Zhejiang's capital, praised as 'above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou'. UNESCO-listed West Lake: boat rides, the Su and Bai causeways, the Broken Bridge and Leifeng Pagoda. Lingyin Temple and the Feilai Feng cliff carvings, Longjing green-tea villages, Xixi Wetland, the Grand Canal and the Songcheng park show. Wuzhen water town makes a day trip. As Alipay's home town, almost everything is paid by QR code. No direct flight from Ulaanbaatar; connect via Beijing, Shanghai or Seoul. No time difference. Mongolian citizens need a tourist L visa.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 30 days✈ Flight: 7h☀ Best months: March, April, May, September
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: March, April, May, September, October, November.
Things to see (12)
📍🧸 for kids
West Lake: boat ride and Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
NatureLakeshore free; boat to the island ¥55 (painted boat ¥70) including island entry; children under 1.2 m freeBoats ≈8:00–16:00, every 20–30 minutes
The heart of Hangzhou and a UNESCO site: a calm lake ringed by hills. A boat takes you to the island in the middle of the lake to see the three stone pagodas pictured on the 1-yuan note. Allow 40–60 minutes on the island. Loveliest around sunset.
Two famous causeways across the lake: walk from the Broken Bridge along the Bai Causeway to Gushan Island, then walk or cycle the long Su Causeway (≈3 km) under willows. Setting of the 'Legend of the White Snake'. Flat paths, fine with a pushchair.
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goVisa, payment apps and internet — sort all three at home; book your Lingyin Temple slot in advance.+
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Visa: tourist L visa
Mongolian citizens with an ordinary passport need a Chinese visa. Fill in the form on cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn, book an appointment and apply in person at the consular section of the Chinese embassy in UB. Fees: single entry $53, double $79, standard processing 4 working days. Attach a return ticket and hotel booking.
Tip: Mongolians are not covered by the 240-hour visa-free transit — you need a visa even when connecting via Beijing or Shanghai.
Since December 2025 Lingyin and Feilai Feng are free, but a timed slot is mandatory: book in the '杭州灵隐飞来峰' mini-program in WeChat or Alipay, which opens 7 days ahead at 8:00; there is no same-day booking. If you can't go, cancel before 17:00 the day before or you are barred for 30 days.
Hangzhou is Alipay's home town — shops, eateries, taxis, the metro and boats all take QR payments. Download Alipay and WeChat, verify them with your passport and link a Visa or Mastercard. Verification can take a few days, so start early.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityInternational flights mostly arrive at Xiaoshan's new Terminal 4, about 27 km from the centre.+
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Metro line 19
Line 19 runs from the airport to Hangzhou East Station in ~20 minutes and to West Lake Cultural Square in ~45 minutes, fares up to ¥10. Trains run every 6–8 minutes from about 6:00 until after 23:00. Change to line 1 for the West Lake shore.
A taxi to West Lake takes ~40 minutes and costs about ¥150–160 including tolls; DiDi ~¥120. The airport bus to Wulinmen costs ¥20, to Hangzhou East Station ¥35. Use only the official taxi rank or DiDi.
High-speed trains from Shanghai Hongqiao reach Hangzhou East in ~45 min – 1 hour, second class ¥57–87, over 200 a day. From Beijing South it takes from ~4 h 20 min. Book on Trip.com or 12306 with your passport.
📶Phone and internet+
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Roaming eSIM — Google and WhatsApp work
On Chinese networks Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp are blocked. Foreign eSIMs such as Airalo or Holafly route data abroad, so these work without a VPN. Buy and install one before you go.
Tip: Roaming from a Mongolian operator also works but can be expensive — check first.
China Mobile and China Unicom outlets at the airport and in town sell SIMs with your passport. Cheap and fast, but foreign apps won't open.
🚇Getting aroundThe metro links the east shore of West Lake with the railway stations; walking or cycling around the lake is the best way to see it.+
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Metro: Alipay QR code
As of 2026 Hangzhou Metro has not announced tap-to-ride with foreign bank cards. In Alipay open the ride code (乘车码), choose Hangzhou Metro and scan the QR on entry and exit; it works on buses too. Every station has a bag check.
The DiDi app has an English interface: type your destination, call a car and pay by foreign card or Alipay. The metro doesn't reach Lingyin Temple, the Longjing villages or Songcheng, so taxis or DiDi are easiest. At weekends cars are barred near Lingyin — take the shuttle bus from the outer car parks.
Public bikes unlocked with Alipay are a lovely way to ride around West Lake and along the Su Causeway. Cheap water buses on the Grand Canal run from around Wulinmen to Gongchen Bridge.
Hangzhou is where Alipay is headquartered — from street stalls to lake boats, everything takes QR payments. With a foreign card linked, Alipay and WeChat Pay charge no fee on small amounts and a small percentage on large ones. Big hotels and department stores take Visa/Mastercard directly.
Small family tea houses in the villages and market vendors sometimes take cash only. Bank of China and ICBC ATMs dispense yuan on foreign cards. If your phone dies you can't pay, so carry a power bank.
Tip: When Longjing tea is sold by weight, agree the price first — overpriced sales after a 'tasting' do happen.
🍜FoodHangzhou cooking is mild and slightly sweet — easy for children too.+
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What to eat
Dongpo pork, shrimp with Longjing tea, 'beggar's chicken', West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, Pian'erchuan noodles and shengjian bao (pan-fried buns). Be sure to try Longjing green tea. Most dishes are not spicy, which makes it easy with children.
Tip: No tipping in restaurants. Famous places such as Louwailou and Zhiweiguan have long evening queues.
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Where to eat
Hefang Street and Shengli River food street are aimed at tourists and pricier. Locals' eateries and family cooking in the tea villages are more authentic. Choose by ratings on Dianping or Trip.com.
Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119 — free from any phone. For non-emergency problems (service disputes, forced purchases, transport questions) call 12345.
Pickpockets operate around West Lake, Hefang Street and Lingyin Temple — keep your passport and phone in a front pocket. Decline strangers offering 'tea tastings', unofficial guiding or taxis. Carry your passport — it is checked on trains and at sights.
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Hospitals, weather and water
English-speaking help: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and the international department of Zhejiang University's First Affiliated Hospital. Call your insurer's assistance line first. Summers are hot and muggy, so drink plenty; follow typhoon warnings and stay well back from the river during the Qiantang tidal bore.
Lingyin, Jingci and other temples are active — cover shoulders and knees and keep quiet. Check the signs before taking photos inside halls and don't block people who are praying. Temples hand out incense free — no need to buy it outside.
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Tea and table manners
Tap the table with your fingers to thank someone pouring your tea. Never stand chopsticks upright in rice. Don't pick tea leaves in the fields or walk into family yards uninvited. Don't litter on the West Lake shore or feed the fish and ducks.
📱Useful apps+
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Payments and bookings
Alipay — all payments, the metro QR code, public bikes, DiDi and the Lingyin Temple mini-program. WeChat — museum and sight time slots and WeChat Pay. Link both to a foreign card at home.
Google Maps shows wrong positions in China. Amap (Gaode) gives accurate metro, bus and walking routes and has an English interface. Use DiDi for taxis.
Trip.com — hotels, high-speed trains to Shanghai and Wuzhen, and Songcheng show tickets. For translation use Apple/Microsoft Translator, or Google Translate with a roaming eSIM; download Chinese for offline use.
Take metro line 19, a taxi or DiDi to Xiaoshan airport. International flights leave from Terminal 4 — check your ticket. Roads jam at rush hour, so leave early with time to spare.
Longjing tea, Hangzhou silk, silk fans and Hangzhou scissors are popular gifts. Scissors and knives must go in checked luggage. Power banks go in hand luggage and must carry the 3C mark. Claim VAT back at the airport on goods from 'Tax Free' shops.
CultureFree since 1 Dec 2025; timed slot required via the '杭州灵隐飞来峰' WeChat/Alipay mini-program, up to 7 days ahead7:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00)
Over 1,600 years old and one of China's most renowned Buddhist temples. The cliffs of neighbouring Feilai Feng hold more than 300 ancient Buddha carvings, including a laughing Maitreya. Entry is now free, but without a reservation made a day or more ahead you cannot get in. 2–3 hours.
Culture¥4016 Mar–31 Oct 8:00–19:00, 1 Nov–15 Mar 8:00–17:30
The pagoda of the 'Legend of the White Snake' on the south shore of West Lake. Lifts and escalators take you to the top for a view over the whole lake; the ancient foundations lie below. Best at sunset.
Tea terraces in the hills west of West Lake — home of famous Longjing green tea. See tea history and ceremony at the Tea Museum, then sit with a tea-growing family in Meijiawu village to taste fresh tea and eat local dishes. In April you can watch the harvest.
A restored Southern Song-era trading street: tea shops, silk stalls, the Huqingyutang traditional pharmacy founded in 1874 and street snacks. Children love it when lit up in the evening. Wushan Square is next door.
Nature¥80 (children, seniors ¥40); electric boat ¥60 pp, rowing boat ¥100/hour (up to 6 people)1 Apr–7 Oct 7:30–18:30, 8 Oct–31 Mar 8:00–17:30
A national wetland park on the western edge of the city: canals, fish ponds, old villages and birds. Glide along the waterways by boat and walk the boardwalks. A peaceful half-day away from the crowds, good for families.
CityBridge and banks free; water bus ≈¥3; Grand Canal Museum freeBanks 24 hours; museum ≈9:00–17:00, closed Mondays
The southern end of the 1,700 km Grand Canal (UNESCO) linking Beijing and Hangzhou. The 1631 Gongchen stone bridge, the old Qiaoxi lanes and craft museums. Riding the water bus in the evening lights is cheap and fun.
Songcheng Park and 'The Romance of the Song Dynasty' show
KidsPark + show ≈¥300 (VIP ≈¥310–480)Park ≈10:00–21:00; shows usually 14:00 and 19:20 (extra in holidays), ≈1 h
A theme park recreating a Song-dynasty town: street performances, acrobats and traditional games. 'The Romance of the Song Dynasty' is a big stage show with water, fire and flying performers that needs no language. About 40 minutes south of the centre.
Nature¥101 May–31 Oct 7:00–17:30, 1 Nov–30 Apr 7:00–17:00
A large garden north-west of West Lake: bamboo groves, a plum garden and broad lawns. Quiet and great for families to play and picnic. Lovely in spring blossom and autumn colour.
NatureLiuhe Pagoda ¥20, climbing +¥10; bore viewing at Yanguan, Haining ≈¥25Pagoda 7:00–17:30; the bore peaks in September (around the 18th of the 8th lunar month)
A 1,000-year-old, 60 m pagoda on the Qiantang River with fine views of the river and bridge. In September comes one of the world's strongest tidal bores — sea water surges up the river in waves several metres high. Keep well back from the bank and hold children's hands.
A 1,300-year-old water town of canals, stone bridges and timber houses. The western part (Xizha) is neater and lit at night — good for an overnight stay too. High-speed train from Hangzhou East to Tongxiang ≈30 minutes, then a bus. Xitang water town is a nearby alternative.
