Best Of Hangzhou: A Comprehensive Tour Of The City's Top Sights

If your visiting multiple cities and time is limited, this is one of the best tours that you can do! Our tour guide Sam was extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend the day with, conversing with on us on topics beyond the touristy facts. He even bought us a lotus pod for us to try the seeds! We did the Impression West Lake Boat Ride, visited Lingyin Temple and finally learnt about the process of growing tea which our group enjoyed immensely. If you're coming from the Caribbean like us, I'd highly recommend going with a guide and choosing Sam and his group, it honestly makes navigating a non-English speaking environment a seamless experience. Thank you to Sam and his team! We had a great time!

Second time with this company and again a fantastic experience. A great way to see another of the Chinese ancient capital cities. The driver meets you at your location and stays with you the whole day. Making the best use of the time as you travel in comfort for the whole city. Grace (Jia) was a wonderful guide. Really knowledgable of the history and culture of the city. Fantastic English, the best I have experienced with a guide in China. I can recommend this tour and especially Grace for your visit to Hangzhou.

We had an amazing time with Grace! She was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and managed the day hitting everything we wanted to see. Would highly recommend

We visited the Guo zhuang Garden, the lingyin temple and the tea plantation village. Our guide Luke was very knowledgable, helpful and polite. The drive was also very smooth and nice car. We got to see key sites of Hangzhou city.

I really enjoyed the whole day. One of the many highlights was visiting Faxi Temple. The lunch today was absolutely delicious and delightful – it was such a wonderful opportunity to try two authentic local dishes. Luke was a very knowledgeable and generous guide, and our driver was also extremely safe! Today's tour was a wonderful experience!

West Lake is absolutely beautiful—we had such a great time there! On this lovely crisp autumn day, our guide Luke told us so much about Hangzhou’s history and culture. And the lunch today was so authentic, we really loved it. Thank you for this amazing day!

Hefang Street is so crowded. The old neighborhood has some new look though. West Lake is nicer, it’s really beautiful. Leo helped me avoid the busy crowds, that was good. The temple is really nice, I think.today is busy and good day. Thank you!

Today was very nice and happy ! Lunch was absolutely very good, easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had in China. I like it very much. The people in China are so friendly, our tour guide Leo took great care of me, and the driver was excellent too. I felt completely safe the whole time. It was the perfect experience. Thank you so much! was very nice and happy

Our guide Leo made our day in Hangzhou absolutely perfect — we really enjoyed it. We are a naturally curious couple and pointed out to a lot of things to ask about it. There was never a time when he didn't know what it was. He has great knowledge of the history of Hangzhou & the locations we visited, which gave the places we visited depth & meaning, which we enjoyed very much. Every place we visited was beautiful. He definitely knew the best and maybe lesser known spots to get great views at each location. Our itinerary went off without a hitch. Also, he's very patient while we stopped and bought some things and was very adaptive to our pace when we wanted to move faster or slower too. We had a absolutely wonderful experience overall.

This tour with Yuna was easily the highlight of our visit to Hangzhou. She knew so much about each place, and her sunny personality made our tour such a delight. Highly, highly recommend if you want a memorable Hangzhou experience! 🩷

We had an awesome experience with our tour guide Luna and our driver. Everything from hotel pickup to all the different tour spots was seamless. Luna was able to show us all the beautiful spots in Hangzhou and provide us with interesting historical information. We felt very taken care of on this tour. Would recommend to our friends and family.

Luna is an amazing guide. Very informative and patient. We had a wonderful time on our tour of Hangzhou

Luna was an extremely thoughtful and attentive tour guide, anticipating all our needs every day and accommodating every request with a smile for all three days of our private tour. She thought of everything, including local places to eat, where the cleanest bathrooms were, taking photos for us. She was quite knowledgeable on the history and all aspects of Hangzhou life. She even stayed out late with me to accommodate a last day request that wasn’t in the original tour plan. Just a sweet, wonderful person who worked really hard to make our trip better.

This was a truly unforgettable day and a highlight of our vacation! Chloe was such a wonderful guide who knew so much about everything we saw and was incredibly kind. Chloe made this so much more than just a way to see the sights - it feels like we truly got a peek at what life is like for a Hangzhou local. Thanks to our driver, Mr. Xie, we were able to get around quickly to all of the different places and see almost everything in just one day. Everything was so beautiful and took our breath away: the boat ride on West Lake, the gardens, walking through tea fields, and the Faxi temple especially. This was the perfect day trip from Shanghai to balance the big city with nature. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone.

We went to see the West Lake cruises in the rain today, and we heard a lot of stories. Hangzhou is really an unforgettable cultural place. Leo and the driver Wu are the best. I really enjoyed.

We went to see the West Lake cruises in the rain today, and we heard a lot of stories. Hangzhou is really an unforgettable cultural place. Leo and the driver Wu are the best. I really enjoyed.

We had a lot of fun at Hanzhou. The guide was friendly and accommodating. Do consider them if anyone is thinking of visiting.

A peaceful escape in bustling Hangzhou – thank you Chloe & Mr. Sun! We had only one day in Hangzhou, and this tour was absolutely the best choice we could have made. Our guide Chloe and driver Mr. Sun made everything seamless and enjoyable from start to finish. Despite traveling during a busy holiday season, we were pleasantly surprised by how calm and uncrowded our visit to Faxi Temple felt. It was such a serene experience – a true hidden gem away from the tourist crowds. Chloe shared wonderful insights about the temple's history and culture, which made the visit even more meaningful. What we loved most, however, was the tea field experience in Meijiawu. The rolling green terraces were simply breathtaking – so beautiful and so naturally peaceful. Walking through the tea plantations and learning about Longjing tea was the highlight of our day. Every stop, from the West Lake boat ride to the local lunch and Hefang Street, was well-paced and enjoyable. Chloe was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive, while Mr. Sun drove safely and smoothly throughout the day. If you only have one day in Hangzhou, we highly recommend booking this tour. It's the perfect way to see the city's highlights while still feeling relaxed and refreshed.

We had a nice relaxed private tour of Hangzhou, the Lake, the temple and the tea gardens. Also saw the commercial area. Our guide, Luna, was cheerful, helpful and allowed us to set the pace.

Chloe was an excellent guide who was full of information about the sights on the tour, including the legends surrounding local landmarks. She was very friendly and her English is excellent. Our driver, Mr. Chen, kept us safe and comfortable between sights. We enjoyed walking in the beautiful gardens around west lake and touring the linyan temple. Chloe gave us plenty of historical background so that we could better appreciate what we were seeing. After a delicious lunch, we made our way to the tea village. Chloe took us walking through the tea plantation so we could see how the tea grows and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The tea service itself was underwhelming. I thought we would see how the tea leaves are prepared and learn an bit about tea culture. Instead, it was just a cup of tea in a nondescript room and a pitch to buy some expensive tea and tea products. Despite this, I would still recommend the tour and our guide if you are looking for a thorough introduction to Hangzhou.

What a perfect day tour! Our guide Chloe was absolutely fantastic! She was so warm and welcoming upon meeting us at the train station. Chloe is a book of knowledge and shared so much about the area and each individual experience we had going on that day. It is clear she loves what she does and puts her heart into it. Out of a three week visit to China this tour with Chloe may be our favorite day. Each and every experience of the day was carefully curated and executed with such enthusiasm. From the boat ride to the stroll through the park. On to the temple and the tea farm with lunch. We absolutely loved getting a taste of the special things Hangzhou has to offer. Chloe you are a fantastic guide! Mr.Chen was a careful driver and got us to each location with ease. His experience was evident. Highly recommend this tour and if you’re lucky Mr. Chen and Chloe will be there to guide you through the day.

Fantastic tour. This is perfect if you want to just get picked up from the train station and not worry about anything else, but the itinerary is easy to customize as well. Luna was an amazing guide, she has a detailed knowledge of Chinese history and speaks excellent English. Luxury Van was extremely comfortable - a nice bonus if heading to multiple stops.

The weather today is really pleasant. West Lake is truly beautiful, and the boat ride was delightful. I really enjoyed today's lunch. Thank you to our guide Leo and driver Chen.

Great experience with the Chinese tour operator “Visit Our China”. Lisa was the lady liaising with me from the beginning. She was very responsive and very clear in her English correspondences. Lovely experience. My tour guides in Hangzhou, 小林，and Huangshan, 安安， were fantastic guides. They were very considerate and caring especially of my elderly parents. Their explanations were also very clear and i would introduce them to all my friends who want to visit Hangzhou and Huangshan. The drivers were very punctual and polite too, especially 谢师傅 in Hangzhou - he’s very knowledgeable and clear in his explanations too. Overall, a lovely trip for our family including my elderly parents!

I really enjoyed the tour! Chloe was super nice and knowledgeable of each place we visited. I get to know the most iconic places of Hangzhou in a day. She was also the best photographer and she even helped me to order a matcha latte and teach me how to use the sticks to eat:) Also Mr.Chen (the driver) was very nice and he was on time in every spot and he was very kind to give us some extra time to visit all places with no rush. I highly recommend it if you have just 1 day available.

This tour is a must do. The food was good, the stops were even better. We had been trying chinese tea since we had arrived in china, but today we finally learned about it's history and the science behind the medicinal properties it has. The lake was beautiful as was the temple. The old town was nice too. At the end of the tour we had extra time left to explore more aswell. Our guide Leo did a good job. Thanks

Guide Leo and driver Sun provided us a very smooth and thorough tour of Long Jing tea village and XiXi wetlands. In a very comfortable Buick car. Highly enjoyable experience for our private group of two adults and one kid.

We spent a day touring with our guide Leo. The explanations we heard in the Tea Village were really great, and the tea we tasted was excellent. We also visited the Alibaba campus. The weather at Xixi Wetland was perfect, and we even found seals with our names on them. It was a truly enjoyable day.

Our guide, Chloe Qiao, and driver, 孙师父, were professional and took good care of us, always ensuring our safety and well being are prioritized. Chloe was always enthusiastic and animated in her presentation. She has a cheerful disposition which made the tour very pleasant overall. The 1-day tour was educational and interesting, giving us a taste of what beautiful Hangzhou offers. We enjoyed the tea plantation experience and the bamboo forest. West Lake cruise and the beautiful garden stroll were pleasant and relaxing.

Started the day with our friendly guide, Grace, and kind driver, Mr Wu, meeting us at our hotel, then a relaxing boat ride round westlake and stroll through the garden. This was followed by stops as the itinerary stated. Nicely paced with easy chats about the origins, history and background of each site. What a lovely way to spend the day!

It's been pouring cats and dogs today. We braved the rain to see the world-famous West Lake in Hangzhou. West lake is breathtakingly beautiful in the rain, and the bamboo groves are stunning too. Thanks, Leo!

We encountered a heavy rain on the way, but today was a fulfilling day. We saw a beautiful cruise ship, and we really loved the tea village. We had very fresh and high-quality green tea. I especially liked the ancient streets and temples in the old town. I really enjoyed it, and we will definitely come back. We will recommend it to our friends. Thank you, Leo, and thank you, the driver.

Fortunately, it didn't rain today. Leo and the driver were really helpful and made us feel comfortable! Very interesting stories about history and culture by Leo and we couldn't recommend more this tour. We saw a beautiful bamboo forest, visited a delightful tea village, and explored the bustling Lingyin Temple. Thank you, Leo, and thank you, driver!

Today we visited various scenic spots in Hangzhou, and each place was so beautiful. We took a scenic boat ride on West Lake. We really enjoyed the temples & ancient street life. We especially enjoyed our experience at Meijiawu tea village. We also tasted a lot of snacks, including the famous tofu. It was such an interesting day, and we really enjoyed it. Thank you, Leo. See you next time!

Grace was an excellent tour guide! She introduced to a local Chinese culture and made us feel very welcomed. We have learned a lot about traditional ways and culture. We would highly recommend Grace to any one who would like to feel like a local.

We revisited the incredibly cool Longjing Tea Village. Returning to this familiar place filled our hearts with great excitement. Reliving the past moments left us with deep emotions. Thank you, our guide Leo, for your invaluable help. Until next time, thank you.

We took tons of beautiful photos and videos with the help of our guide Leo and the rest of the team. It was scorching hot at noon in the valley, but it cooled down nicely in the evening. The tea we tried was truly amazing—definitely a great choice. The highlight of the day was the flower show in the garden! It was a day to remember!

We visited the amazing Tea Village, explored a beautiful garden full of Chinese roses, strolled through the peaceful bamboo forest, and even saw the "giant panda" of Chinese plants! It was a really fulfilling day—we learned a lot and heard many stories. Thanks to Leo and Driver Chen!

We wanted to know the Silk Museum, and booked with Viator, and the agency was "Your way hollyday". Our kind guide was Luna. She got us inside the train station and we went to the Museum. The Silk Museum is a very nice way to know everything about the history of silk, from ancient times till now. There is many astonishing textile pieces, with didactic texts in Chinese and English about the silk history in China. The place is beautiful, the gardens are very well done. After that, we went to the Green Tea Farm district, where we had a very good lunch. Luna took us to taste green and black tea from a local family farmer. Everything was so nice! We loved the lady who demonstrated and explained the characteristics of each kind of tea and its properties! In the end, my friend ask her to buy some tea, otherwise she would not sell anything. A complete different experience from what we got at Beijing, when we got to a very comercial experience of tea demonstration. This woman received us at her house, showing us the family business. After that, we sae the Great Lake - is was too rainy, so we saw it inside the car. Such a beautiful place, we want to come back! Thanks Luna, who was very kind and understood perfectly the kind of experience that we wanted to have.

It was a magical day! Our guide, Luna, is the kindest person I’ve ever had the pleasure of having as a guide. She took us to some wonderful, authentic places. The highlight was a tea producer who explained the entire process to us and let us taste the tea right there in her home. It was wonderful. I’ll definitely return to Hangzhou one day to stay longer. The city is charming. Thank you, Luna. We had a special day!

Today is April 27th, and the weather is really pleasant. We went to appreciate the beautiful lake and mountain scenery of West Lake with our guide Leo and driver Shen. As the saying goes, "The water sparkles in the bright sun, and the mountains are enshrouded in a hazy mist even in the rain." We also tasted fresh green tea and saw the vibrant old streets. A lot of shopping but my partner appreciated it Thank you for this wonderful half-day tour!

April 21st. We met our tour guide Leo and driver Lin at the train station. Although it was raining today, we got to see West Lake and the surrounding mountains. We then visited Lingyin Temple which was very interesting with lots of history . We enjoyed a simple lunch that was recommended by Leo near the tea plantation. The food was very good and good value . We then visited the beautiful Meijiawu Tea Village, and it was interesting to see the plantations. Even in the rain, we visited an old street with so many different shops and experiences. The driver was very good and guide even better.Hangzhou is truly a city worth visiting.

Tour guide was most helpful in providing background to local history and culture for someone who only has come to this location as a first timer. This is only 2nd trip to china; provided a once in a lifetime experience. Most helpful in navigating the crowds of other Large groups. Very different one-on-one experience. Definitely will keep in mind for future trips!

This morning we met our guide Leo. We were so lucky that it hardly rained today, and our itinerary went extremely smoothly. We visited Lingyin Temple and took a boat ride on the beautiful West Lake. Everything was so refreshing. During the bright and sunny springtime, we also visited the world-renowned tea village and a bustling ancient street. Today was truly a day worth repeating.

Fanzhi provided a great service for this trip and was an excellent guide. She was attentive, polite and very knowledgeable about all the attractions. The tour was well-organised and made for a very comfortable trip. Would recommend this trip for anyone interested!

Today we completed our itinerary very smoothly. We not only visited the highlights of Hangzhou but also avoided the crowds. We saw the Peony Pavilion in Huagangguan Yu Park, enjoyed the beautiful lake views from a boat, tasted the freshest green tea of the year, visited the world-renowned tea village, and experienced the vibrant city of Hangzhou. The bamboo in Yunqi Bamboo Path was especially peaceful and serene. Our guide Leo helped us navigate all these places with ease. Thank you and see you next time!

Fantastic full day customised tour with guide and 6 seater vehicle that started with a fascinating morning at the Panda Research Centre followed by a walking tour of the very cool Yulin Road and Fanghua Street precincts. We then visited the People's Park and walked along the historic Jin Jiang rivers edge before ending up at the beautiful Anshun Covered Bridge. Our guide Schuyler was brilliant; he was very knowledgeable and engaging and had excellent English. He really made our day in Chengdu fun and interesting and showed us parts of Chengdu we would not have experienced without the benefit of his local insights. Caroline from Your Way Holidays was great to deal with when I was organising the day tour, offering suggestions and coordinating the guide, driver and admission fees to suit our itinerary and keeping us informed once we were in China. This private day tour was one of three in China I arranged through Caroline and Your Way Holidays; they were all great experiences that went according to plan without any hassles.

, we embarked on a visit to the enchanting West Lake during the delightful springtime. We inspected the sites where President Nixon had visited Hangzhou, paid a visit to a significant temple, and in the renowned tea village, we tried extremely fresh green tea. Finally, we explored the ancient city area. Today has been an unforgettable day. Thank you, and until next time!

In this blossom-drenched March spring is at its loveliest. At ten o'clock this morning, we met up with our tour guide Leo, and together feasted our eyes on the gentle spring vistas of West Lake. Having strolled through Hefang Old Street—steeped in down-to-earth local charm—the day before, we first paid a visit to the elegant and picturesque Guozhuang Garden today, then traveled to Meijiawu, the world-famous tea town, where we tasted a cup of freshly picked, crisp spring tea. This Jiangnan spring journey is so cozy and healing that it will stay etched in our minds. See you next time!