West Lake / 西湖

Category
Nature, Historical

Why Visit

The symbol of Hangzhou
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Home to the famous "Ten Scenic Views of West Lake"
Offers beautiful scenery in every season
Perfect combination of history, culture, and nature.

Suggested Duration
3–4 hours

Best Visiting Time
06:30–09:00 (fewer tourist and soft lighting); 16:30–18:30 (golden hour photography and sunset); or 19:00–20:30 (illuminated pagodas and lakeside.

Suitable For

First-time visitors
Nature lovers
Elderly travelers
Walking and cycling enthusiasts
Couples

Tips

Walk along Su Causeway and Bai Causeway instead of taking a taxi around the lake
Take the official boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Rent a public bicycle for an enjoyable lakeside ride
Visit on weekdays if possible.

Admission Type
Free

Reservation Required
No

Reservation Max.
No need to make an appointment.

Opening Hours
24 hours

Address (English & Chinese)
Xihu Subdistrict, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
浙江省杭州市西湖区西湖街道

Amap Link
https://surl.amap.com/1oi1cDQ3r3i

Baidu Link
https://j.map.baidu.com/2/eN

Note
There are a lot of attractions inside the West Lake (such as Spring Dawn on Su Causeway 苏堤春晓, Lotus in the Breeze at Quyuan Garden 曲院风荷, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake 平湖秋月, Broken Bridge 残雪, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor 花港观鱼, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon 三潭印月, Leifeng Pagoda 雷峰塔, etc. that open has different opening-closing time and ticket prices). Some paid attractions inside the scenic area may require reservations during peak periods. Boat cruises and individual attractions are charged separately.