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Essence of Hangzhou, the West Lake - 4 hours
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Joined 2025
Hangzhou is a wonderful city that combines beauty, history and profound cultures. The West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou. In this tour you will be able to explore the very essence of Hangzhou in the West Lake area just in half a day, including boat cruise in a hand rowed old style wooden boat, visiting tranquil Buddhist temple and overview the whole West Lake in a historic pagoda.
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
West Lake - Su Causeway
It's a long, scenic causeway on the West Lake built 900 years ago, famed for its tranquil landscape of willows, blossoms, and charming arched bridges.
West Lake - Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda 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 relics, history and cultures of the pagoda.
West Lake - Boat Cruise, Hand-rowed wooden boat
The West Lake rowing boat is a charming, old-fashioned way to see the lake. A boatman uses a single long oar to steer you through the calm water, offering a serene and authentic journey.
Boat charter is charged by the hour.
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.
Ending Point
Jingci Temple or nearby bus / metro/ taxi station
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
* Metro bus or Taxi fare from hotel to Su Causeway.
The taxi fare is normally 3 RMB per KM per car for a 5 seaters car (for 3 tourists as driver and guide occupy 2 seats). For a 6 seater taxi (for 4 tourists) the price will be double.
* Entrance fee for you and the guide:
Boat Cruise: 150 or 180 RMB / hour per boat
Leifeng Pagoda: 40 RMB per person
Jingci Temple: 10 RMB per person
Tour Important Information
* We prefer to use taxi from hotel to Su Causeway. It is also OK to use Metro or bus but the time spent will be longer, thus 1 spot might be skipped.
* 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!
$120/ per group
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Tea Culture of China with Car (7 seater SUV)
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Essence of Hangzhou - 7 hours
Hangzhou is a wonderful city that combines beauty, history and trendiness. In this tour you will experience the very essence of the whole city in just one day, including: West Lake - the symbol of the city, Buddhist culture in China, the ancient style city center in the past and the modern city center at present.
Essence of Hangzhou - 7 hours
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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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