An ancient Chinese saying goes  “上有天堂，下有苏杭”(Paradise above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below) and it is certainly not far from the truth: indeed Hangzhou is one the most beautiful city in China and it is worth a visit. Here you have a 3-days tour of the city so you can enjoy all Hangzhou main attractions.

Day 1 – in your first day visit the most famous Hangzhou attractions: explore the scenic sights of West Lake. Enjoy a boat cruise and make stops at Solitary Hill and Huagang (Flower Harbor) Park.  Stop by Leifeng Pagoda for panoramic views over West Lake. Then head to Lingyin Temple, a famous Buddhist temple known for the hundreds of Buddhist statues carved into the hills and inside caves.

Day 2 – check out the China National Silk Museum or the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Next, stop to smell the flowers at either Hangzhou Botanical Garden. Head to a nearby tea village, either Meijiawu or Longjing (Dragon Well), for the afternoon. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and learn about tea culture and tea, especially Longjing tea, considered one of the finest in the world. 

Day 3 – start your last day visiting the Hangzhou attractions with the Six Harmoy Pagoda. This 6-sided, 7-story pagoda is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture, and it offers great views over the Qiantang River and its tidal bore. Then head over to Qinghefang Ancient Street to shop for souvenirs and a quick snack. Finally, visit a nearby water town, such as Wuzhen, Xitang, or Shaoxing.

Hangzhou attractions are a lot, if you have few more days you’ll be able to see them all and still have some time for shopping! Besides, you might want to extend your stay once you have started exploring the beautiful city of Hangzhou! There is lots of things to do besides just the attractions mentioned above!