Hangzhou Solo Travel Guide: Ultimate 2025 Tips

Heading to Hangzhou? This short, sharp guide skips the fluff—get the essentials for an epic trip (top hostels below)!

QUICK FACTS

Capital and largest city of Zhejiang province, with a population of over 8 million.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta, the city is known for its natural beauty and scenery.
With a rich culture and history of over 1000 years, it is one of the most visited cities in China.
Nicknames: Paradise on Earth, Home of Silk, Tea Capital, Cultural State, Town of Fish and Rice

Currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY).
Spoken languages: primarily Mandarin (with a sizable English speaking community).
Best time to visit: from March-May and September-November (mild weather, fewer crowds). Summers can be hot and humid, while winters can be chilly and damp.
Great festival to catch: West Lake Cultural Festival.
Arriving via airport (30 km from downtown):
– Metro Line 7 connects Xiaoshan Airport to West Lake in 45 mins (fare: 8 CNY).
– Buses from the airport to downtown Hangzhou (Wulin Men) leave every 15-25 minutes. 20 CNY.
– A taxi ride to the city center will cost around 120–150 CNY.
Getting here from Shanghai: High-speed trains every 20 mins (45–60 mins travel, 75–110 CNY).

Best Hangzhou hostel for solo travelers: Wulin International.
– Clean rooms, facilities, and welcoming staff.
– Very affordable and close to all the action.
– Bonus: there’s a nice roof terrace and on-site washing machine.
– Close to supermarkets and convenience stores.
Most good hotels are located near the city center, around Hangzhou’s main attraction, the Xihu West Lake.
Mid-range option: Holiday Inn Express Hangzhou Westlake East (2,000+ CNY/night, metro-connected).

The Hangzhou Metro is a convenient way to travel within the city. Lines 1 and 2 connect various key areas, including the West Lake and city center. Cost: 2–15 CNY (distance-based).
– Tourist Passes available: 1-Day (15 CNY) / 3-Day (40 CNY)
Public buses are also available throughout the city. Try to plan your route in advance so you know which stop to get off at.
Tip: use the Dida Chuxing or Gaode Maps apps for planning public transport routes.
Hangzhou is a very bike friendly city, and there are bike rental services almost all over the city (many are near hotels and along the West Lake).
Taxis: 12.60 CNY initial fee + 3.00 CNY/km. Night surcharge (11pm–5am): +20%. Use Didi app for ride-hailing (English interface available).
While hailing taxis, stick to official taxis: they have yellow license plates, meter starting at 12.60 CNY, and Driver ID clearly visible on dashboard.
Tip: it’s a good idea to bring along a piece of paper with your destination address.
E-bikes are available to rent near West Lake (3 CNY/30 mins via HelloBike app).
Alipay or WeChat Pay now required for metro/bike rentals (load balance via international cards).

Drinking age is 18 (not enforced), and there is no last call (some bars stay open all night).
Main nightlife scene: around the Huanglong Stadium (to the north of the West Lake). The area always draws a large crowd at night.
Clubbing scene: northeast edge of the West Lake, near the Hubin Park and Wyndham Hotel.
Southern Song Imperial Street (Hefang Street) for night markets and live music.
Great bars to start your night: H•Linx, Club G Plus, Huanglou JZ Club (offers free entry before 9pm on weekdays), and the The Amber House (live music on Fri/Sat nights).

Hangzhou is most famous for its largest attraction, the West Lake (or Xihu). Visit the lake and catch the performances (singing and dancing), architecture, and the great variety of food. Boat tours are also available.
Right above the West Lake is the Xihu Cultural Center museum, where you can learn more about the history and stories of the West Lake.
Xixi Wetland: Boat tours (100 CNY/hr) + Zhoujia Village sculling rides.
Qianjiang New Town: Futuristic skyline with LED light shows nightly at 7:30pm.
Guo’s Villa: Hidden West Lake gem (10 CNY entry, uncrowded photo spots).

Hangzhou is known all over China for its teas, and is where the treasured Longjing Green Tea is produced. Explore how rich Chinese teas are grown, picked, and made.
Great places to check out include:
– China National Tea Museum
– Hangzhou Longjingshan (Longjing Mountain) Park.
Longjing Tea Village offers workshops (150 CNY/person for picking + roasting).
China Tea Museum offers free tastings daily at 10am/2pm.
Places to experience a traditional tea ceremony:
– Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum and Tea House
– Dragon Well tea house.

Take a walk along the West Lake and enjoy the great scenery and entertainment all around. Areas near the lake feature big parks and green spaces, enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.
Lingyin Temple to North Peak hike (2 hrs, stone steps, free entry with temple ticket).
Grand Canal Night Walk: Illuminated bridges from 6pm–10pm (free).

Great restaurants to try in Hangzhou: Hubin 28, Dongyishun, Shoukangyong Vegetarian, Grandma’s Home, and Sawasdee Thai.
Must-try local dishes: Dongpo Pork, West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, and Longjing Shrimp.
Louwailou Restaurant (since 1848) for authentic dishes.
Where to find good cheap eats: almost everywhere in Hangzhou, especially in small restaurants in the West Lake area. Be careful when eating food from street vendors.
– Tip: Licensed vendors display blue health certificates (look for 餐饮服务许可证).

Don’t be surprised if people you meet don’t speak any English (Tianjin has fewer English speakers than Beijing or Shanghai). Be prepared – bring maps with English along as you travel, make use of road signs, and jot down certain names of landmarks in Mandarin. Consider bringing a pocket Chinese dictionary. If you get lost, try using the road signs to navigate – they usually have both English and Chinese labels.
Useful phrase: “Where is…?” (…在哪里？ Zài nǎ lǐ?).
Common scams:
– “Free tea ceremony” upsells (average legit ceremony: 80–150 CNY).
– Fake metro staff selling overpriced tourist cards (buy only at station counters).
Dangerous areas: Hangzhou is relatively developed and does not have many dangerous areas. Exercise common sense and stay in bright, populated areas at night.

Recommended trip duration: 1-2 days