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Essence of Hangzhou - Taxi fare included
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Joined 2025
In this tour you will experience the very essence of Hangzhou in just one day by taxi. All the taxi fare is already included in the price!
Note: Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak is not included in this tour because visiting it by taxi is very time consuming. If you would like to visit Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak, a car tour is recommended.
Two days tour is recommended for better experience in Hangzhou. Please message me for 2-day tour’s itinerary.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Hangzhou
Hand-rowed wooden boat cruise on the West Lake
The rowing boat is a perfect, old-fashioned way to enjoy the Wes Lake. A boatman uses a single long oar to steer you through the calm water, offering a serene and authentic journey. The view in the lake is stunning.
Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda with a history of 1100 years located on the shore of West Lake. From the top of the pagoda, you can overlook the entire West Lake. Inside the pagoda is a museum demonstrating the relics, history and cultures about the pagoda.
West Lake - Jingci Temple
Jingci Temple, located by West Lake, is one of Hangzhou's most renowned ancient Buddhist temples. With its elegant architecture, ancient trees, and tranquil courtyards, Jingci Temple offers a peaceful spiritual retreat amidst the natural beauty of Hangzhou.
Lunch
Lunch cost starting from 30 per person depending on your requests.
Hefang Street and Dajing Lane
Hefang Street is a vibrant, bustling pedestrian street showcasing Hangzhou's history, snacks, and traditional crafts. Just a few steps away, the quieter Dajing Lane offers a more authentic and artistic atmosphere with old buildings, specialty coffee shops, and stylish boutiques.
Longjing tea picking & processing or tea ceremony experiencing
Longjing tea produced in Hangzhou is the best green tea in China. We will go to a village with beautiful tea field to experience the process of tea leave picking and tea processing.
Note: Outdoor tea leaving picking is not available in several month (normally late winter to early spring). In case it is not available, indoor tea ceremony experiencing will be arranged in stead.
Ending Point
Your hotel (within 20 KM ranges from last attraction)
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
* Guide fee
* Taxi fare to attraction spots.
* Taxi fare from / to your hotels within range of 20 KMs
* Taxi fare from / to airport
* Taxi fare from / to your hotel beyond range of 20KMs
* Meal for you (from 30 to 150 RMB per person)
* Entrance fee for you and the guide:
Boat Cruise: 150 RMB or 180 / hour per boat (up to 6 persons per boat)
Leifeng Pagoda: 40 RMB per person
Jingci Temple: 10 RMB per person
Tea leave picking and tea processing / tea ceremony experience: around 100 RMB per person
Tour Important Information
* We use taxi for transportation (except transportation from/to airport). Taxi fare is included in the price
* If you are interested in places that are not in the list, it is also possible. Please send me message, I will then give my opinion.
* Meeting / starting time can be adjusted too.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2025
About Tour Guide Ben W.
I am a government licensed English-speaking tour guide in Hangzhou. I am enthusiastic about history and cultures and used to be an engineer in a Europe joint venture for almost 20 years. I chose to be a tour guide because I love making friends from all over the world and I am very happy to help you better understand China.
Hangzhou, know as “Paradise on Earth”, with the poetic West Lake, is the most beautiful major city in China. It has a very long history of more than 2000 years, once being the capital of ancient China. Hangzhou is also a modern metropolis with amazing city views. It is a paradise for shopping and dining.
There are a lot of famous attractions in the city. You can check the Profile Gallery for pictures I took from those attractions.
I have lived in Hangzhou for over 20 years and almost know every corner of the city. If you are interested in any of those attractions, just message me! I can arrange the tour for you. I can show you the most beautiful scenic spots, and explain the story behind them; I can take you to the most authentic restaurants; I can answer all your questions and I will let you experience the most real China.
I highly recommend you make Hangzhou a stop when you visit China. I am looking forward to seeing you here in Hangzhou!
Reviews
Bruce T.
“Great visit to Hangzhou”
Hangzhou is a beautiful city and Ben W. was an excellent guide. Met us at the train station and took us to all the important sites during our time there. Was very accomodative and knowledgeable. His English is excellent (you will need an English speaking guide to navigate the city). Definitely five stars.
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Ben W.
Thank you very much for your kind review. I am very glad that I could help and you enjoyed the tour in Hangzhou. I also enjoy the days with you because we had so many interesting conversations, so many happy laughs. All those happy moments will become a lifetime memory for me!
$220/ per group
More tours by Ben W.
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Essence of Hangzhou with Car (7 seater SUV)
In this tour you will be able to experience the essence of the whole city in just one day in a clean, spacious, comfortable car. Two days tour is recommended for better experience in Hangzhou. Please message me for 2-day tour’s itinerary
Essence of Hangzhou with Car (7 seater SUV)
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Buddhist and Vegetarian in Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a city with deep Buddhist roots. It's not just about religion; it's a living part of Hangzhou's beauty and culture. Lingyin Temple is the most important one where you can see magnificent temple and mystical ancient stone carvings. Because of the fame, Lingyin Tample is always crowded. So we will explore another temple with very few tourists to experience the true serenity of Buddhist. Vegetarian meal is very popular in Hangzhou because of Buddhist culture. We will experience it too!
Buddhist and Vegetarian in Hangzhou
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Hiking tour: Hangzhou’s beauty and traditional culture, 6 hours
It is a 6 hours’s pure hiking tour around the West Lake and in the old city downtown. The route is perfectly designed so that you can experience Hangzhou city’s beauty, tradition and authentic local life without distance just in one day. I will introduce all the attractions and answer all the questions about Hangzhou and China during the walk.
Hiking tour: Hangzhou’s beauty and traditional culture, 6 hours
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Local Life Experiencing Tour
Do you want to know what is a local people's life like in Hangzhou, China? This tour is designed for you to experience it in person. It includes visiting the old traditional market on the street, shopping in the China's biggest cloth market and the most luxurious super market in Hangzhou, enjoying massage to relax after one whole day's walk and of course taste the authentic Chinese food. I am sure you will love the life in Hangzhou! ^_^
Local Life Experiencing Tour
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Hangzhou
Buddhist and Vegetarian in Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a city with deep Buddhist roots. It's not just about religion; it's a living part of Hangzhou's beauty and culture. Lingyin Temple is the most important one where you can see magnificent temple and mystical ancient stone carvings. Because of the fame, Lingyin Tample is always crowded. So we will explore another temple with very few tourists to experience the true serenity of Buddhist. Vegetarian meal is very popular in Hangzhou because of Buddhist culture. We will experience it too!
Buddhist and Vegetarian in Hangzhou
Hiking tour: Hangzhou’s beauty and traditional culture, 6 hours
It is a 6 hours’s pure hiking tour around the West Lake and in the old city downtown. The route is perfectly designed so that you can experience Hangzhou city’s beauty, tradition and authentic local life without distance just in one day. I will introduce all the attractions and answer all the questions about Hangzhou and China during the walk.
Hiking tour: Hangzhou’s beauty and traditional culture, 6 hours
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Experience authentic local life in Hangzhou through Buddhism, history, and cuisine!
Discover Hangzhou’s rich culture in a day. Visit the ancient Faxi Temple (936 AD) and the China National Tea Museum. Enjoy seasonal blooms at Taiziwan Park, explore the elegant Hu Xueyan’s Former Residence, and end with a walk down lively Hefang Street, full of local snacks and traditional crafts.
Experience authentic local life in Hangzhou through Buddhism, history, and cuisine!
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