Hangzhou is known for West Lake and the Dragon Well tea hills, and high-speed trains make it an easy day trip from Shanghai.

Our Hangzhou tour is a private day for less than 10 guests, with a dedicated guide throughout: the quiet side of West Lake in the morning and the Dragon Well tea fields in the afternoon. Your guide picks you up anywhere within 10 kilometers of the lake, Hangzhou East Station included.

The fastest trains from Shanghai reach Hangzhou East in about 60 minutes, and the tour works just as well as your first day if you are staying in Hangzhou.

Private Hangzhou Tour

Hangzhou (7-10 hours)

Serene Hangzhou: Where Tea Grows and Nature Unfolds

Explore Hangzhou's natural beauty and tea culture: enjoy West Lake from a serene lakeside garden and roam tea fields with a bamboo hat and basket.

Leifeng Pagoda over West Lake and Dragon Well tea fields – private Hangzhou tour

Serene Hangzhou

The day starts at Guo's Villa, a classical garden on the shore of West Lake. You cross the lake on the public water bus that locals use, then choose between a 30-minute climb up Mt. Jiuyao for a view of the whole lake or the elevator to the top of Leifeng Pagoda. After lunch near the tea hills, you visit Meijiawu, a tea village in the heart of the Dragon Well growing area, where you put on a bamboo hat, carry a basket into the terraces the way the farmers do, and finish with the tea itself. The day ends with an easy walk along a shaded bamboo path that emperors visited more than once.

Private tour for about 7 hours, with about 5 kilometers on foot. $169 per adult for two guests, falling to $129 per adult for five, with a reduced rate for children aged 4-12.

See the full itinerary

First Time in Hangzhou?

This tour is built for a first visit: a lakeside garden, West Lake by water bus, a hilltop or pagoda view and the Dragon Well tea village in one day, with the transfers planned for you.

How Much Walking Is Comfortable?

Expect about 5 kilometers on foot over the day. At the third stop you can choose the 30-minute climb up Mt. Jiuyao or take the elevator up Leifeng Pagoda.

Coming from Shanghai?

You can choose to take a high-speed train to Hangzhou East, about an hour. We offer free pickup service from Hangzhou East or Hangzhou Railway Station. Or you can choose to go by private vehicle. 

Hoping to See More than West Lake?

This route focuses on West Lake and the tea hills. If you are interested in other spots in Hangzhou such as Lingyin Temple, the modern city or the Matcha Lake, tell us on our customize your journey page and we will plan a different day.

Take a high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou. The fastest trains take about 60 minutes, so the 7-hour tour fits into a day trip from Shanghai or you can also choose to spend more than one day in Hangzhou.

  • Free pickup: Hangzhou East, Hangzhou Railway Station and hotels within 10 kilometers of West Lake
  • Extra charge: Hangzhou West, Hangzhou South and the airport
  • Weekends and holidays: traffic limits near the lake can mean a short stretch by public transport

This tour does not include transport from Shanghai. You can choose to take high speed train or private vehicle from Shanghai. High speed train is faster compared to private vehicle while private vehicle is more comfortable. 

When to Go

March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months. Spring is also Longjing picking season, as tea villages come alive with harvest work.

Avoiding the Crowds

West Lake is busiest on weekends and public holidays, especially the first week of October. Weekday mornings are the calmest time to be on the water.

How Many Days You Need

One day covers the lake and the tea hills. Stay a second day if you also want to see more such as Lingyin temples in the western hills, the modern city or the Matcha Lake etc.

Paying for Things

Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere in Hangzhou. Our Alipay guide for visitors explains how to set it up before you fly.

Hangzhou Tour FAQs

Is lunch included?

Is the tour suitable for children?

Hangzhou or Suzhou: which is better for a day trip?

What happens if it rains?

If Hangzhou is one stop on a longer trip, consider our multi-day journeys throughout China! Poetic Southern China links Hangzhou and Suzhou over several days, and our other multi-day journeys go further across the country.

Heading to another city? We also run Shanghai tours, Beijing tours and Suzhou tours.

If you are flying in on the visa-free transit, our 240-hour transit guide explains the rules. You can also meet the guides who will lead your tours.