Hangzhou Travel Guide ～ "Xizi Poetry Note · Millennium Elegance Record"

Three-Day In-Depth Hangzhou Travel Guide✨

Trip Highlights🎉

Classic West Lake Loop + Hidden Gems🌄: Skillfully avoid crowds, capture the ethereal morning mist and the afterglow of sunset, and encounter breathtaking moments.
Cultural Zen + Natural Wild Charm🌳: Pray sincerely at Lingyin Temple, play in the water at Jiuxi, row a boat in Xixi, combining movement and stillness to feel the charm of Jiangnan.
Immersive Song Dynasty Experience🎭: Participate in Songcheng AR murder mystery, experience Hanfu night tours, and travel through a thousand years to appreciate Lin'an's style.
Local Secret Food Map🍜: From century-old brands to street snacks, unlock authentic Hangzhou flavors and start a culinary journey in Hangzhou.

Three-Day Itinerary📅

Day 1: Classic West Lake Loop (Crowd Avoidance Version)

07:00 - 08:30 Broken Bridge Remnant Snow⛅
Arrive before 7 AM when there are fewer people and beautiful scenery, perfectly avoiding tour groups. Capture the ink-wash style morning mist, as if stepping into a stunning painting. Stroll along Bai Causeway to Pinghu Qiuyue, rent a Hanfu outfit (about 50 RMB/hour), hold an oil-paper umbrella prop, and take a set of stunning photos of "smoky willows and painted bridges"📷.
09:00 - 11:30 West Lake Boat Tour (including Three Pools Mirroring the Moon)🚤
Choose Huagang Pier, island boat ticket 55 RMB (includes Three Pools Mirroring the Moon ticket). Remember to bring a 1 RMB bill to check in at the same spot😉. Return at Huagang Pier, walk 5 minutes to Huagang Fish Viewing, where you can feed koi for blessings and feel the harmony between people and nature🐟.
12:00 - 13:30 Lunch🍽️
Try Hangzhou cuisine at nearby restaurants, such as Dongpo Pork and Longjing Shrimp.
14:00 - 16:00 Leifeng Pagoda + Quyuan Fenghe🏯
Take the elevator to the top of Leifeng Pagoda (ticket 40 RMB), stand on the glass observation deck to enjoy a panoramic golden view of West Lake, breathtakingly beautiful. Walk 10 minutes to Quyuan Fenghe, where lotus flowers bloom in summer. Recommended photo spot: "Zhanbi Lou" tea house, capturing West Lake and lotus in one frame🌸.
18:30 - 20:00 Hefang Street Night Market🌃
Must-try foods: Grandma Sun’s Scallion Pancake (vegetarian roast goose secret recipe version, 10 RMB), rich in flavor and delicious; Jia'ou Tiancheng Longjing Lotus Root Starch (15 RMB), sweet and tasty with a hint of Longjing tea aroma. Souvenir recommendation: Wangxingji Fans (intangible cultural heritage handmade, starting at 30 RMB), exquisite and practical🎁.

Day 2: Lingyin Zen + Song Dynasty Time Travel

07:30 - 09:00 Lingyin Temple Blessing🙏
Take a taxi to Lingyin Temple Gate 6 to skip the queue. Tickets include Feilai Peak 45 RMB + Lingyin Temple incense and flower coupon 30 RMB. Key spots: Feilai Peak Maitreya Buddha stone carving, charming and adorable; Great Hero Hall lotus seat, solemn and majestic; Heavenly King Hall for blessings, pray for safety and smoothness for yourself and family.
09:30 - 11:00 Faxisi Temple for Love Blessings💕
Take a sightseeing bus (10 RMB) from Lingyin Temple exit to Faxisi Temple, famous for its yellow wall photo spot, very photogenic. You can also try vegetarian noodles inside the temple (20 RMB/bowl), light and tasty.
12:00 - 13:30 Lunch🥢
Choose nearby restaurants around Faxisi Temple to enjoy vegetarian or local specialties.
14:00 - 17:00 Songcheng AR Murder Mystery + Performance🎭
Wear ancient costumes to unlock the "Lin'an Mystery" AR murder mystery (198 RMB/person), an immersive Song Dynasty cultural experience. The night show includes a free Hanfu lantern parade, as if traveling back to ancient times. The main show "Songcheng Eternal Love" (audience seats 300 RMB, VIP seats 380 RMB) must be booked in advance for the 14:00 session. This spectacular show is not to be missed👏.
18:30 - 20:00 Jiuxi Smoke Trees Water Play💦
A free attraction, wear water shoes and bring water guns, hike along the creek under 90% tree shade, no sun exposure. Enjoy playing in the water and feel the coolness of nature.

Day 3: Xixi Wetland + Canal Culture

08:00 - 10:00 Xixi Wetland Hongyuan Rowboat🚣
Quiet and less crowded, 4-6 person boat 100 RMB/hour. Listen to the boatwoman sing lotus picking songs, as if immersed in a Jiangnan water town painting. You can also take photos at the same water route as in the movie "If You Are the One," feeling the romantic atmosphere💕.
10:30 - 12:00 Lunch🍲
Try local dishes near Xixi Wetland, such as Xixi fish balls and Jiangcun fish head.
13:30 - 15:30 Canal Square + Gongchen Bridge🌉
Take the subway to Canal Square, visit the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum (free with ID) to learn about the canal’s history and culture. Walk across Gongchen Bridge (Hangzhou’s highest ancient bridge) to feel its unique charm.
16:00 - 18:00 Qiaoxi Straight Street + Xiaohe Straight Street🛍️
Highlights on Qiaoxi Straight Street: Umbrella Museum, Fan Museum (free, interactive and interesting), where you can learn about the profound traditional Chinese umbrella and fan culture. Xiaohe Straight Street has many artsy shops and cafes. In the evening, visit the "Canal Twelve Hours" market, ten times quieter than Hefang Street, perfect for leisurely strolling and soaking in the artistic atmosphere🎨.

Avoid Pitfalls Guide🌟

1. Lingyin Temple Skip Queue: Arrive before 7 AM or enter from Gate 6.
2. Songcheng Show Tickets: Buy in advance on official platforms to avoid scalpers.
3. Local Food: Hefang Street "Yang Soup Restaurant" 12 RMB Pian'er Chuan beats popular stores; Lingyin Temple Yongfu Temple 20 RMB/bowl Arhat noodles, authentic taste and affordable😋.
Jiuxi Eighteen Streams: Bring slippers and water guns, play in the shade without sunburn, best light at 5 PM, great for photos📷.

Transportation Tips🚗

1. Airport to City: Take Metro Line 7/19 directly from Xiaoshan International Airport or taxi about 100 RMB.
2. City Transport: Use Alipay to get "Hangzhou Metro Ride Code," buses cover all directions, popular attractions basically covered.
3. Water Bus: 3 RMB for an open boat from Gongchen Bridge to Wulin Gate, shuttle through Venetian-style ancient bridges, experience a different side of Hangzhou🚤.