How Hangzhou tours are put together
Most Hangzhou tours combine a few of the same stops: a boat to the island of Xiaoyingzhou, the Leifeng Pagoda, the Lingyin Temple, a tea village such as Meijiawu and sometimes the Xixi Wetland. Each stop has its own ticket, hours and rules. A tour only helps if it matches these rules, so read what is included before you pay.
A booked tour does not cancel the Lingyin reservation. Groups are reserved by the travel company, and independent visitors reserve online with a passport. Tea visits depend on the village: in Meijiawu, picking, roasting and tasting are offered as visitor activities, but there is no single price and no free access to every field.
Our picks: West Lake tours
Our take: the private tour picks you up at your hotel. The day tour includes all tickets, and the car option is the flexible choice if you check what is included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Full-day private West Lake highlights tour
- English-speaking guide
- Entry tickets
- Lunch
Lingyin and Feilai Feng, a boat on the lake, Leifeng and Hefang Street, with lunch; the price is per person.
Check availability →
West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda and tea ceremony day tour
- All attraction tickets
- Live guide
- Afternoon tea
A full day from Hangzhou with Lingyin, a boat on the lake and Leifeng, all entry fees included. Lunch is extra.
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Lingyin Temple, West Lake and Xiaohe Street by car
- Car for the day
- Guide and tickets with the all-inclusive option
A car for the day; the guide and tickets come only with the all-inclusive option, so check what you book.
Check availability →Hangzhou tours and excursions
Lake cruises, tea village visits, temple trips and day tours from Shanghai, with live prices and availability.
What to compare between excursions
The same stops can be packaged very differently.
Start point and transport
Check whether the tour starts in Shanghai or in Hangzhou, and whether you travel by private transfer or by train. From Shanghai the rail leg alone is roughly 45 to 87 minutes before any city transfers.
Day trip from Shanghai →Language
Look at which language the guide speaks and whether it applies to the whole day or only to part of it. Do not assume a daily departure in your language.
Boat with or without the island
A lake cruise and the island boat to Xiaoyingzhou are different products. The island has its own CNY 20 fee. Ask whether it is included.
Boat rides →Entry and reservation
Ask whether tickets for the Leifeng Pagoda or the Xixi Wetland are included, and who handles the Lingyin reservation. A combined price can hide a lot of different parts.
Tasting stop or sales stop
A tea stop can be a tasting and a talk, or a sales visit with a shop. Check which one it is, and remember that tea prices are not fixed by the tour.
Longjing tea →The way back
Make sure the return is part of the plan. Island boat tickets are sold only in daytime windows, and trains and metro lines have last departures that you should check in advance.
The building blocks compared
What each part costs and which rule to know, status 2026.
| Stop | Price | Rule to know |
|---|---|---|
| Island boat to Xiaoyingzhou | CNY 55 standard, CNY 70 luxury or electric, plus CNY 20 island fee | Return included; children 1.2 to 1.5 m pay half |
| Boat with a boatman | CNY 150 per boat and hour (hand-rowed), CNY 180 (oar-rowed), 2025 tariff | Up to 6 or 10 people; 1 hour minimum |
| Leifeng Pagoda | CNY 40 adult | Seasonal hours, 08:00 opening |
| Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng | CNY 0 | Reserve 1 to 7 days ahead; ground open 07:30–17:30 |
| Xixi Wetland | CNY 80 entry, CNY 140 with boat | Outside the lakeshore route; metro lines 3 and 19 |
| Meijiawu tea activities | – | Picking, roasting and tasting offered; no standard price |
For most first-time visitors, a lake day with the island boat and the Leifeng Pagoda is the simplest base, and the Lingyin Temple with a tea village makes a second day. Add the Xixi Wetland only if you have a third half day. Boat tariffs for hourly boats are the 2025 values.
Which excursion for which trip
Three ways to build a day.
One day on the lake
Walk the Su Di or Bai Di causeway, take the island boat and finish at the Leifeng Pagoda. In the evening, the music fountain starts at 19:30 in the autumn and winter plan.
Ten scenes →Temple and tea
Reserve the Lingyin Temple for the morning, then continue to the tea hills of Longjing or Meijiawu. Mind the temple hours: the ground closes at 17:30 and the temple at 18:00.
Lingyin Temple →From Shanghai in a day
Take the train to Hangzhou East, then the metro. Choose two stops at most and plan the last train back before you leave.
From Shanghai →Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Hangzhou tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a tour to see West Lake?
No. The lakeshore is free to walk, the metro reaches the east shore, and boats and sights can be booked on the spot. A tour helps if you want a guide, a transfer or a fixed plan for several distant stops.
Can I combine West Lake, the tea villages and Lingyin in one day?
It is possible to see parts of all three, but no combination is guaranteed. The Lingyin Temple needs a reserved time slot, and tea villages and the lake lie in different directions. Two stops per day is a realistic plan.
Does a tour include the Lingyin reservation?
Groups are reserved by the travel company. If you join a tour, ask who makes the reservation. If you travel on your own, you reserve online with your passport.
What does an excursion cost?
Tour prices depend on the product, so there is no single figure. The building blocks above give the entry costs for 2026. A tour adds transport, a guide and sometimes meals.
Can I join a tour from Shanghai?
Yes, many visitors do it as a day trip. Look at the departure point, the transport and the return time. Do not assume that every stop fits into one day.