Three days in Hangzhou are best spent from one base beside West Lake: the lake, the tea hills and the old town are all rides, and a lakefront room turns the sunset into a walk home. This plan is organised around that stay and the choices foreigners should know.
West Lake is Hangzhou’s reason to visit, and staying within walking distance of its eastern shore puts you on the scenic loop, near the temples and the tea hills, and a short high-speed rail hop from Shanghai. The trade-off is price: lakefront hotels command a premium, while a short walk inland or toward the station saves money without losing the atmosphere. Here is where to stay and how the transfers actually work for a foreign visitor.