Trip Summary
Five days to live Hangzhou rather than see it: sunrise walks across the Broken Bridge, a Longjing tea-village frying session, Lingyin's forest temples, Xixi's wetland boat channels, the Grand Canal's night lanterns and a Song-dynasty spectacular — all at tea-ceremony pace.
Trip Highlights
- Sunrise mist over West Lake from the Su causeway
- Firing your own Longjing batch in Meijiawu's village pans
- Lingyin Temple's forest of 500 laughing arhats
- Hand-sculled boats through Xixi's reed channels
- The Grand Canal at night, lantern-lit from Xiaohezhi street
Day by Day
Day 1 — Arrive Hangzhou
HSR from Shanghai Hongqiao (1 h) or fly into Xiaoshan (HGH). Evening on Hefang Street for sweet osmanthus cakes and street opera.
Flight in · Hangzhouinternational flights, destination pre-filledBook → Stay · West Lakelake-edge base — sunrise causeway walksBook → Car rental · Hangzhoupick up at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 2 — West Lake unhurried
Morning loop of the Su causeway and the Broken Bridge, boat to Three Pools' island tea, afternoon reclining in the lakeside parks.
Stay · West Lakesame lakeside baseBook → Tickets · West Lakeskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 3 — Longjing tea village
Tea-field walk to Meijiawu, a wok-frying lesson with the village masters, long tasting lunch, evening stroll past Longjing's spring.
Stay · West Lakethird lake nightBook → Tickets · Longjing Tea Villageskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 4 — Lingyin & Xixi
Morning among Lingyin's cliff Buddhas and Feilai peak, afternoon boat through Xixi's wetlands, night lanterns on the Grand Canal.
Stay · West Lakefinal osmanthus nightBook → Tickets · Lingyin Templeskip-the-line entryBook → Tickets · Xixi National Wetland Parkskip-the-line entryBook → Tickets · Hangzhou Grand Canalskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 5 — Song show & out
Optional Songcheng spectacle's rain-and-horse pageant, then HSR or airport out.
Tickets · Songcheng Parkskip-the-line entryBook → 
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