# West Lake, Hangzhou > West Lake is Hangzhou’s defining sight and a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape: 15 km of shoreline, two historic causeways, islands and hilltop pagodas. The lakeshore is free and open 24 hours; you only pay for boats, from ¥55 for the island trip. Allow 3–4 hours for the highlights, a full day for the loop. Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake - City: [Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou), China - YesGo score: 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: Free; island boat ¥55 - Opening hours: Lakeshore and causeways open 24 hours; tour boats daytime, roughly 8:00–17:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Admission: Free — lakeshore, causeways and lakeside parks have no gates or ticket booths - Island boat (Three Pools): Unofficial: ¥55 standard, ¥70 painted boat, landing on Xiaoyingzhou included - Hand-rowed boat: Unofficial: ¥150 per hour per boat (up to 6), 7:00–18:00 - Musical fountain: Nightly at 19:30 off Hubin, on the city’s autumn–winter schedule; cancelled in high wind or heavy rain - Metro: Line 1, Longxiangqiao (龙翔桥), 5 min walk to the water; Fengqi Road (Lines 1 and 2) for Broken Bridge - Sightseeing carts: Unofficial: ¥10 per section, ¥40 for the ≈ 13.5 km loop - Payment: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard; carry some cash - Chinese name: 西湖 (Xīhú) - Coordinates: 30.23750, 120.14083 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **2011** — inscribed by UNESCO as the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; China Daily) - **Free** — the lakeshore and parks — the city took down the fences and ticket gates in 2002 (source: English Wikipedia; China for Travelers) - **≈ 15 km** — of shoreline — a full day on foot (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **6.39 km²** — of water, 3.2 km north to south and 2.8 km east to west (source: English Wikipedia; China Daily) - **2.8 km** — Su Causeway with six bridges, built under the poet-governor Su Shi (source: English Wikipedia; China for Travelers; Ctrip) - **≈ 1 km** — Bai Causeway, from Broken Bridge to Gushan island (source: China for Travelers; Ctrip) - **Ten Scenes** — the classic list of West Lake views, dating back to the Song dynasty (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **¥1 note** — the back of the fifth-series one-yuan note shows the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (source: Russian Wikipedia; Toutiao; Our China Story) - **2.27 m** — average depth of the lake (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Gushan** — the lake’s only natural island; the others are man-made (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) > **Avoid Chinese public holidays if you can** The first week of October, Spring Festival and the start of May bring huge domestic crowds: Longxiangqiao station sometimes closes entrances to control the flow. If your dates fall on a holiday, be at the lake by 7 am and leave the causeways before midday. ## Is West Lake free? Yes. The lakeshore, both causeways, Gushan island and the lakeside parks are free and open around the clock — there are no gates. You pay only for boats and for separate sights around the lake, such as [Leifeng Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/leifeng-pagoda) or temples in the hills. Payment works the Chinese way: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign Visa or Mastercard covers boats, carts, shared bikes and snacks. Keep some small yuan notes as a backup in case a scan fails. ## West Lake boat rides and prices We couldn’t find an official English price list. A Hangzhou city newspaper and the China for Travelers guide agree on the main fares: the standard tour boat to **Xiaoyingzhou island** (Three Pools Mirroring the Moon) costs **¥55** per person, the painted boat **¥70**, with island entry included. Boats leave from piers along Hubin, at Huagang (Viewing Fish at Flower Harbour) and at Qianwang Temple. A **hand-rowed boat** with a boatman costs ¥150 per hour for up to six people, then ¥75 per extra half hour — agree the route and time before you step in. There’s also a hop-on lake boat, ¥6–8 per stop, and self-drive boats near Broken Bridge. Sailings run roughly 8:00 to 16:30–17:00 and stop in high wind or storms. Is the boat worth it? The island is the only way to see the stone lanterns from the one-yuan note up close, and the lake looks different from the water. If you’re short on time, skip the boat and walk Bai Causeway instead. ## What to see at West Lake - **Broken Bridge** (Duanqiao, 断桥) — the stone bridge at the start of Bai Causeway, where, in the legend, the White Snake is reunited with her husband; ‘Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge’ is one of the Ten Scenes. - **Bai Causeway** — about 1 km of willows and peach trees from Broken Bridge to Gushan, named after the Tang poet Bai Juyi, who governed Hangzhou. - **Gushan island** — the lake’s only natural island, with gardens, pavilions and the Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society. - **Su Causeway** — 2.8 km and six bridges across the western lake, built under Su Shi in the late 11th century; ‘Spring Dawn at Su Causeway’ heads the Ten Scenes. - **Three Pools Mirroring the Moon** — three small stone pagodas in the water off Xiaoyingzhou island, reachable only by boat. - **Leifeng Pagoda** on the south shore and the slim **Baochu Pagoda** on the hill to the north — your landmarks from anywhere on the water. - **Viewing Fish at Flower Harbour** — a garden of koi ponds at the south end of Su Causeway. ## How to get to West Lake 1. From central Hangzhou take **Metro Line 1** to **Longxiangqiao** (龙翔桥). It’s a 5-minute walk west to the Hubin lakefront. 2. From **Hangzhou East** railway station, Line 1 runs direct to Longxiangqiao in about 20 minutes. 3. From **Xiaoshan Airport** (HGH), Line 1 runs direct to Longxiangqiao. On the way back, board a train marked Airport (机场): some Line 1 trains branch off to Xiasha instead. Or take Line 19 to Hangzhou East and change to Line 1. 4. For Broken Bridge, **Fengqi Road** (Lines 1 and 2) is about 15 minutes on foot; for Hefang Street, use **Wushan Square** (Line 7). 5. Then walk along the water. When your feet give up, hop on a sightseeing cart, the lake boat or a shared bike unlocked with Alipay. ## How long does it take to walk around West Lake? The full loop is about 15 km of shoreline, which means a long day with stops. Most visitors don’t need it. The best half day: the east shore at Hubin, Broken Bridge, Bai Causeway and Gushan, a boat to the island, then back to Hubin for the fountain — around 3–4 hours. Su Causeway alone is 2.8 km, roughly 40 minutes of walking one way. Sightseeing carts follow a clockwise loop of about 13.5 km in about 70 minutes; unofficially they cost ¥10 per section or ¥40 for the whole loop, paid on board. ## West Lake musical fountain and evening show The free **musical fountain** plays off the Hubin lakefront, a short walk from Longxiangqiao. On the city’s current autumn–winter schedule it starts at 19:30 every night and lasts 15–20 minutes. Arrive half an hour early for a spot by the rail; older guides quoting 19:00 and 20:00 shows are out of date. **Enduring Memories of Hangzhou** (formerly Impression West Lake) is Zhang Yimou’s ticketed show staged on the water at Yuehu, on the north shore. It is seasonal — this year’s season opened on 20 March, and it usually takes a winter break — with unofficial prices starting at a little over ¥300. Check dates when you book. ## Walk, boat or cart | | On foot | Island boat | Sightseeing cart | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | ¥55–70 | ¥10 per section, ¥40 loop | | What you see | Bridges, causeways, Gushan | Xiaoyingzhou and the Three Pools | The whole shore from your seat | | Time | Su Causeway ≈ 40 min; loop = a day | Sailing plus a walk on the island | Loop ≈ 70 min | | When | 24 hours | Daytime, till 16:30–17:00 | Daytime | Boat and cart prices and times are unofficial. Best half day: walk Bai Causeway and Gushan, take the boat to the island, then return to Hubin for the fountain. ## Before you go Tick off what’s ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Alipay or WeChat Pay working with my foreign card - [ ] Some small yuan notes - [ ] Comfortable shoes — expect 5–7 km at least - [ ] Water and a hat in summer, umbrella in the rainy season - [ ] Not Golden Week or Spring Festival - [ ] Back at Hubin by 19:00 for the fountain ## Waterside sights in Hangzhou Hangzhou’s waterside places scored by YesGo. - [Grand Canal in Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hangzhou-grand-canal) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free; water bus ¥3 - [West Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; island boat ¥55 - [Liuhe Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/liuhe-pagoda) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥20 + ¥10 to climb the pagoda - [Wuzhen](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/wuzhen) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Xizha ¥150, Dongzha ¥110, both ¥190 ## One day in Hangzhou: temple, lake and old street Lingyin Temple in the hills in the morning, the lake and Leifeng Pagoda in the afternoon, Hefang Street in the evening. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the times and walks. 1. [Lingyin Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/lingyin-temple) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free, book 1–7 days ahead 2. [West Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; island boat ¥55 3. [Leifeng Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/leifeng-pagoda) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥40 4. [Hefang Street](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free > **Go at dawn** Early in the morning Su Causeway belongs to locals out for a walk, and the tour groups haven’t arrived. The soft light makes the best photos. For sunset, walk out on Bai Causeway or stand by Broken Bridge. ## Don’t confuse West Lake Longjing tea is named after the lake but grows in the hills to the south-west — see [Longjing tea village](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/longjing-tea-village). The UNESCO site isn’t just the water: it covers the hills, temples, pagodas and gardens around it too. ## Tips - Come early or late: in high season, midday tour groups fill the lakefront. - Don’t try to circle the whole lake in half a day — do the east shore, Bai Causeway and Gushan, and save Su Causeway for another morning. - Buy boat tickets only at the pier ticket office, and fix the price and route of a rowing boat before boarding. - Spring brings willows and peach blossom to the causeways; summer brings lotus to Quyuan Garden, another of the Ten Scenes. - Climb Leifeng Pagoda afterwards for a view of how the causeways split the lake. - In the evening, [Hefang Street](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street) is 15–20 minutes’ walk from Hubin for street food. ## Questions ### Is West Lake in Hangzhou free? Yes. The lakeshore, causeways and lakeside parks are free and open 24 hours. Boats and some sights around the lake, such as pagodas and temples, charge separately. ### How much is a boat ride on West Lake? Unofficially, ¥55 for the standard boat to Xiaoyingzhou island (¥70 painted boat), or about ¥150 per hour for a hand-rowed boat for up to six people. ### How do I get to West Lake by metro? Take Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then walk 5 minutes west to the Hubin lakefront. From Hangzhou East station it’s about 20 minutes with no change. ### How long does it take to walk around West Lake? The shoreline is about 15 km, so a full day with stops. The main highlights take 3–4 hours. ### Is West Lake worth visiting? Yes — it’s the reason most people come to Hangzhou. Just avoid Chinese public holidays or come at dawn. ### What time is the West Lake musical fountain? On the current autumn–winter schedule, nightly at 19:30 off the Hubin lakefront, for 15–20 minutes. It may be cancelled in bad weather. ### Is Impression West Lake still running? The show now runs as Enduring Memories of Hangzhou at Yuehu on the north shore. It’s seasonal, from spring to autumn, so check dates before booking. ### What is the best time to visit West Lake? Spring and autumn, early in the morning. Summer is hot but brings lotus flowers; avoid Golden Week in early October. ### Can you cycle around West Lake? Yes, shared bikes unlocked with Alipay or WeChat are everywhere along the shore road. The causeways are busy with walkers, so the shore road is easier. ## How we checked Free access around the clock is confirmed by Wikipedia and China for Travelers. We didn’t open an official boat price list: fares come from a Hangzhou city newspaper and China for Travelers, which agree (¥55, ¥70, ¥150 an hour), so those rows are marked unofficial. The fountain time is from the city authorities’ notice reported by Hangzhou Daily (19:30); older guides give 19:00 and 20:00. Lake area is given as 6.39–6.5 km²; we use 6.39 (Wikipedia, China Daily). Su Causeway is 2.8–3 km depending on the source; we use 2.8. Wikipedia and China for Travelers both confirm Line 1 runs direct from the airport; the Hangzhou East ride is 16–20 minutes depending on the source. Show season and prices are unofficial. ## Sources - English and Russian Wikipedia: West Lake; Wikidata Q502371 - China Daily: West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou — UNESCO listing, size - Dushi Kuaibao on hangzhou.com.cn: boat types, fares, piers and hours - Hangzhou Daily on hangzhou.com.cn: autumn–winter fountain and light-show schedule - Hangzhou Daily: season opening of Enduring Memories of Hangzhou; China Daily: venue and prices - China for Travelers: West Lake, Hangzhou — boats, carts, metro - China Discovery: How to Get to West Lake — metro stations and walking distances - English Wikipedia: Hangzhou Metro Lines 1 and 19, Longxiangqiao station - Toutiao, Our China Story — the one-yuan note design --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. 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