Zhejiang
Zhejiang is the province for West Lake in Hangzhou, the Longjing tea hills, canal towns and Mount Putuo, a Buddhist island.
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Zhejiang is a coastal province in eastern China, south of Shanghai, with Hangzhou as its capital. It is best known for West Lake, a freshwater lake ringed by hills, temples and causeways that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hangzhou was the capital of the Southern Song dynasty for more than a century, and the Grand Canal ends there, so traces of that period are visible around the lake.
Beyond the city, the countryside is worth a day or two. Longjing tea grows on the hills near Hangzhou, and spring is when the tea harvest begins. Shaoxing, to the southeast, is known for its canals and its yellow rice wine. Wuzhen and Nanxun are old water towns where you can walk stone bridges and canal-side streets. Mount Putuo, an island in the Zhoushan archipelago, is one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. Three to four days covers Hangzhou and a few nearby towns. Spring and autumn bring the mildest weather.
Zhejiang in five
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you travelMany shops, taxis and food stalls in Hangzhou take mobile payment, and both apps can be set up with a foreign bank card. Link the account before you arrive so you are not stuck at a checkout.Money and costs
- Use Amap or Baidu Maps, not Google MapsGoogle Maps does not work on the mainland, while Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps show metro lines and Chinese addresses. Save your hotel's address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.Phones and eSIM
- Carry your passport when you go outHotels register foreign guests from the passport at check-in. Keep it with you in the city, since police may ask to see it.
- Book Hangzhou East for high-speed trainsTrains from Shanghai reach Hangzhou East in about 1 hour, and seats fill fast on public holidays. Buy tickets on the 12306 app, the official China Railway app, or at the station.Getting around
- Check visa-free rules before you bookVisa-free entry covers many passports, but stay limits and entry conditions change. Check the National Immigration Administration website before you fly.Visas and entry
Things to do in Zhejiang
See all attractions in Zhejiang
Need to know
- Currency
- Renminbi, yuan (CNY)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; others need a visa Read more
- Emergency
- 110 police, 119 fire, 120 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+8, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, grey
- FebruaryCold, grey
- MarchMild, showers
- AprilSpring tea season
- MayMild, green
- JunePlum rain
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHot, humid
- SeptemberMild, drier
- OctoberCrowded, osmanthus
- NovemberCool, clear
- DecemberCold, grey
Right now in Zhejiang
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 88%
Zhejiang
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today18°12°88%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Wed19°16°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu23°16°51%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Fri22°14°6%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat20°14°96%Saturday: Rain. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sun17°14°98%Sunday: Rain. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Mon15°10°93%Monday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 93%.
Updated 12:47 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Wuzhenabout 1 to 2 hours by busA canal water town with stone bridges and old houses along the river. Go early, before tour groups arrive.
- Longjing tea villageabout 30 to 45 min by taxiTea fields and village tea houses on the hills west of West Lake, best visited in spring.
- Shaoxingabout 30 to 60 min by trainAn old town of canals, known for rice wine, with a short train ride from Hangzhou.
Before you go to Zhejiang
Rules for Zhejiang, checked
- Check visa-free eligibility and stay limits on the National Immigration Administration website before you fly.Source
- Declare cash and currency above the set limits on your customs form. Carrying large sums without declaring them can be an offence.Source
- Google services and WhatsApp are blocked on the mainland, so download offline maps and messaging apps before you arrive.
- Drug offences carry severe penalties in China. Never carry a bag or parcel for someone else.
Plan around Zhejiang
West Lake, the old city and the main sights for a first visit
Read the guideChina overviewCities, regions and entry rules for the whole country
Read the guideGetting aroundHigh-speed trains, metro and taxis between cities
Read the guideMoney and costsMobile payment, cash and typical prices for a day out
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa-free rules, stay limits and what to check before you fly
Read the guideWhere to stayLakeside, city centre and station bases in Hangzhou
Read the guideZhejiang FAQ
Is Zhejiang worth visiting?
Yes, for West Lake in Hangzhou, the tea hills around Longjing and the canal town of Wuzhen. It mixes city and countryside, so pick one base and make day trips from it.
How many days do you need in Zhejiang?
Three to four days covers Hangzhou, a day trip to Wuzhen and one tea village. Add a day for Shaoxing if you want its old streets and canals.
How do you get from Shanghai to Hangzhou?
By high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East, about 1 hour. Book on the 12306 app or at the station.
Is Hangzhou better than Shanghai?
Hangzhou is smaller and built around West Lake, with a slower pace. Shanghai is the larger base with more hotels and nightlife, so many trips use it as the arrival city.
Do I need cash in Hangzhou?
Mobile payment covers most purchases, but a little cash helps at small stalls and in villages. Carry some as a backup.