2 days in Hangzhou: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 5 of 6 free; paid: Leifeng Pagoda
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:28 each day
- Start and finish
- West Lake → Longjing Tea Village
- On foot
- ≈ 10 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 5 min
- Lunch
- around 12:30
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- April, when the first tea is picked; autumn is good too.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Hangzhou09:30–16:02 · 3 places · 6 h 30 min
West Lake
· 3 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 10 min on foot
Leifeng Pagoda
· 1 h · ¥40
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Hefang Street
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Hangzhou09:30–16:28 · 3 places · 7 h
China National Tea Museum
· 1 h 15 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Lingyin Temple
· 2 h 30 min · Free
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Longjing Tea Village
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
5 of 6 are free; 1 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | West Lake | 44 | 3 h | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Leifeng Pagoda | 35 | 1 h | ¥40 |
| 3 | Hefang Street | 42 | 1 h | Free |
| 4 | China National Tea Museum | 37 | 1 h 15 min | Free |
| 5 | Lingyin Temple | 28 | 2 h 30 min | Free |
| 6 | Longjing Tea Village | 34 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| Total | 10 h 20 min | 5 of 6 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
West Lake. Hangzhou's heart, UNESCO-listed: 15 km of shore, two causeways and islands. The shore is free; a boat to the island from 55 yuan.
- 2
Leifeng Pagoda. A five-storey pagoda of 2002 over 10th-century ruins: lifts and a view over the whole lake. 40 yuan.
- 3
Hefang Street. An old trading street below Wushan hill: wooden shops, a 19th-century pharmacy museum, sweets. Free.
Day 2
- 4
China National Tea Museum. China's only national tea museum, among the plantations. Free with a passport.
- 5
Lingyin Temple. A monastery founded in 328 and the Feilai Feng cliff of ancient carvings. Free, but by booking 1–7 days ahead.
- 6
Longjing Tea Village. The tea terraces where Longjing tea comes from. Free to walk; the '18 imperial bushes' garden about 10 yuan.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Hangzhou
- Tea and Buddhist temples
- Independent, by taxi
- Wuzhen needs another day
- Lingyin is by booking only
April, when the first tea is picked; autumn is good too.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Hangzhou itinerary. Day two is in the hills west and south-west of the lake: the temple, the village and the museum are 20 minutes apart by taxi.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Visiting Lingyin Temple
Entry to the area and the temple is free, but only with a booking 1–7 days ahead through Alipay or WeChat, for a morning or afternoon slot. Open 7:30–17:30, last entry 17:00. Allow 2–2.5 hours for the temple and the carvings.
Is 2 days in Hangzhou enough?
For the lake and the tea hills, yes. Add the Six Harmonies Pagoda above the Qiantang River, or Wuzhen, a canal town that takes a whole day.
How to do it right
- Book Lingyin ahead in Alipay or WeChat.
- In Longjing, tea is sold from homes — taste before you buy.
- 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.
- The tea museum needs a passport and usually closes on Mondays.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Hangzhou?
Day one: West Lake, Leifeng and Hefang. Day two: Lingyin, Longjing village and the tea museum.
Do I need to book Lingyin Temple?
Yes, 1–7 days ahead through Alipay or WeChat; entry is free.
Is Longjing village free?
Yes to walk; the '18 imperial bushes' garden is about 10 yuan.
Is the tea museum free?
Yes, with a passport.
Is 2 days in Hangzhou enough?
Yes, for the lake and the tea hills.
How much does it cost?
About 100 yuan on day one and 10 on day two, plus taxis and tea.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; the plantations are good for a run around.
When is Longjing tea picked?
In spring; the first harvest is in April.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
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.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Lingyin Temple: booking
- China National Tea Museum
