Hangzhou, China

Getting around Hangzhou

How to travel around Hangzhou — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Metro

Reaches the lake, the East railway station and the airport.

Cost: CNY 2–9

2. Bike share around the lake

The lakeside circuit is about 15 km, flat, and mostly car-free.

3. Lake boats

Ferries and rowed boats to the islands, priced per boat.

Watch outPer-boat prices quoted then charged per person at the end.

4. High-speed rail

Hangzhou East to Shanghai in 45 minutes.

5. Walking the causeways

Su and Bai causeways cross the lake and are the classic approach on foot.

Booking apps in China

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

DiDi

The dominant Chinese ride-hailing platform, with an English interface in the international app.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Removes the unlicensed cars that tout at stations and airports, and records the route.

Alipay

Handles metro and bus fares, taxi payment and most everyday transactions; supports foreign cards.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Paying digitally sidesteps the counterfeit-banknote problem entirely, which is the most common change scam in China.

Trip.com

Books high-speed rail and domestic flights with an English interface and passport support.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Avoids station touts reselling rail tickets at markups.