Happy Hangzhou 5-Day Travel Guide

Here's a super detailed 5-day in-depth Hangzhou travel guide, breaking down daily transportation, time schedules, ticket reservations, hidden activities, and more—perfect for travelers who want an immersive experience off the beaten path. Day 1: Discover West Lake's Hidden Secrets 🕗 6:30-8:00 Cycling on Beishan Street Transportation: Recommend staying near Beishan Street the night before (such as Xinxin Hotel or a hostel). Leave at 6:00 and rent a bike at the "Huancheng West Road bike-sharing station" (scan with Alipay, 200 yuan refundable deposit). Route: Cycle along Beishan Street → Gushan Road, key stops include: Xiling Bridge: Capture morning mist on the lake and mandarin ducks (best lighting before 7:00). Gushan Back Mountain Road: Sycamore tree light and shadow corridor, occasional squirrel sightings. Tips: Bring breadcrumbs to feed the mandarin ducks, but don't use the feed sold at scenic spots (can pollute the water). 🕗 8:30-11:30 Wugui Pond Rowing Boat Reservation: Contact a boatman one day in advance (recommended boatman: 138XXXX1234), shared boat for 4-6 people, 50-75 yuan per person. Route Details: Hubin Dock → Yangong Embankment → Wugui Pond → Yuhu Bay, passing through 9 ancient bridges including "Jihong Bridge" and "Suolan Bridge". The boatman will explain the legends of each bridge. Hidden Activity: Ask the boatman to stop at "Maojiabao" wild ferry, where abandoned wooden boats on the shore make great vintage photo opportunities. 🕛 12:00 Lunch Recommendations Nanshan Road · Wei Zhuang: Local favorite for Hangzhou cuisine, recommended dishes include Dragon Well Shrimp (128 yuan) and Water Shield Soup (38 yuan). Budget Option: Buy "Zhou Ping Zongzi" (8 yuan each for meat and egg yolk rice dumplings) at Dama Lane Market, paired with "Youbu Soy Milk" savory soy milk (5 yuan). 🕝 14:00 Jingci Temple's Unique Photo Spot Route: Enter through the side door next to South Screen Bell, head straight to the highest level "Shakyamuni Hall" to photograph Leifeng Pagoda through the round window (free, no need to enter Leifeng Pagoda scenic area). Easter Egg: The temple's "Wood-Carrying Ancient Well" is said to be a miracle left by Ji Gong. 🌙 Evening-Night 18:00 Photograph "Leifeng Sunset" at Changqiao Park, use a telephoto lens to compress the distance between the lake and the pagoda. 19:30 Hubin Musical Fountain (first show at 19:30, second show at 20:30), best viewed from the railing opposite the "Grand Hyatt Hotel" - fewer people and better angle. Day 2: Lingyin Temple Zen + Secret Tea Mountains 🕕 6:50 Lingyin Temple Alternative Route Entrance Location: Take a taxi to "Hangzhou Buddhist Academy", walk 100 meters to "Feilai Peak Gate 6" (45 yuan ticket includes Lingyin Temple, must purchase in advance through "West Lake Tourism" WeChat account). Route Order: Yongfu Temple → Taoguang Temple → Lingyin Temple, avoiding the main entrance crowds. Before 10:00, you can quietly listen to the Buddhist chanting livestream at Yongfu Temple (monks livestream chanting via iPad). 🕥 10:30 Vegetarian Food on Tianzhu Road Zhizhu Vegetarian Noodles: Must order "Mushroom Handmade Noodles" (39 yuan), add a serving of freshly fried vegetarian chicken (12 yuan). Easter Egg: The owner of the neighboring "Jiangnan Yi" offers fortune telling, free with purchases over 100 yuan (lunch only). 🕑 14:00 Jiuxi Eighteen Streams Hiking Route: Longjing Village → Jiuxi Smoke Trees → Jiuxi Bus Station, about 5km total, wear water shoes! Avoid: "Li'an Temple" is abandoned, but the ancient camphor forest in front is perfect for forest-themed photos. Easter Egg: Buy "Nine Curves Red Plum" cold brew tea (15 yuan) at the small shop next to the "Jiuxi Smoke Trees" stone monument, chill it in the stream water. 🌙 Evening Qiantang River Sunset: Walk from the Jiuxi exit to "Zhijiang Road Viewing Platform" to capture the tidal waves and sunset together around 18:00. Day 3: Ancient Eastern Wu Town + Thousand Island Lake Night Cruise 🕗 8:00 Longmen Ancient Town Transportation: Take high-speed train from Hangzhou East Station to "Fuyang Station" (20 minutes, 12 yuan), then taxi to the ancient town (30 yuan). Activities: Free Show: "Sun Family Recruiting Son-in-law" performance at 9:30/14:30, climb on stage for a chance to catch the embroidered ball. Hanfu Rental: Rent traditional Han clothing at "Moyun Xuan" at the town entrance (68 yuan/2 hours), includes 3 AI-generated ancient-style photos. Must Try: Sun Quan Gluten Balls (10 yuan/3 pieces), filled with bamboo shoots and pork. 🕞 15:30 Thousand Island Lake Night Cruise Transportation: Fuyang Station → Thousand Island Lake Station (high-speed train 40 minutes, 32 yuan), taxi to "Night Cruise Dock" (20 yuan). Cruise Details: Dinner: Onboard buffet includes Thousand Island Lake fish head and rice cake (similar to green rice balls). Vegetarians should reserve in advance. Photo Spot: Top deck, left corner, use slow shutter to capture the boat's wake patterns and moonlight. 🌙 Overnight Camping Facilities: Campsite provides teepees (including sleeping bags and mosquito repellent lamps), outdoor movie selection includes "Thousand Island Lake Romance". Easter Egg: After 22:00, borrow binoculars from the campsite staff to see the Big Dipper reflected in the lake. Key Tips 1️⃣ West Lake Rowing Boats: If canceled due to wind or rain, visit "Guo Zhuang" instead to photograph Chinese gardens (10 yuan entrance fee). 2️⃣ Early Lingyin Temple Visit: If you can't wake up early, visitor numbers decrease by 50% after 16:00. 3️⃣ Thousand Island Lake High-Speed Train Tickets: Book 7 days in advance, choose window seats (A seats face mountains, F seats face the lake).