Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
3.3/5
Based on 115 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise worth booking?
Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise is a 10-hour experience in Shanghai, China, from $135 per person. It scores 52 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.3/5 rating across 115 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 52 / 100
- Rating
- 3.3/5 (115)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $135 per person
Travel to Hangzhou, a city rich in culture, history and scenery, on a day trip from Shanghai. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, admire the architecture of Six Harmonies Pagoda, learn about China's most renowned tea a
What you get
- English-speaking tour guide
- West Lake Cruise
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Hotel pickup and drop off from the city center
- Admission tickets
About this experience
Travel to Hangzhou, a city rich in culture, history and scenery, on a day trip from Shanghai. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, admire the architecture of Six Harmonies Pagoda, learn about China's most renowned tea at Meijiawu Tea Village, and cruise on West Lake where the views have inspired poets and artists for centuries. You'll come to appreciate why Marco Polo sang the praises of Hangzhou and UNESCO designated the city a World Heritage site. Includes all entrance fees, lunch, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off.
What's included
Included
- English-speaking tour guide
- West Lake Cruise
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Hotel pickup and drop off from the city center
- Admission tickets
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
West Lake (Xi Hu)
Viewing Fish in Flower Harbor is located by West Lake. You will walk into this park and smell the beauty and peace in this world. After that is to have a cruise across West Lake to experience peace and serenity. The unforgettable scenery includes Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Bai and Su Causeways, Solitary Hill, and Leifeng Pagoda, etc.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Meijia Dock
This is Meijiawu Tea Village, where people understand the long-life living with a traditional tea ceremony and its significance to Chinese culture.
60 minutes here
Pagoda of Six Harmonies
Six Harmonies Pagoda is on to the most striking structure in the city. You will get to visit the charming museum and snap some photos in front of this architectural marvel that was built in the Song Dynasty.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- cmn, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Thu, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hantang International Travel Service
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum Departure: 3 Persons
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 115 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
4 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Pace and timing
4 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Traveler reviews
115 verified traveler reviews for Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Very nice day
A little too far from Shanghai, but glad to have seen this part of China. We knew there would be a lot of drive time and there was. That left the time to visit the sites short. We did not have an opportunity to climb the temple and that part of the trip amounted to walking to the base of the temple and into a couple of exhibit rooms, and right back out to the car. Similarly, the Lake part of the trip was a quick walk through the park to the boat experience (nice) and then back to the car. More time in the park would have been good. A detour to a tea company presentation/sales pitch was included and the time would have been better spent at the temple or park. The guide was informative and spoke very good English (majored in it at college). If you want to include this part of China in your trip when in Shanghai, know that there is a lot of driving time. The guide and driver provided a good long day (9.5 hrs) and we got to see a part of China we wanted to see.
via Viator
Magical Shanghai evening
Wonderful show! We truly loved the show, it adds a modern twist to the ancient tradition of acrobatics! Our tour was very friendly, amicable, and attentive to all our needs. The evening with a wonderful dinner, and a new part of Shanghai that we had not explored.
via Viator
I expected much more
Although Tom was extremely pleasant companion and I had great time chatting with him about life, i found this trip a waste of time and money. The description on tripadvisor is really fooling and way too exciting for what you actually get (plus some parts never take place such as the trail). The trip itself - out of 9 hours in total 6 was just on the road with crazy driving which made me quite uncomfortable. The lake - very nice but we spent very little time there, almost running through the park; the boat ride was 15-20min only. The lunch - very low quality. The tea ceremony - nice place but the whole ceremony was 2min, the rest was all about convincing you to buy their products which was extremely annoying; no time to walk around the fields. The pagoda - 1 pagoda that can be seen in 15min. That's it. Then we left. Out of 9 hours the real deal took around 1 hour and a half in total. All in all, it was WAY overpriced for what they offer and I will absolutely not recommend it. Please also read the reviews on viatar - they give a good overview of what you should expect and mostly share my opinion.
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful Day in a beautiful City
The trip to Hangzhou was more then we expected. Our Guide Lynn kept us informed the whole trip. We had a great boat trip on the lake which Lynn explained all the history of the temples in the area. We enjoyed our time at the Tea Mountain and the history of Tea Making. The trip on the bullet train was the best way to travel.
via Tripadvisor
Hangzhou day trip from Shanghai.
We were very pleased with the excellent service from our guide Tom, he communicated well in English and provided an interesting commentary of this amazing area. The only issue was sitting in traffic for a couple of hours. Understand this is unavoidable in these huge cities, one must put up with the delays to China's beautiful countryside. Pleasantly surprised at the clean cities, roads and the huge tree planting taking place every where on can see.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 3+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Thu, Sun
- Price range
- $135 to $169
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 40
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 52
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Shanghai.
How much does Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise cost?
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Prices start at $135 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Shanghai usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise take?
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Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Shanghai is not rushed.
Is Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 52 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.3/5 across 115 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Shanghai, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 3. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 10-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise?
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Around 40 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Shanghai can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Shanghai and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Hangzhou: Heaven on Earth Day Trip from Shanghai including West Lake Cruise start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Shanghai within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Shanghai?
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On Outty we rank every Shanghai experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights, Suzhou Private Day Trip from Shanghai with Bullet Train Option, 4-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai City Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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