Three days in Hangzhou: lake, tea and textiles

Day one: one useful piece of West Lake

Begin on a convenient side of the lake and choose a comfortable stretch. Add one causeway or garden section if the day suits it. UNESCO describes West Lake as a cultural landscape, which is a good reason to notice the relationship between water, hills and built views. A full circuit is not compulsory.

Day two: choose one tea-area outing

Longjing or Meijiawu can provide a focus; choose one and plan the return. If buying a tasting or workshop, agree its language, duration and price and whether a purchase is optional. Seasonal tea picking should not be assumed from a photograph. Leave a seated break in the outing rather than chasing several villages.

Day three: a textile focus or more landscape

Choose a China National Silk Museum visit after checking its current programme, then keep the rest of the day near the chosen district. A workshop is separate from general museum entry. If tea is the main interest instead, use the day to extend that theme rather than making textiles another obligation.

Make the short route fit your arrival

These blocks assume full local time. If arrival or departure consumes a block, shorten the sightseeing plan or add a night. Choose the base area around the route and save exact Chinese place names before using a local map. Current entry, transport and weather still need checking for your dates. The eight-page PDF adds accommodation-area choices, arrival notes, food ideas, a spending worksheet and a Chinese-name/source desk; custom planning is useful when your dates, interests or gateways require another order.

Take the next step

Keep a practical guide with you.

Our concise English PDFs include usable routes, planning decisions and reference details. For a route shaped around your dates and interests, explore the custom planning service.

Hangzhou PDF · $9 ↗Explore custom planning ↗

Source desk

Checked 12 October 2026. Route choices and pacing advice are China Sideways editorial recommendations. Recheck current booking, venue, transport and entry information for your dates.