5 Days in Hangzhou and Wuzhen: The Complete Itinerary (2026)
Updated July 2026 — every hotel, restaurant, and transit option personally verified.
Five days is the right amount of time for Hangzhou and its most famous side trip. It lets you see the city’s three signature experiences — West Lake, Lingyin Temple, and a Longjing tea village — at a pace that doesn’t feel like a checklist. It also leaves room for one of China’s most photogenic water towns, Wuzhen, an hour and a half west of the city. By day 5 you’ll understand why Hangzhou has been a poet’s destination for 1,000 years.
This itinerary assumes you arrive in Shanghai (most international visitors do) and want a meaningful Hangzhou experience without rushing. If you have less time, the 3-day Hangzhou itinerary trims the day-by-day plan. If you have only one day, the 1-day layover guide hits the highlights in 12 hours.
Before You Book: Logistics That Save You Money
Visas
As of late 2024, 54 countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, all EU members, Japan, South Korea) can enter China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Five days fits comfortably. For the full list of eligible passports and the exact paperwork the border wants, see our visa-free 2026 guide.
When to come
April is the best month. Peach and cherry blossoms peak on the Su Causeway, the Longjing tea harvest is in full swing, and the weather is 18-25°C with light rain. October is the close second — osmanthus fragrance, clear skies, and warm water temperatures for boat rides. Avoid Chinese national holidays (October 1-7, Spring Festival in Jan/Feb, May 1-3) unless you want to share every attraction with 50,000 of your closest Chinese tourists.
Where to stay
Three neighborhoods make sense for a 5-day visit, ranked by priority for foreign visitors:
1. West Lake area (西湖景区). The default. You’re walking distance from Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda, and most restaurants. Mid-range hotels ¥600-1200/night, luxury (Aman, Four Seasons) ¥2500-6000. Book early for April/October.
2. Hubin / Wulin Square (湖滨/武林广场). East side of West Lake, closer to the train station and metro. Cheaper than West Lake area, walkable to the lake. ¥400-800/night for mid-range.
3. Xixi Wetland (西溪湿地). A 20-minute taxi west of West Lake. Quieter, more resort-style, great for families. ¥500-900/night. Skip this if you want to be near the action.
For first-timers, the West Lake area is the right call. For a more complete Hangzhou + Wuzhen deep-dive on neighborhoods, our where to stay guide breaks it down by budget and travel style.
Day 1: Arrive in Hangzhou, Settle In, West Lake Sunset
Most international flights land in Shanghai in the morning. If you have a Hangzhou hotel booked, you can check in by early afternoon.
Afternoon
Take the high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East (47 min, ~¥80 second class). Metro or taxi to your hotel. Drop bags, change clothes, and head out.
Late afternoon (4-6 PM)
Walk to the Su Causeway south entrance (苏堤南口) and stroll the 2.8 km causeway as the light softens. This is the single best two hours of the entire trip. For the cultural and historical context, our West Lake: 10 things you can’t miss guide is the right companion.
Evening (6:30-9:30 PM)
Cross the causeway to the north shore and dinner at Louwailou (楼外楼) or Green Tea Restaurant (绿茶餐厅) (see our Hangzhou food guide for what to order). Walk back to the lake after dinner for the Music Fountain Show at Third Park (free, every evening after dark, ~20 minutes, on the hour).
Day 2: West Lake Classics
This is the day you “do” West Lake properly.
Morning (8-11 AM)
Up early. Take a boat ride (¥70-150, 45-90 min depending on the route) from any main dock. The Three Pools tour is the iconic choice. The ¥1 banknote scene is the view of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月) from the lake.
After the boat, walk the Bai Causeway (白堤) on the north shore. Less crowded than Su Causeway, with views of Solitary Hill (孤山) and the Zhejiang Provincial Museum (free, worth 30 minutes).
Midday (11:30 AM-1 PM)
Lunch at the Wulin Square food court (in the basement of the Hangzhou Tower) — a dozen stalls, all clean, all cheap (¥30-60 per dish), the easiest place to try 5 different Hangzhou dishes in one sitting.
Afternoon (1-5 PM)
Cross to the Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔, ¥40) on the south shore. Climb the five stories for the view that matches the ¥1 banknote. Plan 90 minutes including the climb and the basement museum of the original 1924 pagoda.
Walk or taxi to Hefang Ancient Street (河坊街) — a restored Qing-dynasty pedestrian street for tea houses, silk shops, and the best preserved Qing-era pharmacy in China. Plan 2 hours.
Evening
Light dinner near the hotel. You’ll want to be in bed by 9 PM for the Lingyin Temple early start on Day 3.
Day 3: Lingyin Temple and Longjing Tea
Morning (8 AM-12:30 PM)
Up at 7. Take a 25-minute taxi to Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺, ¥30). The temple is one of the four great Zen monasteries in China, founded in 326 AD. Active monks, real incense, and a 20-meter Shakyamuni statue in the main hall that is genuinely awe-inspiring.
Adjacent is Feilai Peak (飞来峰, ¥45 combined with Lingyin ticket) — a limestone hill carved with 470+ Buddhist figures from the 10th-14th centuries. Allow 2.5 hours for the combined visit. For a deeper dive, our Lingyin Temple complete guide covers every hall, every carving, and the vegetarian restaurant.
Midday (12:30-1:30 PM)
Lunch at the Lingyin Temple vegetarian restaurant (灵隐素斋, ¥60-100 per person). Pilgrims have eaten here for centuries. The bamboo shoots and mushroom dishes are surprisingly good.
Afternoon (2-5:30 PM)
Taxi 10 minutes to Meijiawu Tea Village (梅家坞) — the real Longjing tea country. Skip the tourist teahouses on the main road; walk 10 minutes up any side path to find a family-run teahouse. ¥30-80 per pot of the genuine first-flush Longjing.
Walk the village paths between terraced tea fields. In April, you’ll see the pickers working. Don’t try to “tour” a tea farm — just sit, drink, look. The locals will explain what you’re tasting if you point at things.
Evening
Taxi back to the city. Dinner at the Hefang Street dumpling shop (知味观, ¥30-60 per person) or a quiet noodle place near your hotel.
Day 4: Wuzhen Day Trip
Wuzhen is a 1.5-hour drive west of Hangzhou, in Jiaxing prefecture. It is a real water town (one of the six most famous in the Jiangnan region) and not a theme park. Allow the full day.
Morning: Getting There
Three options, ranked by recommendation:
- High-speed train to Tongxiang (桐乡) + taxi to Wuzhen — 25 min train, 30 min taxi, ¥30 + ¥30. The fastest and most reliable.
- Direct tourist bus from Hangzhou East Station — 90 min, ¥50, runs 4-6 times daily in season.
- Private car with driver — ¥400-600 one way, ¥700-900 round trip with waiting. Best for 3+ people, or if you want flexibility on the return time.
For a more detailed breakdown of every transit option including booking apps, our Wuzhen day trip guide has the full table.
Midday: Wuzhen’s East Gate (Dongzha 东栅)
Arrive by 10:30 AM. Buy a combo ticket (¥190, includes both East and West gates) at the entrance. Start with the East Gate (Dongzha) — the older, more authentic, more working-village side. Allow 2.5 hours. The shadow puppet theater (every hour on the half hour, 30 min shows) and the folk-customs museum are the highlights.
Afternoon: Wuzhen’s West Gate (Xizha 西栅)
The West Gate is the larger, more polished, more photogenic side. Bridges, canals, restored Ming-Qing architecture, the water town postcard view. Allow 2-3 hours.
Late afternoon (around 4-5 PM) is the magic hour here — the light is golden, the lanterns start to come on, and most tour groups have left. Stay for sunset if you can.
Evening: Return or Overnight
The honest recommendation: stay overnight in Wuzhen. The town is far more atmospheric after dark when the lanterns are fully lit and the day-trippers are gone. There are restored-water-town guesthouses from ¥400-1200/night. The morning walk before the crowds arrive is one of the most memorable experiences in eastern China.
If you must return, take the 7 PM or 8 PM bus back to Hangzhou (¥50, 90 min).
Day 5: Slow Morning, Departure
Use Day 5 as a soft exit. Sleep in, drink tea, walk the lake one more time.
Morning (8-11 AM)
Visit the China National Tea Museum (中国茶叶博物馆) on the south shore of West Lake (free, 90 min) — a deeper look at Longjing tea history, processing, and regional varieties. The teahouse on-site serves ¥20 cups of museum-grade tea.
Midday (11:30 AM-1 PM)
Final lunch. The right call is Dongpo Pork (东坡肉) at Louwailou or Zhiweiguan — a Hangzhou signature. Allow 90 minutes for a proper meal.
Afternoon
Taxi or metro to Hangzhou East Station. Trains to Shanghai Hongqiao run every 5-15 minutes. Plan to be at the station 30 minutes before departure for foreign-passport ticket pickup.
If you have an evening flight out of Shanghai, Metro Line 2 from Hongqiao connects directly to Pudong Airport in 80 minutes.
How to Adjust This Itinerary
If you have 4 days instead of 5: Skip the China Tea Museum and the slow morning on Day 5. Combine Days 4 and 5 into a more compressed Wuzhen-and-leave day.
If you have 6 or 7 days: Add a day trip to Shaoxing (绍兴) — Lu Xun’s hometown, 1 hour by train south of Hangzhou, with a water-town Old Town, real Chinese rice wine, and the famous Shen Garden. Or add a half-day at Xixi Wetland (西溪湿地), a quieter alternative to West Lake with boat rides through ancient villages.
If you have 2 weeks: Add 2-3 days in Shanghai, then take the train south to Wuyuan (婺源) for the famous yellow rapeseed fields (March-April only), or north to Huangshan (黄山) for the Yellow Mountain scenery. Both are reachable by direct high-speed train from Hangzhou.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wuzhen worth a full day?
Yes, especially for first-time visitors. The town is more atmospheric than the average water-town restoration, the food is good, and the photo opportunities are some of the best in eastern China. If you can stay overnight, do.
What’s the best time of year for this trip?
April for blossoms and tea harvest. October for clear skies, mild weather, and osmanthus. Avoid Chinese national holidays.
Is Hangzhou expensive?
Mid-range. A 5-day trip with mid-range hotels, decent food, and the main attractions runs ¥6000-9000 per person (~$850-1300 USD), excluding international flights. You can do it cheaper with hostel hotels and street food (¥3000-4000) or much fancier with luxury hotels (¥20000+).
Can I see all of West Lake in 2 days?
Yes, this itinerary does it. For a deeper look at the 10 essential West Lake experiences, our West Lake: 10 things you can’t miss guide is the right companion.
What about kids?
Hangzhou is family-friendly. For a 5-day version with more relaxed pacing, child-friendly attractions, and hotel pool recommendations, our Hangzhou with kids itinerary adapts this plan.
Have a specific question about timing, booking, or routing? Drop a comment below — we read every one and usually reply within a day.