How many days in Hangzhou: two is enough, three is better
Two full days covers West Lake and Lingyin at an unhurried pace. A third buys you either the Longjing tea hills or Xixi Wetland — not both. One day gets you a lap of the lakefront and nothing else.
West Lake's shoreline parks cost nothing to walk, and the Bai and Su causeways are the parts worth your legs; take a boat across rather than walking the whole circuit. Leifeng Pagoda on the south shore is ¥40 for adults and is best timed for late afternoon: it stays open 8:00–20:00 from 1 May to 31 October, but shuts at 17:30 from 1 November to 15 March.
Lingyin now needs a day's notice
Lingyin Feilai Peak — Lingyin, Yongfu and Taoguang temples included — has been free since 1 December 2025, but you cannot simply turn up. Book a real-name slot at least one day ahead through the Lingyin Feilaifeng mini-program in Alipay or WeChat, choosing a morning or afternoon session. Daily caps are 35,000 on weekdays, 50,000 at weekends and 65,000 on public holidays. Gates run 7:30–17:30 with last entry at 17:00. Allow half a day if you walk up to Yongfu and Taoguang.
What each length actually gets you
| Days | Realistic plan | What you skip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Causeways, Leifeng Pagoda at sunset, Hefang Street in the evening | Lingyin, tea hills, Xixi |
| 2 | Lake and pagoda on day one; Lingyin plus a Longjing tea village on day two | Xixi Wetland, the Grand Canal |
| 3 | The above, then Xixi Wetland (¥80 entry, ¥60 for the electric boat) or a full day in the tea hills | Nothing that justifies a fourth day |
Hangzhou is about an hour from Shanghai by high-speed train, with second-class seats from ¥46.5, which is why it works better as a two-night stop on a longer itinerary than as a destination in itself.
Where to base yourself
Stay within walking distance of Longxiangqiao on Metro Line 1 — it is the station closest to the lakefront, and roughly 20 minutes from Hangzhou East railway station with no change. Lakefront rooms cost more, and the premium is highest at weekends and during the autumn osmanthus season.
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Last checked: 2026-10-25
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