean visitors are better off finding an alternative form of transport.
Bike-rental kiosks, with rows of bright red bicycles, are all over the city, especially around West Lake. Once you’ve obtained a swipe card, you can pick up a bike from any kiosk and return it to any other. The first hour is free. After that, hire is still very cheap and a great way to ride around the lake.
You need your passport and a fully returnable deposit to get your swipe card, but note that not all the kiosks have facilities to distribute these cards. One that does is on the northeast corner of the lake on Beishan Lu. Also note, you cannot return a bike after the kiosks are closed for the evening. Youth hostels also rent out bikes, although prices are more expensive.
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Things to see in Hangzhou
Attractions
Centuries of careful cultivation have turned what was originally a lagoon adjoining the Qiantang River into the most famous lake in China. One of the country’s principal tourist attractions, West Lake is classical China at its mist-shrouded, willowlined, pagoda-dotted best, and is almost everybody’s primary reason for visiting Hangzhou.
Three ancient, man-made causeways (Su, Bai and Yanggong) provide pleasant walkways across sections of the lake and are great places to begin your romantic strolls. Bai Causeway, accessed from the lake’s northern shore, is perhaps the most interesting as it leads onto Gushan Island with its restaurants, museums and gardens. Cycling is a great way to navigate the area (there are bike rental kiosks everywhere), but boats can also be hired at dozens of places around the lake.
West Lake was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 for having “influenced garden design in the rest of China as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries” and for reflecting “an idealized fusion between humans and nature”.
Address:
Xihu, Beishan Lu, Hangzhou.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes
- Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
In 1089 during the Song Dynasty, three stone pagodas were built in the deep waters of West Lake. Rumoured to be magically, they still stand tall today in a triangle formation. A truly scenic location admired by many and featured on the back of the one yuan bill.
Address:
Xihu, Hangzhou.
Opening times: Daily 0730-1630.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Xixi National Wetland Park
The Xixi Wetlands are recognised as a national wetland park with 26,000 acres of swamps, animals and vegetation. Many film crews come to get shots of the mysterious waterways and large cinematic houses that money cannot buy. Most of the park can be accessed for free, but travellers should be wary of mosquitos.
Address:
Xihu, 518 Tianmushan Rd, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8810 6789
Opening times: Daily 07:30-18:30
Website: www.xixiwetland.com.cn
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Known locally as Lingyin Si (Temple of the Soul’s Retreat), this is one of China’s largest Buddhist temples. The entrance is magnificent, passing through shallow caves and grottos featuring over 400 Buddhist rock carvings, many dating from the 10th to 14th centuries. The incense-filled, working temple boasts four grand halls, each more lavish and colourful than the last. The stand-out is the 12m-high (39ft) Hall of the 500 Arhats, which features 500 human-sized sitting Buddhist saints, each holding his own symbol, arranged in the formation of a giant swastika. Located next to Lingyin Temple, is a cable car which wheels its way up North Peak and offers fabulous views across parts of West Lake and the surrounding tea plantations.
Address:
Xihu, 1 Lingyin Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8796 8665
Opening times: Daily 07:00-18:15.
Website: www.lingyinsi.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Six Harmonies Pagoda (Liuhe Pagoda)
Close to the southwest of the lake, this 60m-high (197ft) octagonal pagoda, first built in 960 CE, overlooks the Qiantang River. It once served as a lighthouse, and was supposed to have magical powers to halt the tidal bore, which still thunders up the river twice a month. Behind the pagoda stretches a charming walk through terraces dotted with shrines. Taking the bus from Nanshan Lu to get within walking distance to the pagoda.
Address: Xihu, 16 Zhijiang Lu, Hangzhou.
Opening times: Daily 06:30-17:30.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Located in leafy woods, on a hill overlooking the northern lakeshore, this splendid Taoist temple is peaceful, colourful and charming. The only Taoist temple in Zhejiang province, it features incense smoke drifting around the courtyards and ornate carved wooden facades, while its upturned grey slate roofs echo a China rapidly receding into history. That final point is a fitting metaphor for Ge Hong, the famous Chinese alchemist who resided here while he looked for immortality. He never found it, of course, though he lives on through a statue found inside the temple.
Address: Jiangbei District, Zhejiang, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 574 8758 6317
Opening times: Daily 07:30-17:30.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
This region was once the centre of China’s silk industry and this museum, just south of the lake, charts the history of silk culture and the clothing products that helped make Hangzhou one of nation’s wealthiest and most cultured cities. The story of silk unravels before your eyes with displays and historical context around China’s weaving, painting and embroidery techniques. The museum also welcomes a number of visiting exhibitions each year.
Address:
Shangcheng, 73 Yuhuangshan Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone:
+86 571 8703 5150
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.chinasilkmuseum.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- China National Tea Museum
The only museum in China dedicated to tea, this place charts all aspects of Chinese tea-tasting customs as well as the provenance and history of several of the nation’s most famous infusions. Visitors will find a broad selection of tea pots and drinking vessels on display and can take in the manicured gardens and surrounding tea plantations too. Naturally, there’s an opportunity to try (and buy) some green tea as well. Take bus Y3 from West Lake.
Address:
Xihu, 88 Longjing Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone:
+86 571 8796 4221
Opening times: Tue-Sun 08:30-16:30.
Website: www.teamuseum.cn
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Zhejiang Provincial Museum
This museum, located on Gushan Island, in the northern section of West Lake, counts a collection of more than 100,000 cultural relics and pieces from across the province. Among the artefacts, visitors will find decorated pottery, some of the oldest varnished bowls in the world and a great number of objects made from jade. There is also a hall dedicated to the works of the celebrated Chinese painter, Huang Binhong.
Address:
26 Gushan Rd, Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
Telephone: +86 571 8797 1177
Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00.
Website: www.zhejiangmuseum.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Set against the hillside across the road from Leifeng Pagoda, this peaceful Buddhist monastery houses a vast effigy of Sakyamuni in the main hall and, in an adjacent hall, a magnificent 1000-arm statue of Guanyin. It is said this is where the Japanese monk, Nampo Jōmyō, learned about Zen before returning to Kyoto with his newly discovered knowledge.
Address:
Xihu, 56 Nanshan Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8797 5135
Opening times: Daily 06:30-17:00.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Standing proud over the southern lakeshore is the octagonal, five-storey Leifeng Pagoda. Originally constructed in 975 CE by king of Wuyue, Qian Hongchu, to celebrate the birth of a son, the structure was completely rebuilt in 2002 after collapsing in 1924. However, the uncovered brick ruins of the original building are open for viewing. Climbing to the top floor yields fabulous views across the lake, islands, bridges and gardens, plus the sprawling city beyond.
Address: Xihu, 15 Nanshan Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8798 2111
Opening times: Daily 08:00-20:00.
Website: www.jing.leifengta.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
-
Hangzhou Travel Gathering and Dispersing Center
Address:
10 Huaguang Rd, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8727 2925
Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00.
Website: www.96123.com
With a few branches around town, including one at the main train station, this official tourist centre is only mildly helpful. Visitors are better off getting information from their hotel or from one of Hangzhou’s numerous youth hostels. You’ll find basic travel information, free maps and the offer of tours at Hangzhou Tourist Information Centre, although these will be aimed at domestic tourists.
Things to do in Hangzhou
- Find Europe in the middle of Guangzhou
Much of Guangzhou’s charm lies in its intensity, but if you long for a time-out take a trip to Shamian Island. Something between the United Kingdom and Paris in the 19th century, it’s quiet cobbled streets and colonial architecture whisper reminders from a different era. It’s accessible by bridge next to Huangsha station.
- Get those knots ironed out
Dragonfly Therapeutic Retreat oozes peace and tranquillity, has English-speaking staff and doesn’t break the bank. The Nanshan Retreat (
Website: www.dragonfly.net.cn ) is on the south eastern shore, while The newer
Xixi Retreat
Telephone: +86 21 6266 2108 is by the northern shore.
Treatments include aroma oil massages and hot stone massages, plus the infamous hangover relief massage.
- Join the circus for an evening
If spinning ring walkers, leaping motorcyclists, laser shows, aerial ballets and kung-fu bears sounds like your thing, then treat yourself to an evening at the:
Chimelong Circus (
Website:
www.int.chimelong.com ) A truly 2016 type of circus, Barnum Baileys it ain’t.
- Join the curious throng at Qingping Medicine Market
Depending on which side of the fence you reside, Qingping Medicine Market is a fascinating insight into traditional Chinese culture or a prime example of how they lag behind the West. Stalls sell everything from shark fin, tiger paw and scorpions, to live kittens, puppies and monkeys. It’s an experience, to say the least.
Hangzhou tours and excursions
Hangzhou tours
Bike China Tours
Organises regular group rides into the hills surrounding the city.
Telephone: +86 186 1625 3582
Website: www.bikechinatours.com
Most tours organised by the Hangzhou Tourism Commission are geared towards Chinese tourists, though the city’s hotels provide a broad range of trips and excursions. The West Lake’s centrality to Hangzhou’s history and identity makes a cruise on its waters a ‘must do’ experience.
West Lake Boat Co.
Offers pleasure boat trips from two wharfs: at the south end of the Hubin Road esplanade, and at the north end of Hubin Lu near Changsheng Road. The one-hour cruise takes in the Xiaoyingzhou Island, Mid-Lake Pavilion and Yang Causeway.
Website:
www.wgly.hangzhou.gov.cn
Jumping on the West Lake Golf Cart Tour is a leisurely way to explore the myriad attractions fringing the West Lake. Simply wave it down and hop on.
Hangzhou excursions
- Hangzhou Longjingshan Tea Cultrual Village
Located in the clear, crisp air of the Fenghuang Hills, Longjing Tea Cultural Village is the gateway to one of China’s most revered tea plantations, Longjing (Dragon Well), which is home to 18 different ‘royal teas’.
You can see tea being picked, processed and packaged. Tea tasting is also available. Tours to Longjing can be arranged through most hotels. Public bus Y3 also makes the trip from Beishan Lu, on the northern edge of West Lake.
Shopping in Hangzhou
Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea is the single-most famous commodity that’s produced in Hangzhou, and you’ll be tripping over shops and stalls which sell it here. There are various grades, hence the different prices you’ll be quoted, which depend largely on when the leaves were picked – the earlier the better.
Those unfamiliar with Longjing Tea will not be able to tell the difference, though, so most tourists are better off simply buying the cheapest grade they are offered because it will still be very good green tea. Silk is also big business in Hangzhou, so scarves, shawls, fans and silk paintings can also be found in a number of shops and markets.
At the south end of Zhongshan Lu, Qinghefang Old Street is an unashamedly touristy recreation of old Hangzhou, and is great fun for a wander, offering bundles of souvenir possibilities as well as tasty snacks and traditional Chinese medicine.
The atmospheric Hu Qing Yu Tang (Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum) can be found at No. 95 Dajing Xiang. Qinghefang Old Street is also one of the many places around town where you can buy Longjing tea, and it’s a just a stone’s throw from Gaoyin Jie, one of the city’s busiest restaurant strips.
Relocated near Huixing Lu, the bustling Wushan Lu Night Market is open daily from 1900-2200 and sells clothing, souvenirs and pretty much everything else. You’ll find plenty of ceramics here too, including tea sets, and although some are said to be antique, they almost certainly are not.
You’ll also find silk clothing, plus tacky souvenirs such as Chairman Mao memorabilia. Better quality clothing can be found at the Xinhua Lu Silk Market, Xijiankang Lu, which opens daily from 08:00- 17:00. It contains a string of silk shops and clothing stores in a block just north of Fengqi Lu.
MIXC Mall, at 701 Fuchun Lu, is a massive, modern shopping centre located about 4km (2.5 miles) east of West Lake. It’s open daily from 1000-2130 (and is open an extra half hour on Saturdays and Sundays) and has nine floors of international boutique shops, department stores, supermarkets and restaurants. There is also a large ice rink and a cinema.
Shops are generally open from 10:00 to 22:00, seven days a week.
Green tea is the number one souvenir, of course, along with accompanying tea sets, but you can take home some wonderful lengths of silk from Hangzhou too. Decorative Chinese fans make more affordable souvenirs. However, if you have money to spare, Jade items make a beautiful gift. Just make sure you buy it from stores that can issue a certificate of authenticity.
VAT in China is charged at 17%, which cannot be reclaimed upon departure.
Restaurants in Hangzhou
Hangzhou, along with Shanghai, is an important part of the Eastern School of Chinese cuisine. It’s particularly famous for its xiao long bao (soup-filled steamed dumplings), just look for the bamboo steamer baskets piled up at the entrances to small, hole-in-the-wall restaurants. But you can also dine out in style. The city has a number of quality restaurants, many of which are beside, or close to West Lake. There are also plenty of Western-food options these days, if you fancy a break from Chinese dishes.
The Hangzhou restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three different pricing categories:
Expensive (over RMB 200)
Moderate (RMB 100 to RMB 200)
Cheap (up to RMB 100)
These prices are for a meal for one, including drinks. Tipping is not expected in Hangzhou and a service charge (usually around 15%) is only added at the very top establishments, or at the restaurants of top hotels.
Expensive
Cuisine: Hangzhou
The signature restaurant of the Hyatt Regency is beautifully designed with slate walls, antique furnishings, and an ancient Chinese imperial courtyard ambience with a contemporary twist. It serves exquisite Hangzhou specialities and cuisines from neighbouring cities. The braised dong po pork with chestnut pancakes is so good, your taste buds will never get over it. Perfect for dining to impress, the wine cellar is held in illustrious esteem.
Address: Shangcheng, 28 Hu Bin Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8779 1234
Cuisine: Chinese
With a choice location on Bai Causeway, and fine lakeside views, the city’s most famous restaurant has been going since 1848. It serves up expensive but delicious Hangzhou favourites such as Longjing shrimp and braised pork as well as reasonably priced standard Chinese dishes. There is an English menu available too, but expect to wait for a table.
Address: Xihu, 30 Gushan Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8796 9682
Cuisine: Chinese
If you don’t have time to visit Beijing on this trip, then come here for the capital’s signature dish, Peking duck. Nestled in the manicured greenery along the north side of the Grand Canal, this upscale restaurant serves the most authentic roast duck in the city. If you don’t want to wait about an hour for your duck to roast, ask someone at your hotel to call ahead and reserve one for you, so it’s ready for your arrival. There’s an English menu here, plus plenty of other delicious dishes, but not too much English spoken.
Address:
Gongshu, 100 Lishui Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone:
+86 105 907 1625
Cuisine: International
This luxurious restaurant with a beautiful view is perhaps the most expensive buffet in Hangzhou, as the high price comes with excellent service and excellent food as well.
Address:
China, Zhejiang, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8761 6888
Moderate
Cuisine: Taiwanese
This world famous Taiwanese dumpling chain never fails to delight, and the Hangzhou branch, housed inside Mixc Mall about 4km (2.5 miles) east of West Lake, is no exception. The dumpling skin is especially thin and delicate on Din Tai Fung dumplings, allowing you to savour the sumptuous fillings fully. There’s an English menu, but if you’re stuck for choice, you can’t go wrong with the Special Xiaolongbao – five delicious delicate dumplings with pork and vegetable fillings.
Address: Jianggan, 701 Fuchun Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 21 6217 8366
Website: www.dintaifung.com.sg
Cuisine: Hot Pot
Haidilao Hotpot stands out from the crowd thanks to its superior service. You can’t reserve, so you’ll probably have to wait to be served, but there are complimentary snacks, shoe shines, manicures, computers and board games to pass the time. Once shown to your table, you’ll be given an apron to protect your clothes from any unwanted hotpot splashes. Waitresses will then patiently help you through the menu, which although in Chinese only, is categorised with pictures. We recommend the yuanyang guo (split pot) which is half spicy, half not, plus a bunch of raw ingredients to cook in your pot at the table.
Address: Shangcheng, 135 Yan’an Rd, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 106 506 0403
Website: www.haidilao.com
Cuisine: Indian
A broad menu of reliable, flavourful Indian curries and rice dishes is served in this friendly restaurant. There are plenty of vegetarian options available as well, with soft, warm naan breads to soak up anything your fork can’t manage. A little extra atmosphere is provided by the video screens showing Bollywood movies, and by staff occasionally singing along. You might even be lucky enough to get a belly dancer turn up before desert.
Address: Shangcheng, 61 Nanshan Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8707 4777
Cheap
Cuisine: Japanese
An array of spicy noodle dishes guaranteed to make your eyes water and huge fried-rice servings make this affordable Japanese chain an excellent lakeside Hangzhou restaurant choice. The service is quick and the setting is casual, but an English picture menu and free tea will help with any dining dilemmas. If stuck, try the Nanyang sour beef pho or crispy pork chop noodles. Pay up front.
Address: Shangcheng, 10 Hubin Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8717 2496
Website: www.ajisen.com.cn
Cuisine: Chinese
This restaurant is a great choice for Chinese food lovers, as it is located near a shopping center. The city is known for being cheap and full of traditional Chinese flavours. Arriving early is essential, as booking does not guarantee a spot during peak hours.
Address: Zhejiang, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8700 2788
Cuisine: Hangzhou
With all the Hangzhou classics at unbeatable prices, this superb restaurant chain is a huge favourite with the locals. There’s an English menu with photos of every dish, but if you can’t decide for yourself, the braised pork and the chicken in Longjing Tea are both delicious. There’s also a handy branch at the main train station for that final taste of Hangzhou cuisine before setting off.
Address: Xihu, 6-1 Macheng Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8805 1987
Website: www.grandmashome.us
Cuisine: Chinese
Specialising in food from China’s Muslim Hui minority, this friendly down-to-earth restaurant is located on one of Hangzhou’s liveliest restaurant strips, Gaoyin Jie, and is just a stone’s throw from the souvenir shops on Qinghefang Old Street. With a bit of a Turkish twist, the English menu includes juicy lamb skewers, freshly baked naan bread, hummus (a rare find in China) and falafel.
Address: 11 Nanshan Rd, Xihu, Zhejiang, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8796 0666
Website: www.hzhzc.comHangzhou Nightlife
If you’re looking for nightlife in Hangzhou, Shuguang Lu is the best place for bars, but there’s also a bunch of watering holes near Ming Town Youth Hostel on Nanshan Lu (towards the southern end of the eastern shore of West Lake). For details of cultural events and live music, pick up a copy of the free weekly entertainment magazine More Hangzhou.
Bars in Hangzhou
Loud, brash and just as popular with the locals as it is the expats, 1944 Bar is the perfect sized spot to settle down for a few cold drinks. With comfortable barstools and great nooks and crannies, it’s easy to lose track of time once settled in its comfy booths and sofas. The owners are avid travellers, and have decked out parts of the bar with tasteful souvenirs they’ve picked up from various parts of China. This place also has live music from time to time.
Address: Xihu, 119 Shuguang Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8798 6087
One of Hangzhou’s prettier bars, this place just northwest of the lake is done up beautifully, with plenty of flower-filled patio seating. The Western food menu (with English translations) is extensive, so this is a smart choice for a lunchtime pit stop or early evening drink, before heading somewhere livelier. The bar has two large outdoor seating areas, but such is the design that even the tables inside get plenty of natural light.
Address: China, 5, Xiacheng District.
Telephone: +86 571 8880 9599
One of Hangzhou’s hottest cocktail bars, Aurora has secured the services of Jojo, one of the city’s best-loved and most talented mixologists. The drinks are a class above other cocktail bars in town (it’s one of those places where you get a single, large, hand-carved chunk of ice to keep your cocktail cool) and it has the clientele, decor and atmosphere to match. The bar is about 2km (1.2 miles) east of West Lake, just behind the main train station.
Address: Zhejiang, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 156 5805 3155
With wooden beam floors and low hanging lanterns, Eudora Station is another great looking watering hole. Perched on the eastern shore of West Lake, it makes excellent use of its prime location and affords sublime views from its roof terrace. The Western food menu is decent and they sometimes fire up the barbecue, so this has become one of the city’s most popular drinking spots. Pull up a stool; it looks as if it will be staying strong for some time.
Address: Xihu, 101-107 Nanshan Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8791 4760
On the Northern tip of West Lake, this dance club has a good mix of foreigners and locals. International DJs occasionally come to play music and give a proper clubbing experience. Truly a great place to drink the night away.
Address: Shangcheng, 55 Hubin Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 2819 5888
Offering a cosier atmosphere than other bars on Shuguang Lu, Old Captain stands beside its noisier neighbour 1944 Bar, and is a more laidback alternative for this side of town. Like many of the bars here, they have occasional live acts, but here they enhance the Paris-of-the-East theme by sometimes singing 1930s Shanghai classics. Old Captain has some outdoor seating too.
Address: Xihu, 113 Shuguang Lu, Hangzhou.
Clubs in Hangzhou
Run by the same people behind JZ Club in Shanghai, this place has Hangzhou’s jazz scene sewn up. Located in a neat and cultured three-floor villa near the lake, there’s live jazz nightly with some international names on the billing. The first floor is non-smoking (an unusual bonus for a music venue in China) and the wine list, plus whisky selection, is one of the best in the city.
Address: Shangcheng, 6 Liuying Lu, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8702 8298
Website: www.jzclub.cn
A new concept for a bar in Hangzhou, this one sold 100 shares at ¥5000 a pop, and invited punters to become part-owners in the business. It seems to have worked so far, the place is usually full, despite being a bit of a trek away from the main nightlife scene. Found south of the river, close to Jiangling Road metro station, its main pull is its live music. They have some decent local acts here (and the occasional international band on the Shanghai warm-up circuit), plus the odd comedy night. Drinks are well priced too, including its good whisky selection.
Address: Binjiang, 1785 Jianghan Road, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 153 2588 4469
Website:www.shares-bar.com
Theatres in Hangzhou
The Hangzhou Grand Theatre is the city’s top venue for quality acting performances. It has the best acoustics of any theatre in town, pulls in the biggest names and is housed in an eye-catching, space-age venue, which is almost worth the trip into the city centre alone. As China’s second largest theatre, there is room for everything from ballet, opera, chamber music and dance to the odd orchestra now and then.
Address: 39 Xinye Road, Sijiqing Street, Hangzhou.
Telephone: +86 571 8685 5118
Website: www.hzdjy.comHangzhou Food And Drink
Food In Hangzhou
Every traveler should sample Hangzhou’s classic dishes. These include:
Dongpo pork is named after Su Dongpo, Hangzhou’s beloved poet, painter and statesman (he lived about 1,000 years ago) who’s said to have adored the comforting dish. Consisting of layers of lean and fat meat, thick slabs of pork belly are pan-fried, braised and often served with rice.
Beggar’s Chicken, also known as Hangzhou Weiji (Weiji means roast chicken in Chinese), is one of Hangzhou’s 36 Famous Dishes to have been acknowledged by Zhejiang Province in 1956. The origin of the dish is unknown, but folklore attributes it to an ancient beggar who was driven by cold and hunger to steal a chicken
- Shelled Shrimps with Dragon Well Green Tea
Shelled Shrimp with Dragon Well Green Tea(Longjing Xiaren) is a famous dish of Hangzhou and consists of fresh shrimps and Longjing green tea. Renowned for its high quality and intensely fragrant body, Dragon Well Green Tea is a well-known Hangzhou beverage but is also favoured for its culinary delights.
- West Lake Water Shield Soup
West Lake Water Shield Soup is another of Hangzhou traditional food. It’s also called Chicken, Ham and Water Shield Soup because of the other ingredients – green water shield, red ham and white chicken. These ingredients together make this dish appealing to the eye.
- West Lake Carp in Sweet and Sour Sauce
West Lake carp in sweet and sour sauce, also known as ShusaoChuangzhen in Chinese. It’s a must-taste traditional Hangzhou dish. Legend has it two brothers, surnamed Song, used toby West Lake and made a living by fishing.
- Stewed Spring Bamboo Shoots
Spring bamboo shoot is the young shoot that has broken through the soil and appears above ground, as opposed to winter bamboo shoots that are harvested while they are still in the ground. The tip of the shoot is incredibly tender and sweet.
Drink In Hangzhou
According to a consumer survey in 2021, beer was the most popular alcoholic beverage among Chinese drinkers. Around 36 percent of Chinese consumers in that survey stated that they have drunk baijiu.
Because of its clarity, baijiu can appear similar to several other East Asian liquors, e.g. Japanese shōchū (25%) or Korean soju (20–45%), but it often has a significantly higher alcohol content (35–60%).
Snow is not only the most popular beer in China, but it’s also the most popular beer in the entire world! Based in Beijing, Snow was created as early as 1993! The brand propelled itself to the top by investing and partnering with other beer supergiants, including Heineken, Busch, and Budweiser.