Hangzhou Day Tour: West Lake, Temple & Tea Tasting

Build your Hangzhou day around what matters to you, with a guide who adjusts on the fly.

A private day tour of Hangzhou with a personal English-speaking guide, private vehicle, and customizable itinerary covering West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda and a tea plantation visit. Includes boat ride, tea tasting, lunch, all entrance fees, and hotel or railway station pickup. You decide which attractions to visit and can swap them for alternatives like Hefang Street or the Silk Museum if you prefer.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. West Lake1h 30m · entry included
2. Leifeng Pagoda1h · entry included
3. Lingyin Temple1h 30m · entry included

Customized Hangzhou sightseeing tour

• Meet guide at hotel lobby
• Discuss and customize day plan
• Visit West Lake and Su Causeway
• Enjoy boat cruise on West Lake
• Visit Longjing village tea plantation
• Tea tasting and local lunch
• Visit Leifeng Pagoda and climb to top
• Hear romantic story of pagoda
• Visit Lingyin Temple and Fei Lai Feng
• Marvel at stone carved Buddhas
• Return to hotel or railway station

The experience

Start the morning at your hotel or railway station, where your guide meets you to map out the day. This is not a fixed route. You and your guide discuss what you want to see, and the guide suggests what fits the time and your interests. Most tours begin at West Lake, where you walk the Su Causeway, see the Fish Viewing at Flower Pond and the Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, then take a boat across the water. From there, the day branches: you head to Longjing village for tea tasting and a local lunch at the plantation itself, then move on to Leifeng Pagoda, the five-story octagonal tower built in 975 AD. Climb to the top for a view across the whole lake, and your guide shares the romantic history behind it.

Lingyin Temple, known as the Temple of the Soul's Retreat, is typically the final major stop. The stone-carved Buddhas at Fei Lai Feng are the draw here, and your guide walks you through the religious significance. If any of these do not appeal to you (or if you want to see Hefang Street's old shops, the National Tea Museum, or the China National Silk Museum instead), you can swap them out. The flexibility is built in. Your guide will drop you back at your hotel or the railway station when the day ends.

Everything is included: the private air-conditioned car, the guide in English, entrance to Lingyin Temple and Leifeng Pagoda, the boat ride on West Lake, tea tasting, and lunch. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on what you choose and how long you linger. Wear comfortable shoes, bring layers for any weather, and let the operator know at booking if you have dietary needs or are arriving by train so they can coordinate the pickup.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide for the full day.
• boat ride on West Lake.
• tea tasting and local lunch at a Dragon Well plantation.
• entrance fees to Lingyin Temple and Leifeng Pagoda.
• hotel or railway station pickup and drop-off in Hangzhou.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amazing Shanghai Trip

Is this one for you?This tour is private, so you travel with only your party and set the pace with your guide. Choose it if you want to customize your day around what interests you most and skip the attractions that don't: the guide adjusts the route on the morning itself, not weeks ahead.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

Can I change which attractions I visit during the tour?

Yes. You discuss your interests with the guide at the start, and the guide suggests swaps if you want to skip something. Alternatives include Hefang Street, the National Tea Museum, the Silk Museum, Yue Fei Mausoleum, and Liuhe Pagoda. Entrance fees for any substituted attractions are your responsibility.

What is Leifeng Pagoda and why is it worth climbing?

Leifeng Pagoda is an octagonal tower built in 975 AD that stands five stories tall on the shore of West Lake. From the top, you get a panoramic view of the entire lake and surrounding landscape. Your guide shares the romantic legend connected to it.

Does the tour include a boat ride on West Lake?

Yes. A relaxing boat cruise on West Lake is part of the itinerary, letting you see the Su Causeway and the Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon from the water.

What is included in the tea tasting at Longjing village?

You visit a Dragon Well tea plantation in Longjing village, taste the tea, and have lunch there with local dishes. Both the tasting and the meal are included in the tour price.

Can I be picked up from Hangzhou Railway Station instead of my hotel?

Yes. If you arrive by train, tell the operator your train details at booking and they will arrange pickup from the railway station instead. Drop-off at the station at the end is also available.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on which attractions you choose and how much time you spend at each stop. Your guide will help pace the day to fit your interests.