Ask a QuestionDo you know that Hangzhou was also an ancient capital of China? Don’t assume that Hangzhou has nothing but the West Lake, there are more you can explore in Hangzhou, no matter the profound history, splendid culture, or the modern lifestyle. What not to do in Hangzhou? For a more enjoyable Hangzhou tour, knowing the following 8 things not to do in Hangzhou might be helpful.
As the West Lake is the most representative landmark in Hangzhou, more and more foreign visitors come to Hangzhou for a glimpse of the charming West Lake. However, don’t assume Hangzhou only has the West Lake, there are plenty more attractions you can visit during you trip in Hangzhou.
If you want to experience Buddhism culture in Hangzhou, just go to Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda or Leifeng Pagoda. To explore history and culture of Hangzhou, you can visit China Silk Museum, China Tea Museum or Hu Qingyu Traditional Pharmacy.
Additionally, if you’re really interested in tea culture, it’s great to pay a visit to Meijiawu Tea Village. Read more Hangzhou Attractions.
Six Harmonies Pagoda
It’s necessary to respect the local culture wherever you travel to. As you’re in Hangzhou, don’t ignore the unique culture of both tea and silk in Hangzhou, which will be more than impressive. You can try a cup of Longjing Tea, or go to main plantation of Longjing Tea to closely explore tea culture in Hangzhou.
Except for Longjing Tea, silk products in Hangzhou are also famous, China Silk Museum will be an ideal place for you to know more about silk culture.
Meijiawu Tea Village
Don’t miss the chance to get to ancient water towns if you are traveling in Hangzhou. If you’re a cultural buff, it’s worthwhile to travel out of Hangzhou to a nearby water town, including Wuzhen Water Town, Xitang Water Town and Nanxun Water Town. No need to visit each of them, just choose one or two according to your schedule.
The well-preserved houses and bridges make a perfect match with water views alongside, which provide you a great opportunity to enjoy the local life and explore folk culture there.
Wuzhen Water Town
Hangzhou is famous for both tea and silk, we guess most foreign tourists will definitely buy some Longjing Tea or silk clothing as gifts for families and friends. If you don’t want to spend more money on the same item, we suggest you avoid buying tea or silk products in any attractions, sometimes the quality is not so good, but more expensive than other shops.
Our local experts could help you find the best places to buy what you want, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you need our help.
The best months to visit Hangzhou will be March, April, September and October. We don’t recommend summer for visiting Hangzhou, because weather from June to August can be really hot, sometimes the temperature may be above 40 degrees Celsius. For the West Lake, sceneries in spring will be the best.
Summer is rainy season of Hangzhou, what’s more, there will be plenty of Chinese tourists traveling in Hangzhou, as it’s during the summer vacation for students. It’s better to avoid the National Day (Oct 1-7) and Spring Festival (late Jan to Feb), so that you don’t have to fight the crowds.
Hefang Street
Weather in Hangzhou may change in every minute, don’t forget to check weather report before you go out of your room. For spring, we suggest you take a jacket with you and be prepared for the unpredictable weather change. If you’re planning to visit Hangzhou during summer, you’d better bring your umbrella all the time, as it’s the rainy season in Hangzhou.
Nowadays, mobile payments like Ali Pay and WeChat Pay are the trend, most Chinese people seldom carry cash. As the headquarters of Alibaba is located in Hangzhou, it will be a great chance for you to experience the emerging development of technology in Hangzhou.
It’s fine if you just want to use cash, instead of mobile payments, however, don’t bring too much cash with you. In addition, you should always keep an eye on your belongings and beware of pickpockets, especially when you’re in the crowds.
There are various ways for touring the West Lake, you should never neglect your own safety no matter what kind of way you choose. Don’t stay too closed to the water when taking pictures, for the sake of your safety. If you’re planning to go cycling around the West Lake, be careful of the electronic bikes passing by. Take care of yourself if you take a boat on the West Lake and watch your steps when getting on and off the boat. A safe trip is the core.
The West Lake
Except for the above things not to do in Hangzhou, you can also contact us for more information about Hangzhou. Anyway, don’t worry about your Hangzhou trip, we’re glad to help you with all the planning. See our sample tours if you have interests.
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