4-Day, 3-Night In-Depth Hangzhou Travel Plan

Covering three themes: West Lake culture, natural scenery, and intangible cultural heritage experiences: 1. Itinerary - Day 1: West Lake core scenic spots 1. Morning Broken Bridge (the origin of the Legend of the White Snake, arrive before 7:30 to avoid the crowds)​​ Bai Causeway (rent a shared bike and enjoy the poetic scenery of "a willow tree and a peach tree")​​ Zhejiang Museum (free admission, don't miss the Remaining Mountain Scroll of Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains)​ 2. Afternoon Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (take a boat tour and prepare a 1-yuan banknote for a photo)​ Leifeng Pagoda (climb the pagoda for a panoramic view of West Lake and learn about the Legend of the White Snake)​ Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor (experience the artistic conception of "fish leaping and lotus fragrance", bring your own steamed buns to feed the red carp)​ 3. Evening West Lake Music Fountain (two shows at 19:00 and 20:00, arrive 1 hour early to get a good spot)​ Hubin Yintai in77 (try the Hangzhou cuisine restaurant "Grandma's Home")​ - Day 2: Cultural and historical exploration 1. Morning Lingyin Temple (opens at 7:00, buy a ticket for the Feilai Peak Scenic Area before buying a ticket for the temple)​​ Yongfu Temple (a beautiful and quiet place with few people, try the vegetarian noodles)​ 2. Afternoon China National Tea Museum (Shuangfeng Pavilion, experience Song Dynasty tea-making techniques)​ Longjing Village (hike the Shili Langdang Ancient Path and taste Mingqian Longjing tea at a tea farmer's house)​ 3. Evening Romance of the Song Dynasty (book VIP seats 3 days in advance, the 19:30 show is the best)​​ - Day 3: Wetland and ancient street tour 1. All-day itinerary Zhoujiacun Entrance of Xixi National Wetland Park (take a boat tour and experience the "autumn reed snow", 2-hour route)​ Hefang Street + Southern Song Imperial Street (buy Wang Xingji fans and Zhang Xiaoquan scissors, try Dingsheng cake)​ Former Residence of Hu Xueyan (the mansion of the richest man in the late Qing Dynasty, the brick-carved gatehouse is a work of art)​ - Day 4: In-depth cultural experience - Route A (intangible cultural heritage route): Craftsman Living Museum (experience making oil-paper umbrellas/Zhang Xiaoquan scissors)​ China National Silk Museum (popular spiral staircase, Silk Road-themed exhibition)​ - Route B (natural route): Nine Creeks and Misty Trees (hiking route: Nine Creeks → Lian Temple → Yangmeiling Village)​ Liuhe Pagoda (climb the pagoda to see the Qiantang River Bridge, night tours require reservations)​ 2. Transportation guide - Long-distance transportation: high-speed train to Hangzhou Station (near West Lake)​, flight to Xiaoshan Airport (Metro Line 1 goes directly to the city center)​ - City transportation: West Lake loop bus (romantic routes such as WE1314), shared bikes (free for the first hour)​ 3. Accommodation recommendations Area Recommended hotel Highlights East bank of West Lake Hyatt Regency Hangzhou Lake-view balcony, walking distance to the music fountain Southern Song Imperial Street Hidden House · Yuyuan, West Lake Renovated century-old building, butler service Xixi National Wetland Park Floral Hotel Wetland view room, free boat tour every day 4. Must-try food list Category Recommended dishes/stores Tips Classic Hangzhou cuisine West Lake vinegar fish (Louwailou) Made with grass carp, fragrant with vinegar Special snacks Congbaohui (Sun Granny's Roll Shop) Secret sweet bean sauce is the soul Tea food Longjing shrimp (Tea Village) Shrimp must be soaked in Hupao Spring water Souvenirs Zhiweiguan pastry gift box Tiaotou cake and lotus pastry are the most classic 5. Useful tips 1. Ticket reservation: Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda, etc. require reservations on the "West Lake Tourism" WeChat account, book 3 days in advance for weekends​ 2. Photography time: the best place to see the sunrise over West Lake is Jixian Pavilion, the sunset is recommended at Changqiao Park​ 3. Avoiding pitfalls: be cautious when buying silk on Hefang Street, it is recommended to go to the Silk Market (No. 73 Yuhuangshan Road)​ 4. Special experiences: 500-year-old magnolia blossoms at Faxi Temple (mid-March), "Zen tea" experience at Jingshan Temple (reservation required)