Hotels in Hangzhou

Hangzhou: Silk, Tea, and West Lake

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, sits 180 km southwest of Shanghai and has drawn travelers since the Song Dynasty made it an imperial capital in 1127. The city's defining landmark is West Lake (Xihu), a 6.5 km² freshwater lake ringed by causeways, pagodas, and tea terraces that earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011. The surrounding Longjing (Dragon Well) tea villages produce some of China's most prized green tea, harvested each spring from hillside gardens within walking distance of the city center.

Where to Stay in Hangzhou

Most hotels cluster around Lakeside District for West Lake access, or in Binjiang and Qianjiang New City for business travelers. The Wulin Square area offers mid-range options with metro connections. Rail links are fast: Hangzhou East Station puts the city 45 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao on a G-class high-speed train.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: High-speed trains from Shanghai run every 15–30 minutes; the journey costs roughly ¥73–100 second class.
• Best season: March–April (spring tea harvest) or October–November (clear skies, autumn foliage on the causeways).
• West Lake entry: The lake itself is free; the China National Silk Museum charges ¥20 and covers 5,000 years of Hangzhou's silk trade.
• Transit: Metro Lines 1, 2, and 4 connect the station to the lakefront in under 20 minutes.