Hangzhou

Hangzhou pairs natural beauty with serious economic clout. The UNESCO-listed West Lake sits right in the city, framed by tea hills and temples, while districts like Binjiang and Yuhang anchor one of China's biggest tech ecosystems. It's cleaner and more relaxed than the megacities, yet still highly connected — Shanghai is under an hour away by high-speed rail.

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH) is the main airport, southeast of the city, with growing international service across Asia. Metro Line 1 and the airport rail link connect it to the city center, and Didi is straightforward for door-to-door trips.

Hangzhou East Railway Station is one of the largest in China and links to Shanghai in about 45–60 minutes, plus fast connections to Nanjing, Suzhou, and onward across the network. For many people, the train is the easiest way in and out.

Hangzhou's metro has expanded rapidly and now covers most of the city and suburbs with many lines. It's clean, cheap, and easy to use with Alipay or a transit QR code. Stations reach West Lake, the railway stations, and the airport.

Didi works everywhere — set pickup and drop-off in the app, no language needed. Shared bikes (Meituan, Hello Bike) are everywhere and ideal for the flat areas around the lake and canals. Walking around West Lake itself is one of the best things to do in the city.

The scenic heart of the city — the lake, causeways, tea houses, and historic streets like Hefang Street. Beautiful to live near or visit, and central to everything that makes Hangzhou special.

Across the Qiantang River — a modern district that's a center of gravity for tech and startups, with newer apartments and a younger, professional crowd.

Hangzhou's modern CBD along the river, with high-rises, the landmark riverside skyline, malls, and a more corporate feel. A good base if you're working with one of the big companies in town.

West Lake is the must-see — pagodas, gardens, and causeways you can walk or bike for hours. Just uphill, the Longjing (Dragon Well) tea villages produce China's most famous green tea; you can visit the plantations and drink it fresh. Lingyin Temple and the Xixi Wetland round out the essentials.