West Lake, Hangzhou: How to Walk It
West Lake is free, open at all hours, and best seen on foot. Start early at the Broken Bridge on the east shore, walk the Bai Causeway to Gu Hill, then either follow the north shore or cross to the Su Causeway and walk south. That takes half a day at an easy pace. For a full day, add the boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, which costs 55 yuan in 2026 including the island fee, and end at Leifeng Pagoda for sunset. Walking all the way round is about 15 km, more than most people want in one go.
The rest of the city, and where the lake fits in a two- or three-day stay, is in the Hangzhou travel guide.
The lake in brief
West Lake covers about 6.39 km², with hills on three sides and the city on the fourth, the east shore. Two causeways cross it. The Bai Causeway is named after Bai Juyi, the Tang poet who governed Hangzhou, and the longer Su Causeway after Su Shi, the Song poet-official who had the lake dredged and the causeway built. The Yanggong Causeway runs parallel to the Su further west, quieter and lined with smaller gardens. Gu Hill, at the end of the Bai Causeway, is the lake's largest natural island. In 2011 the lake and its surroundings became a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape, and it was China's first 5A scenic area without an entry fee.
The "Ten Views of West Lake", named in the Southern Song, are less a checklist than a set of moods: willows and orioles, lotus in summer, moon on the water, Leifeng at sunset. Don't try to tick them all off. Pick the two or three that fit the time of day you're there.
A walking order that works
1. Broken Bridge, early. The east end of the Bai Causeway is the busiest spot on the lake by mid-morning. At 07:00 you'll share it with joggers and tai chi groups. It is about 20 minutes' walk north along the shore from Longxiangqiao station on metro Line 1.
2. The Bai Causeway to Gu Hill (about 1 km). Willows and peach trees, with views back to the city. On Gu Hill, the Zhejiang Provincial Museum's Gu Shan branch and the Xiling Seal Engravers' Society are worth a stop if you want a break from walking.
3. Choose your second half.
- Su Causeway, north to south (nearly 3 km). The classic walk, with six stone bridges and lake on both sides. It ends near Huagang Park and the south shore, about 20 minutes' walk from Leifeng Pagoda.
- North shore along Beishan Road. Shaded, with old villas and the Yue Fei Temple. Pick this if you're visiting Lingyin the next morning, as it is the same side of the lake.
4. Leifeng at sunset. Cross the south shore to Leifeng Pagoda about an hour before sunset. The famous view is of the pagoda from the water's edge. You don't have to climb it.
If your legs give out, the West Lake inner and outer loop buses (西湖内环线 and 西湖外环线) circle the lake, and shared bikes are parked along the main roads. Check the parking rules in the app, as some lakeside stretches are no-parking zones.
Boats
| Boat | 2026 price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Island boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Xiao Yingzhou) | 55 yuan; 70 yuan on luxury, painted or electric boats | Includes the 20-yuan island fee; no time limit on the island; you can return to a different pier |
| Hand-rowed boat (手划船) | 150 yuan per boat per hour, up to 6 people | Minimum one hour; 75 yuan per extra half-hour; island time counts |
| Sculled boat (摇橹船) | 180 yuan per boat per hour |
Tickets are sold from 08:00 to 17:00 between April and August, and from 08:00 to 16:30 between 1 September and 15 November. Winter times are shorter, so check at the pier. The island boat is the best value: the three small stone pagodas standing in the water off the island are the scene on the back of the 1-yuan note, and you can only see them properly from the island or a boat. Boats are cancelled in strong wind. Agree the price and the time before getting into a rowing boat.
When to go
- Early morning is quiet, cool and often misty, the best time of day by far.
- Late afternoon has the best light on the south and west shores.
- Evenings on the east shore around Hubin are lively and crowded, especially on holidays.
- Season: October and November are clearest. Lotus flowers along the north shore and at Quyuan Fenghe in July and August, but the heat is serious. The plum rains of mid-June to mid-July and August typhoons can cancel boats.
- National holidays bring shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on the Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge from mid-morning. Go at dawn, or walk the Yanggong Causeway instead.
Fitting the lake around Hangzhou's other sights
Keep Lingyin Temple for a separate morning. It needs a booking and three hours, and doesn't combine well with a long walk. The Yue Fei Temple is on the north shore, so it can slot into the Beishan Road walk or the afternoon after Lingyin. For dinner, Hefang Street is a short walk or one metro stop from the east shore. Liuhe Pagoda is on the Qiantang River and belongs on another day.
Frequently asked questions
Is West Lake free?
Yes. The shore, causeways and most lakeside parks are free. Boats, Leifeng Pagoda and some gardens and museums charge separately.
How long does it take to walk around West Lake?
About 15 km for the full shore, five hours or more with stops. Most people walk one or two causeways in half a day instead.
Which is better, the Bai Causeway or the Su Causeway?
The Bai Causeway is short and gets you to Gu Hill. The Su Causeway is longer and quieter, with water on both sides. With time for one, walk the Su. With half a day, do both.
How much is the West Lake boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon?
55 yuan in 2026 on the ordinary boats, or 70 yuan on luxury and painted boats, including the 20-yuan island fee.