A Gastronomic Guide to Hangzhou
West Lake classics, Longjing tea and serene retreats: where to eat and stay in Hangzhou.
Hangzhou is one of China's most refined destinations, where landscape, tea and cuisine are closely intertwined. This guide gathers the restaurants and retreats that best capture that harmony.
A delicate cuisine
Hangzhou cooking is light, seasonal and subtle. West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork braised for hours, and river shrimp stir-fried with fresh Longjing tea leaves are the classics. Louwailou serves them in a historic setting on the lake, while Jin Sha offers a more refined interpretation.
Tea and the seasons
Longjing, or Dragon Well, is one of China’s most prized green teas, grown in the hills around the lake. Spring, when the first leaves are picked, is the best time to visit the villages. Longjing Manor, among the tea hills, builds its menus around the seasons and small producers.
Where to stay
Amanfayun offers temple-valley serenity, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake a garden by the water, and Fuchun Resort a retreat among tea terraces outside the city.
Practical notes
Visit West Lake early in the morning to avoid crowds. Spring is the season for new Longjing tea. Hangzhou pairs easily with Shanghai, about an hour away by high-speed train.