Welcome to choose our Shanghai to Hangzhou day trip! We will book the round-trip high speed train tickets between Shanghai and Hangzhou for you in advance and you only need to show your passport to board the scheduled train. Go to the train station by yourself in the morning. Please feel free to consult your travel consultant for more information about catching the train.

After about a one-hour train journey, your private Hangzhou guide and driver will greet you at the Hangzhou Railway Station and then escort you to visit the famous West Lake, which is located in downtown Hangzhou. Surrounded by willows and dotted by islets and lotus flowers, the scenic West Lake has existed for over 1,300 years.

It attracts millions every year for its stunning Top 10 Scenes, which are scattered around the whole lake and through the four seasons. Your professional guide will take you to see the highlight scenery no matter what season you visit, for example, the Dawn on the Su Causeway in spring, Winery Yard and Lotus Pool in summer, Moon over the Peaceful Lake in autumn, and Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge in winter. The joyful sight of the 'Three Pools Mirroring the Moon' is even printed on the back of the CNY 1 note, which should also not be missed.

Thanks to its super long history, West Lake not only boasts beautiful natural sceneries but also gathers a lot of cultural sights with historic allusions, impressive love tragedy between a human and monster, and heroic legends through dynasties. Your professional guide will introduce you the most classic ones. A boat trip on the lake will be arranged, which is sure to be a memorable experience for you to soak up the serene natural beauty while listening to those interesting folk legends.

Cycling around the West Lake will be another good way to take in the lake. There are several places to rent bicycles and you may ask your guide for help if you would like to have a try.

After that, we will continue to Lingyin Temple where you will spend some time appreciating the profound Buddhist atmosphere. The Lingyin Temple is the oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Hangzhou with a history of over 1,700 years. It is regarded as a treasure of the Buddhist culture, housing various historic relics and breathtakingly enormous statues from different dynasties. Adjacent to the temple there is a natural and cultural wonder named Peak Flown From Afar, which your guide will then take you to appreciate. Highlights here include rocks that resemble animals such as dragon, elephant and tiger and more than four hundreds of ancient Buddhist stone statues. A local legend says it was a peak flown from India, which adds infinite mystique to it.

► Recommended Dining Option for Lunch (at your own expense):

You can trust us and visit the locally-renowned Inside Alley Restaurant, which specializes in local cuisine and also offers Sichuan dishes and various local snacks. Nearby residents especially love to patronize this place. The interior features a vintage décor that would transport you back to the quaint alleys of past Shanghai. It’s also conveniently located not far away from Meijiawu Tea Village, our next destination.

Average cost per person: CNY 75 / USD 10

Address: No. 18, Longjing Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou

In the afternoon, go on to explore Meijiawu Tea Village, where you can enjoy the tea plantation and learn about the tea culture in Hangzhou. Boasting 100 years’ history of tea plantations, the village’s hills and valleys are all planted with tea. Take a stroll along the country lane, and lush green is everywhere. This is undoubtedly the best place to stay away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the tranquil beauty. People here have made a living by planting and selling tea for generations. You can also have a chance to see the processes of tea leaves picking and tea making.

The last stop on our itinerary is Six Harmonies Pagoda, Hangzhou's most important architecture in the Song Dynasty (960–1279), standing by the turbulent Qiantang River. The ancient pagoda is nearly 60 meters (197 ft.) high. In the old times, people lighted the pagoda at night to guide ships. What makes it unique is that you can see the building has total 13 floors from outside, however, there are only 7 floors inside actually. Climb to the 7th floor and you get to overlook the photogenic West Lake and the spectacular rolling Qiantang River.

Finally, your guide and driver will transfer you to the railway station and help you board the train back to Shanghai. Hope you enjoy your one-day Hangzhou trip from Shanghai!

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