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Chinese people have a saying: “Above there is heaven, below there is Hangzhou”, indicating the exquisite beauty of the Suzhou and Hangzhou region.
Hangzhou is located in the alluvial plains of the Yangtze River, serving as the capital of Zhejiang Province. Situated 180km northwest of Shanghai, Hangzhou is renowned as one of the most famous and prosperous cities in China. With its breathtaking natural scenery coupled with the development of tourism, in recent years, the number of international visitors flocking to Hangzhou has been increasing.
For first-time visitors to Hangzhou, it's important to note:
1. Transportation in Hangzhou
Train: Hangzhou has 2 train stations, the new one called the New Train Station and the old one called the East Train Station. If you wish to travel to Shanghai, you can purchase train tickets at the new station.
Taxi: Taxis in Hangzhou are quite affordable and friendly, so you can definitely opt for a taxi as your means of transportation. To facilitate communication with taxi drivers, before arriving in Hangzhou, you should ask someone who knows Chinese to write down the addresses you want to go to on paper for you. Also, when hailing a taxi in Hangzhou, you should patiently queue rather than jostling. Otherwise, the people around you will surely complain.
Boat: The rental price for a boat to cruise West Lake is about 80 CNY. This price is clearly stated on the boat, so you should not choose boats that do not specify prices.
Bus and tram: The bus and tram system in Hangzhou is very clean and convenient.
2. Don't assume that 4-star hotels actually meet 4-star standards. A typical example is that in some 4-star hotels, there are no receptionists who can speak English. This will cause difficulties for you if you cannot communicate in Chinese. Meanwhile, the room rates at 5-star hotels are extremely comfortable. Therefore, if you don't want to take risks, you should book a room at a 5-star hotel.
3. Like most other cities in China (except Beijing and Shanghai), exchanging foreign currency in Hangzhou is a big issue. The currency exchange procedures at banks are quite cumbersome, so you should exchange at least 100 – 200 USD at the airport beforehand.
Things you must do when visiting Hangzhou
Explore West Lake
Considered the most beautiful lake in China, West Lake is located west of Hangzhou. The lake area covers approximately 6.3 km2 with intersecting bridges, stalls, and displayed sculptures. Everything is meticulously designed, enhancing the beauty of West Lake.
Longjing Village – the paradise of tea
Longjing Village in Hangzhou is where the famous Longjing tea was born. Located in the southwest of West Lake, Longjing Village welcomes tourists to participate in tea plantations and handpick tea leaves.
In addition to tea, Longjing shrimp is also a specialty here. Enjoying shrimp dishes and sipping tea is considered the perfect combination.
Qinghefang Street – shopping paradise
Qinghefang Pedestrian Street is a shopping paradise in Hangzhou. Strolling along the street, you'll surely be attracted by numerous items displayed everywhere. Therefore, to avoid emptying your wallet, you should plan your shopping wisely before coming here. At Qinghefang Street, tourists can buy silk, tea, pottery, and much more. Being the silk center of China, prices here are relatively affordable. You won't encounter too much difficulty in finding a high-quality silk scarf priced from only 5 to 10 dollars.
Lingyin Temple
This is a famous temple in Hangzhou, also the place of practice for over 3000 monks. The main hall area has 3-tiered roofs, with the upper tier featuring a solid wood statue of Shakyamuni Buddha surrounded by wooden statues of various Buddhas.
As it is a place of practice, the temple area is always very peaceful. Visitors coming here are also required to respect and abide by the temple's rules.
Xixi National Wetland Park – the gateway to ancient China
Located in the west of the city, this is one of the rare places in Hangzhou that has not been modernized. Xixi National Wetland Park is a vast area surrounded by water. Due to the desire to preserve its ancient character, the structures here all bear traditional Chinese architectural traits.
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Source: Travel Guide from Mytour
