Hangzhou for First-Time Visitors: Airport, Metro, Payments & Tickets (2026)

Short answer: West Lake is free and open all day. Lingyin Temple's area is free too since December 2025, but you must book a time slot at least one day ahead.

Visa-free entry and 240-hour transit

Hangzhou's airport is a designated port for 240-hour visa-free transit. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces (Tibet, Xinjiang and a few other regions are not included).

Not sure which rule applies to you? Check your passport in 10 seconds or see rules by country.

Airport to the city

Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH)

Option	Time	Cost
Metro Line 19 (airport express) About 50–60 min to West Lake with a change	25–35 min to Hangzhou East Station	A few yuan
Taxi / Didi	40–60 min to West Lake	~¥120–150

Landing late, with luggage or kids? A pre-booked car meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a fixed price: Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH) transfer. (affiliate links)

Times and fares change. Check Amap or the airport's official site on the day. First time landing in China? Read arriving in China step by step.

Metro and taxis

Metro: Pay with Alipay's metro QR code (Alipay is a Hangzhou company and works everywhere here). Foreign card tap-in had not been announced as of October 2026. Set up Alipay with your foreign card before you fly as a backup.

Didi: Didi works well. Around West Lake on weekends, traffic is slow; walk or rent a bike. See how to use Didi as a foreigner.

Hotels in Hangzhou

Check in with your passport: hotels register foreign guests with the police automatically at check-in, so there's nothing else to do. Compare hotels in Hangzhou on Trip.com (affiliate link): the site is in English, shows prices in your currency and takes foreign cards. Save the hotel's address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.

Top sights: do you need to book?

West LakeBooking: Free, no booking; boats are paidPassport: Not neededHow: Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao

Lingyin Temple and Feilai PeakBooking: Free entry, but a timed slot must be booked at least 1 day ahead (no same-day booking)Passport: Yes, bring the originalHow: 'Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak' mini program in Alipay or WeChat; the temple hall itself may ask a small on-site fee

Longjing tea villagesBooking: Free, no bookingPassport: Not neededHow: Bus or Didi to Longjing or Meijiawu village

Hefang StreetBooking: Free, no bookingPassport: Not neededHow: Metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road

"Book tickets" links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day trips from Hangzhou

Wuzhen water town: About 1–1.5 h by bus or car
Shanghai: High-speed train, 45–60 min

Where to go next

Shanghai: 45–60 min

Booking trains: how to book China's high-speed trains as a foreigner. All cities: China city guides.

Next steps for your trip

1. Fill in the arrival cardOnline, free, within 72h before landing 2. Set up AlipayLink your Visa or Mastercard before you fly 3. Get a China eSIMGoogle, WhatsApp & Instagram keep working · affiliate link Stuck? Ask a real personWhatsApp / WeChat · paid help from $15

FAQ

Do I need to book Lingyin Temple?

Yes. Since December 2025 the Feilai Peak area (including Lingyin Temple) is free but uses real-name timed slots. Book at least one day ahead in the 'Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak' mini program in Alipay or WeChat; passports are accepted.

Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit in Hangzhou?

Yes. Hangzhou Xiaoshan airport is a designated port. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces.

Is Hangzhou a good day trip from Shanghai?

Yes. Trains take 45–60 min. For West Lake plus Lingyin Temple, an overnight stay is more relaxed, and remember Lingyin needs booking a day ahead.

Last verified 24 October 2026. Sources: [1] [2] [3] . Rules, fares and booking windows change often — confirm on official channels before you travel.