Hangzhou from Shanghai: Ultimate Day Trip Guide
Shanghai and Hangzhou are 45 minutes apart by train yet completely different worlds.
Getting There
High-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East: 45-60 min, every 15-30 min, 73 RMB. Or I pick you up from your Shanghai hotel.
One Day Express
9am arrive Hangzhou. 9:30 West Lake boat. 10:30 Leifeng Pagoda. 12pm lunch. 1:30 Lingyin Temple. 3:30 Su Causeway. 5pm to station. 6:30 train back.
Weekend Trip
Day 1: West Lake, Leifeng, Lingyin, overnight. Day 2: Longjing tea hike, tea farm lunch, Grand Canal. Return evening.
240-Hour Visa from Shanghai?
Yes โ fly into Shanghai, use the 240-hour visa-free transit, travel to Hangzhou by train, and depart from either city. See our detailed Shanghai PVG โ Hangzhou step-by-step visa transit guide for the complete process.
Why Visit?
Shanghai is skyscrapers. Hangzhou is temples, bamboo forests, and lakes. 45 min from modern to classical China.
Book
From $225/vehicle. Pickup at Hangzhou Station or Shanghai hotel.
A Local's Advice
I've done this Shanghai-to-Hangzhou run countless times for transit travelers. Here's what I've learned: skip the morning rush hour (7:30-9:00 AM at Hongqiao is brutal), book your return train in advance (evening trains fill up), and don't try to squeeze in too much. One temple + West Lake + good food is a perfect day. Last month, a Canadian couple on a 10-hour Shanghai layover took my advice and spent their entire afternoon just walking Su Causeway and eating at Louwailou โ they said it was the most peaceful 4 hours of their 3-week Asia trip.
Shanghai and Hangzhou are the perfect pair. Book today โ
Related: Shanghai PVG โ Hangzhou transit guide.
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