Overview
This Hangzhou West Lake hiking tour follows a route most visitors never take. It is a quiet 12 km walk along the western shore. You pass Beishan Road, Baoshi Hill, Maojiabu, the old pilgrim trail, Wuguitan, Flower Harbour and Su Causeway. Your guide walks with you and tells the stories behind each stop. Few tourists, open views, and a different side of the lake in any weather. See more things to do in Hangzhou.
Highlights
- The Whole Lake from Above — Climb Baoshi Hill and you get all of West Lake in one view.
- A Road Older Than the Temples — Flagstones laid for pilgrims walking to Lingyin. The same stones are still under your feet.
- Where Only Locals Go — West of Yanggong Causeway, outside the main lake. Quiet, and mostly Hangzhou families on foot.
- Su Causeway: Empty in the Middle — Crowds at both ends, almost nobody between. Inner lake on one side, open lake on the other. Most visitors never see it.
- Three Lakes in One Day — A city lake, a wild lake, and the open lake. All within 12km on foot.
- Hangzhou or Shanghai — Meet in Hangzhou, or start from Shanghai.
Itinerary
Baoshi Hill to Su Causeway on Foot
Your guide meets you at your Hangzhou hotel or Hangzhou East Station at 9:00 am, then a taxi to Beishan Road. Stone steps climb Baoshi Hill through trees to Baochu Pagoda, a slender 10th-century brick tower, then ten minutes to Hama Peak, where the whole lake sits below you.
You come down the west steps past Yue Fei Temple, then south onto Yanggong Causeway. The crowds fall away. Reed beds, old stone bridges, herons in the shallows. The Shangxiang Ancient Trail picks up from there, the stone path pilgrims walked to Lingyin. Tongli Bridge still has the original flagstones.
Lunch is your own. Bring something, or order a farmhouse meal ahead at $15. The afternoon stays by the water. Wuguitan, a small pond, is clear as a mirror, the bank in full colour, almost nobody there. Then Flower Harbour: a glass tank frames orange koi and Leifeng Pagoda in one shot.
The day ends by crossing Su Causeway end to end, where the light drops and the lake shows a side most visitors miss. The route is flat apart from one short climb, 12 km in total. Want a shorter walk? Contact us. Back by 4:30 pm.
What's Included
- Private taxi transfers from your Hangzhou hotel or Hangzhou East Station
- English-speaking hiking guide
- Outdoor travel insurance
What's Not Included
- Lunch (self-arranged: bring your own, or order a farmhouse meal in advance at $15 per person)
- Round-trip high-speed train from Shanghai (+$25 per person)
- Other personal expenses
Good to Know
- What to Bring: Comfortable shoes with grip. Bring a hat, sunscreen, a light rain jacket, and your own drinking water.
- Best Time to Visit: March to May and October to November give the best light and mild temperatures. The route runs in light rain, and the lake looks better in mist.
- Fitness Level: About 12 km on flat ground with one 70 m climb. If your fitness is not up to it, we can shorten the walk.
- Shanghai Departure: Buy your own high-speed train ticket from Shanghai to Hangzhou, about one hour. We can book it for you at $25 per person. Your guide meets you at the station exit.
