West Lake Hangzhou: What to See and How to Visit
West Lake Hangzhou is free to enter. The city removed the park walls in 2002, so the shore, the causeways and the lakeside parks are open to walk, while a handful of sights around the lake, such as Leifeng Pagoda and Guo's Villa, still charge. One day is enough for the lake and the tea hills above it.
West Lake at a glance
According to Wikipedia, West Lake sits just west of Hangzhou's old walled city. It covers 6.39 square kilometers and stretches 3.2 kilometers north to south and 2.8 kilometers east to west. Four causeways cross it, and it holds three artificial islands plus Gushan, the only natural one.
Gentle hills rise on the north, west and south sides, with Leifeng Pagoda on the south bank and the slender Baochu Pagoda on the north. The lake has drawn visitors since the Tang dynasty, and by the Song dynasty, when the capital moved to Hangzhou, it was one of the most visited places in China. It appears on the one-yuan note and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011.
What to see around West Lake
The sights worth planning around are the two historic causeways, the Broken Bridge, Gushan island with Guo's Villa, Leifeng Pagoda on the south shore and the Mt. Jiuyao viewpoint. Most are free to walk. Leifeng Pagoda and Guo's Villa charge for entry, and the east-shore parks host a free fountain show every evening.
Photo: Hangzhou China West Lake 4 by Circa24, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
- Su Causeway. Built in 1089 under the poet and official Su Shi from silt dredged out of the lake, it runs with six bridges from the north shore to the south shore. "Spring Dawn at Su Causeway" is one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake.
- Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge. The Bai Causeway links Gushan to the north shore. The Broken Bridge at its end is a small three-span stone arch, and it is not actually broken; on some winter days the snow melts on one side, so from a distance it looks cut in half.
- Gushan and Guo's Villa. Gushan is the lake's only natural island. At its foot on the northwest shore, Guo's Villa is one of Hangzhou's best-preserved Qing dynasty gardens and charges for entry.
- Leifeng Pagoda. The five-story, eight-sided tower stands on Sunset Hill on the south shore. The original from 975 collapsed in 1924, and the current pagoda opened in 2002 on top of its ruins, with elevators to the top and the old base on display inside.
- Mt. Jiuyao. A 30-minute climb gives a view of the whole lake.
- Hubin Park. Six connected parks line the east shore, and Park No. 3 has a musical fountain with free performances every evening.
Pick one viewpoint rather than both: the elevator up Leifeng Pagoda if stairs are a problem, or the climb up Mt. Jiuyao if you would rather walk. In spring, Taiziwan Park on the southwest shore is known for its tulips.
A self-guided day around West Lake
Walk one causeway, cross the open water by boat, and don't try to circle the whole shore on foot. With 3.2 kilometers from north to south, a full loop eats the time you could spend at the pagoda. This order works for a first visit:
Photo: 20090524 Hangzhou West Lake 7531 by Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
- Start early at the Broken Bridge and walk the Bai Causeway to Gushan.
- Visit Guo's Villa at the foot of Gushan on the northwest shore.
- Cross the lake on the public water bus to the south shore.
- Go up Leifeng Pagoda by elevator, or climb Mt. Jiuyao for the view.
- Walk the Su Causeway north in the afternoon.
- End at Hubin Park on the east shore for the evening fountain.
Getting to West Lake from Shanghai
The Shanghai–Hangzhou high-speed line is 202 kilometers long, and the fastest trains take about 45 minutes. Trains arrive at Hangzhou East or Hangzhou Railway Station.
From either station, Metro Line 1 runs to the lake and along its eastern side on Yan'an Road. On our Hangzhou day tour, we pick guests up for free at Hangzhou East or Hangzhou Railway Station.
If Hangzhou is one stop on a longer trip from Shanghai, see our Shanghai tour package options.
Tickets: what is free and what charges
West Lake was the first major tourist site in China to drop its admission fee. Most of the scenic area is free, but some sights inside it still sell tickets.
| Free to enter | Charges admission |
|---|---|
| Lakeshore paths and lakeside parks | Leifeng Pagoda |
| Su Causeway and Bai Causeway | Guo's Villa |
| Broken Bridge and Gushan | Lingyin Temple (Feilai Peak Scenic Area) |
| Hubin Park and the musical fountain | Yue Fei Temple and Liuhe Pagoda Park |
Check prices and hours at each gate on the day, since they vary by site.
When to visit West Lake
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring the mildest weather. In spring the tea villages in the hills are picking Longjing, which makes it a good time to pair the lake with a tea farm.
Crowds matter more than weather. Weekends and public holidays are the busiest times, and the National Day week at the start of October is the peak; in 2024 the scenic area counted 4.426 million visits over those seven days. On a weekday, get on the water early.
FAQ
Is West Lake free to visit?
Yes. The shore, causeways and lakeside parks have been free since 2002. Some sights around the lake, including Leifeng Pagoda and Guo's Villa, charge separately.
How long do you need at West Lake?
One day covers the lake and the tea hills above it. Add a second day for Lingyin Temple and the western hills.
How far is West Lake from Shanghai?
The fastest high-speed trains reach Hangzhou in about 45 minutes. From the station, Metro Line 1 runs to the east side of the lake.
What is the legend of West Lake?
The best known is the Legend of the White Snake, one of China's Four Great Folktales, about the romance between Xu Xian and the snake spirit Bai Suzhen. In it, the monk Fahai imprisons the White Lady under Leifeng Pagoda, and the Broken Bridge is one of the places tied to the story.
Our Hangzhou day starts at Guo's Villa, crosses the lake on the water bus and later visits Meijiawu, a Dragon Well tea village, and the Bamboo-Lined Path. Expect about 5 kilometers on foot. For a longer trip, you can ask for a custom plan through our customize your journey page.
Cover photo: Boats on the West Lake by User:CatOnMars, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
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