Early autumn is the most beautiful time of the year in Hangzhou, a city visited by 95% of Shanghai residents.
But how should you explore it? Squeezing through the crowds at the Broken Bridge on West Lake, taking photos at the Leifeng Pagoda without any sign of the legendary White Snake, and frowning as you take a few bites of the famous West Lake Vinegar Fish – is this how you imagine spending your time in Hangzhou?
Come on! There’s more to Hangzhou than just West Lake!
As a Hangzhou native living among Shanghainese, I’m here to unlock 50 local secrets for exploring Hangzhou like an insider.
From authentic local snacks that put West Lake Vinegar Fish to shame, to lesser-known spots for picking lotus flowers from a wooden boat, this guide has everything you need to properly experience the heavenly early autumn in Hangzhou!
Save this article and discover the best ways to tour Hangzhou!
Citywalk·Hangzhou Highlights
Take a stroll along Beishan Street, adjacent to West Lake. Start from the smallest house number, “Wanghu Lou,” on Beishan Road and walk from the bustling commercial area to the quiet alleyways lined with former residences of celebrities, Buddhist temples, and Taoist shrines, traveling from modern times back to the Republican era!
Walk along Xiaohe Straight Street by the ancient Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The rustic two-story riverfront houses with wooden doors and windows exude a strong sense of everyday life. When you get tired, find a noodle shop for a meal or a locally-owned small tea house for a cup of tea and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere!
For a less crowded and more scenic experience of West Lake, head to the Yangong Causeway and Maojiabu area. This is a treasured spot known only to old Hangzhou residents, free from heavy commercialization and tour groups with loudspeakers. Woods, lakeshores, and small bridges over flowing water… this is the right way to appreciate West Lake!
Take a walk in the Dadou Road Historical and Cultural Block! It houses a large number of residential buildings from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China era. Grab a coffee, browse the markets, and feel the healing slow pace of life under the tree shadows~
Visit the “World’s Granary,” Fuyi Granary. Located not far from Dadou Road Historical and Cultural Block, it remains undisturbed by crowds, allowing you to quietly experience the remnants of Qing Dynasty granary architecture.
If you want to have breakfast in Hangzhou, Dama Lane is a must-visit! This lively morning market is filled with the freshest seasonal delicacies. Just pop into any small restaurant and you’ll find authentic breakfast snacks.
Don’t forget to explore Fifteen Kui Lane, known as the “Southern Song Dynasty Broadway.” It is said to have been a gathering place for ancient taverns and tile shops. Nowadays, you can find many locally famous snacks hidden among the black-tiled roofs and white walls, as well as an Instagram-worthy spot to photograph the distant Wangxian Pavilion!
Coffee lovers should head to Dajing Lane! Located next to the famous Hefang Street, it got its name from a thousand-year-old well in the alley. Since DEADEND Coffee Factory opened here, a wave of specialty coffee shops has taken root, filling the street with the aroma of coffee~
Artsy Check-ins
Check out Yunit, Hangzhou’s new artistic landmark. This artistic block, built with elements like “rough stones, clever wood, uncut jade, and tassels,” just officially opened in May this year and is a must-visit for art enthusiasts!
Don’t miss the old Instagram hotspot “Big Roof”! Its real name is Liangzhu Culture and Art Center, designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who is well-known to Shanghai residents. In addition to cafes and libraries, it also hosts limited-time markets during the cherry blossom season, making it both artistic and romantic~
If you want to experience a utopian life, Qingshan Village is the perfect choice! This village, home to many designers and artists, is filled with artistic installations, truly an escape from the bustling city.
Visit the world’s largest silk museum. Even if you ignore the treasures housed in the China National Silk Museum, such as the Warring States period Duilong Duifeng patterned brocade and the Tang Dynasty floral-patterned embroidered Jiaruo, it’s still worth a visit just for its inherent Jiangnan-style garden!
If you’re also a fan of the novel “Daomu Biji” (Grave Robbers’ Chronicles), then I highly recommend visiting the Xiling Seal Art Society! This “world’s most famous society,” which appears countless times in the book, was built along the mountainside during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, with charm in every step.
Check out the legendary Wansong Academy, where Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai studied together. Not only is it a pilgrimage site for scholars, but it’s also a famous matchmaking spot in Hangzhou.
After visiting the Tank Shanghai art center, why not check out Hangzhou’s Tank 2.0? Covering an area of 50,000 square meters, Xiaohe Park was transformed from an old oil depot by the internationally renowned designer Kengo Kuma, scoring 100 points for its photogenic qualities!
No need to fly to Nara, Japan – you can feed sika deer in a forest-like secret spot right in Hangzhou! The endless green fields, rice paddies, and deer park at the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins Park, a testament to China’s 5,000-year-old civilization, can be leisurely explored for an entire day~
Visit a popular secondhand bookstore in Hangzhou. Rummage through the comics and photo books sourced from Japan at Fengyu Bookstore, and you might even stumble upon rare vinyl records!
Nestled by West Lake, Chunzhen Niandai Bookstore is a retro bookshop that requires a climb halfway up the mountain. Facing south, it offers a stunning view of West Lake’s beauty.
Outdoor Nature Routes
Visit Butterfly Valley in Lin’an to explore the source of the Shuoxi River, climb to the mountaintop, and if you’re lucky, you might even encounter butterflies dancing in the valley.
Jiuxi Eighteen Streams is a popular summer retreat that’s always bustling with visitors. Take a walk from Jiuxi Yanshu all the way to Shili Langdang, satisfying your desire for both water play and hiking in one go!
At the end of Jiuxi Eighteen Streams lies Longjing Village. The village, with its white walls and black tiles, is surrounded by vast tea terraces, and even the air is filled with the fresh scent of tea. Along the way, you’ll find numerous small shops selling tea, exuding the charm of Jiangnan life.
Continue southward and you’ll unlock Yunqi Bamboo Path, a fairyland where water and bamboo coexist, like a mesmerizing glaze infused with a thousand years of history.
Trendy Photo Spots
Visit the “Super Gourrier” pink castle in Xiaoshan, Hangzhou, to take Barbie-style pink photos!
Explore Tianmu Li, a gathering place for trendsetters, filled with popular restaurants, cafes, and bookstores that rival Shanghai’s trendy districts!
Dongxin Hechuang Park, a transformed old factory, hides numerous coffee shops, home furnishing stores, and galleries, offering a day’s worth of unique experiences!
Qianjiang New City is to Hangzhou what Lujiazui is to Shanghai. Watching a light show at Qianjiang New City’s City Balcony is a must to truly experience the city’s nighttime appearance.
Unique Hangzhou Charm
Who doesn’t want to take a small boat deep into the lotus flowers to pick them? Visit Liangzhu Linhai Vegetable Picking Area in Hangzhou, where for just a few yuan, you can experience the joy of picking lotus leaves, flowers, and seeds!
Take the 1314 bus with your loved one to the most ocean-like corner of West Lake in Hangzhou and embrace the ultimate romance of the universe.
Take a shaking boat to Xixi Wetland, listen to the creaking sounds, breathe the freshest air of the wetland, and immerse yourself in the Jiangnan water town.
Ride the highly popular Water Bus Line 7, known as “Hangzhou’s most beautiful water bus,” with a scenic view at every stop!
If you haven’t decided where to go for this year’s National Day, why not visit Hangzhou to watch the tidal bore of the Qiantang River? The 18th day of the 8th lunar month (around the Mid-Autumn Festival) is the best time to observe the tidal bore and witness the shock of nature firsthand!
Hidden Ancient Temples and Famous Monasteries
Everyone knows about Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, but Faxi Temple has actually been the new crowd favorite in recent years, with long queues for the popular photo spots!
If you insist on visiting the popular Lingyin Temple, here’s a secret route to enter without waiting in line! Get off at Hangzhou Buddhist College and walk uphill for about ten minutes to the No. 6 gate ticket office, where the visitor flow is only one percent of the main entrance!
The Eighteen-Seed Bracelet from Lingyin Temple is a “trendy item” that almost every Hangzhou resident owns. It’s so popular that people start queuing up to purchase it as early as 6 a.m. Since you’re already there, why not get one for yourself?
Eat a bowl of the city-famous vegetarian noodles at Xiangji Temple! Standing in front of the temple’s square, the Tang-style temple and surrounding skyscrapers stand side by side, allowing you to travel through ancient and modern times in an instant.
Visit Jingci Temple, where Ji Gong practiced Zen, and listen to the resounding bell sound of Nanping Evening Bell, one of the “Ten Scenes of West Lake.” The temple also hides the perfect spot for capturing Leifeng Pagoda.
Experience a “Jingshan Tea Banquet” at the 1,200-year-old ancient temple Jingshan Temple, which originated in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song and Yuan Dynasties.
Climb to the top of Yuhuang Mountain, the “Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains,” and overlook the “Bagua Fields” personally cultivated by the Southern Song Emperor from the Purple Cave on the mountainside, then gaze into the distance at West Lake and the Qiantang River. This place is also the sacred site of the mainstream Quanzhen School of Taoism, filled with ancient relics!
Collect blessing stamps from various temples to accumulate good fortune~
Delicacies of Hangzhou
Who says Hangzhou is a food desert? They just don’t know how to eat! Even locals willingly queue up to buy Wushan Roasted Poultry, and you’ll be convinced once you try it!
Visit Liyuan Bajiaobei, known as the “ceiling of private dining in Hangzhou,” which only serves 4 tables each night and is considered the hardest restaurant to book in Hangzhou.
Try a bowl of sesame oil green vegetable wonton at Guoping Snacks, hidden at the foot of Wushan. It’s the only place in Hangzhou that serves this dish, and many people come specifically for it!
For authentic Hangzhou cuisine, visit the hidden gem Bieyinju on Youdian Road. Their braised duck is a specialty that old Hangzhou residents have been eating since childhood!
Order a Suti Summer Lotus Afternoon Tea for Two at the popular DOFO Coffee&Bar, the visual stunner of the dessert world.
Or visit the highly popular Qingchushangshui Teahouse and enjoy a Jiangnan-style Chinese afternoon tea on a boat, collecting all the Hangzhou elements in one go!
Today’s Topic:
Which place in Hangzhou do you want to visit the most?
Leave a comment below and let us know~
