3 days in Hangzhou
A calm first-trip route: the classic lake, one temple-and-hills day and the southern lake linked to Hangzhou's old streets after dark.
Best for a first visit with three full sightseeing days. Stay near Hubin, Longxiangqiao or another useful metro stop. Put Lingyin on the clearest early morning and keep the free West Lake walks movable.
The classic West Lake
Broken Bridge → Bai Causeway → Pinghu Qiuyue → Su Causeway → lake boat.
07:30 — Broken Bridge before the crowds
Start at Broken Bridge (断桥残雪) and walk west across Bai Causeway. The lakefront is public and generally free, so you can adjust the first morning to weather without losing a timed ticket.
10:00 — north lake and Su Causeway
Continue through the Solitary Hill area toward Pinghu Qiuyue. Do not try to walk every metre of the shore. Cross into the Su Causeway zone, stop for lunch and preserve energy for the afternoon.
14:30 — choose one boat route
Use an official pier and confirm whether your fare includes an island stop, the return shore and the final landing point. Finish around Hubin for dinner; check the same-day notice before relying on a fountain or light show.
Move: metro to Longxiangqiao or Fengqi Road, then walk/bus. Save Broken Bridge (断桥残雪) and your chosen pier in Chinese. West Lake guide →
Lingyin and the Buddhist hills
Feilai Peak → Lingyin Temple → quiet tea or Beigao viewpoint.
07:30 — leave before scenic-area traffic builds
Carry the passport used for any reservation and save Lingyin Feilai Peak (灵隐飞来峰). Metro does not reach the gate; use an official bus, a verified transfer point or DiDi to the designated drop-off, then follow current signs.
Opening–12:30 — Feilai Peak and Lingyin
Confirm whether scenic-area and temple entry are handled separately. See the rock carvings before the main halls, dress respectfully, keep voices low and never photograph where signs prohibit it.
Afternoon — keep it genuinely slow
Have lunch outside the busiest gate. If the weather is dry and operations are normal, add a short Beigao Peak cableway or viewpoint; otherwise choose one marked tea stop and return early. Do not combine Xixi or the Grand Canal today.
Move: weekend and spring traffic controls can force taxi-to-bus transfers near Lingyin. Follow current official transport notices. Lingyin guide →
South lake and old Hangzhou
Flower Harbor → Leifeng Pagoda → Wushan → Southern Song Imperial Street → Hefang Street.
08:30 — Flower Harbor and the south shore
Begin at Flower Harbor (花港观鱼) and walk only the section that fits your energy. Continue by bus or taxi to Leifeng Pagoda if visibility is good; the lake-level park and the paid tower are different experiences.
14:30 — Wushan and city history
Move east to Wushan. Choose the viewpoint or Hangzhou Museum depending on weather and opening day, then descend toward the Southern Song Imperial Street.
17:00 — Hefang Street after day-trippers thin out
Walk through Qinghefang, Drum Tower and the old lanes. Compare prices, skip aggressive “miracle medicine” or tea pitches and eat one proper Hangzhou dinner instead of grazing only on novelty snacks.
Move: use the West Lake southern-route bus or DiDi between Flower Harbor and Wushan. Save Flower Harbor (花港观鱼), Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) and Hefang Street (河坊街). Hefang Street guide →
Three-day essentials before you book
- Passport: carry the original document used for trains, hotel and any timed attraction.
- West Lake: the shore is free; boats and towers are separate purchases. Confirm the landing point before boarding.
- Lingyin: verify current entry, traffic controls and the last-mile transfer on the day.
- Payment: activate Alipay/WeChat Pay and keep small RMB cash as backup.
- Weather: swap Day 1 and Day 2 when rain, heat or low visibility would spoil the hills.