📘 Part of our complete guide to student exchange in China
12M
people in Zhejiang’s capital
Free
West Lake & Lingyin Temple
¥2
metro rides from
45 min
to Shanghai by train
City Snapshot
Green, walkable and noticeably cheaper than Shanghai: a lake city with tea-covered hills on one side and a tech district (home to Alibaba) on the other. Best months: March–May and late September–November.
Top Experiences
🦌 Also: feed free-roaming sika deer at Liangzhu Deer Park, or catch the Song-dynasty show at Songcheng.
Explore the Map
Tap a pin for cost and transport tips.
- West Lake · Broken Bridge
- Leifeng Pagoda
- Lingyin Temple
- Longjing Village
- China National Tea Museum
- Hefang Street
- Gongchen Bridge · Grand Canal
- Xixi Wetland
- Qianjiang New City
- ZJU Zijingang Campus
- ZJU Yuquan Campus
- Hangzhou East Station
- Liangzhu Deer Park
- Six Harmonies Pagoda
- Yunqi Bamboo Path
- Hangzhou Botanical Garden
- Hupao Spring & Hangzhou Zoo
- Songcheng Park
Eat Like a Local
Neighbourhoods
Hangzhou Through the Seasons
Plan Your Days
Weekend Trips
Study in Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a major university city, and most exchange students head to Zhejiang University — usually its huge Zijingang campus in the north-west, a metro ride from West Lake. The university guide covers the campus-specific practicalities; this page covers the city itself.
Hangzhou · Zijingang main campus
Zhejiang University
Campuses · Dorms · Courses · Arrival · Campus life
Going to a different university? Search all university guides or suggest yours.
Student life in Hangzhou (tap to expand)
- University areas: ZJU Zijingang (Metro 2 & 5), ZJU Yuquan near the lake, Xiasha in the east (Line 1), Xiaoheshan in the west (Line 3).
- Going out: Hubin and Wulin for shopping; bars around Shuguang Road (曙光路); BBQ streets near every campus.
- Study spots: campus libraries, Hangzhou Library and student-friendly cafés.
- Costs: see the budget calculator.
Getting around Hangzhou (tap to expand)
- Rail stations: Hangzhou East (most high-speed trains, Metro 1 & 4), Hangzhou West (Metro 3 & 19), Hangzhou Station (city centre, Metro 1 & 5).
- Airport: Metro Lines 1, 7 and 19 — about an hour to the lake.
- Local quirk: taxis are kept out of the Lingyin area on weekends and holidays — take bus 7.
New to China?
Set up payments, mobile data and essential apps before exploring Hangzhou — each topic has one national guide, so this page stays focused on the city itself.
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay · Get a SIM, eSIM and internet access · Install the essential apps · Book high-speed trains · Visa & documents · Your first 48 hours
Last updated: September 2026. Prices, opening hours and rules in China change often — treat costs as estimates and confirm anything important with the official source before you go.
Photos: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Peter Dowley from Dubai, United Arab Emirates / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Tyg728 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wishva de Silva / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Windmemories / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo by AMANDA LIM on Pexels.com · Windmemories / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Yinweichen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Nat4Eben / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Aaron Zhu / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · zhiyin586@163.com / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) · User:Vmenkov / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · zhiyin586@163.com / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) · Nicor / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · User:CatOnMars / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wanderingchina / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · David Zhang from Canada / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Windmemories / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · zh:User:Mywood / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Yumeto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
,_Hangzhou_(2790877585).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}