# One day in Hangzhou: an itinerary in the best order > One day in Hangzhou means West Lake, a UNESCO site and the heart of the city: 15 km of shore, two old causeways, islands and pagodas on the hills. Morning on a causeway and a boat to the island, with lunch by the water. After lunch, Leifeng Pagoda on the south shore with a view over the whole lake. In the evening, old Hefang Street below Wushan hill with wooden shops and a 19th-century pharmacy. Walks take 10–22 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/in-1-day ## Plan 1. [West Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; island boat ¥55 Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 10 min on foot 2. [Leifeng Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/leifeng-pagoda.md) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥40 ↓ 22 min by transport 3. [Hefang Street](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free Total with walks: 6 h 32 min ## What to do in Hangzhou in one day The shore and causeways are free and open 24 hours; boats run roughly 8:00–17:00. Walking the whole lake takes a long time — use a boat or hire a bike. Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate. ## Hangzhou day trip from Shanghai The high-speed train from Shanghai takes about an hour, and the metro runs from the station to the lake. Buy tickets in the 12306 app or Trip.com with your passport. ## What to eat in Hangzhou Hangzhou cooking is mild and slightly sweet: West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, Dongpo pork and shrimp with Longjing tea. Hefang Street has street sweets and pastries. Longjing tea is drunk in lakeside teahouses, brewed in a glass so you can watch the leaves. ## Is one day in Hangzhou enough? For West Lake, yes. [Lingyin Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/lingyin-temple), the [Longjing tea village](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/longjing-tea-village) and the [tea museum](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/china-national-tea-museum) are day two. The [Silk Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/china-national-silk-museum) on the south shore is free; the [Grand Canal](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hangzhou-grand-canal) has the 1631 Gongchen Bridge. ## Tips - Walking around West Lake takes ages — boat or bike. - Visit Hefang Street in the evening when the lanterns are lit. - Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport. - China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup. - Try Longjing tea in a lakeside teahouse. ## Questions ### What can you do in Hangzhou in one day? West Lake with its causeways and islands, Leifeng Pagoda and Hefang Street. ### Is West Lake free? The shore is; a boat to the island is from 55 yuan. ### How much is Leifeng Pagoda? 40 yuan. ### How do I get from Shanghai to Hangzhou? By high-speed train in about an hour. ### How much does the day cost? About 100 yuan with the boat and pagoda. ### Is it good with kids? Yes: boats and lakeside walks. ### Can I visit Lingyin on the same day? Only with a booking 1–7 days ahead — it fits day two better. ### When is the best time? Spring and autumn. ### How do I get around the lake? On foot, by bike or by boat. ### How do I pay in Hangzhou? China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup. --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.