West Lake (Xī Hú, 西湖) is the most famous attraction in Hangzhou, and many travelers arriving at Hangzhou East Railway Station (Hangzhou Dong) want to head directly there. Taking the metro is one of the most convenient and affordable ways to reach the lake.
The Most Direct Metro Route to West Lake
The closest metro station to West Lake is Longxiangqiao Station (龙翔桥站). From Hangzhou East Railway Station, you can transfer to Metro Line 1, which takes you directly to Longxiangqiao without needing to change lines. The ride usually takes around 20 minutes.
When you arrive at Longxiangqiao, the B and C exits are the nearest to West Lake. However, the C Exit is the most convenient option. After leaving through Exit C, you will find yourself on a lively pedestrian street. Walk past the Apple Store and continue straight for about 5 minutes on foot, and you will arrive at the Musical Fountain area of West Lake, one of the best spots to start your exploration.
- Take Metro Line 1 from Hangzhou East Railway Station.
- Ride about 20 minutes to Longxiangqiao Station.
- Exit through C Exit (recommended).
- Walk along the pedestrian street past the Apple Store.
- After about 5 minutes, you will reach the West Lake Musical Fountain.
Alternative Metro Stops for Other West Lake Areas
West Lake covers a large area, and depending on the specific sites you want to visit, you may find other metro stations more convenient than Longxiangqiao. Here are some useful options:
- Ding’an Road Station (定安路站, Line 1): Best for visiting Yongjin Park and Qianwang Temple, located on the southern side of West Lake.
- Fengqi Road Station (凤起路站, Lines 1 & 2): A good choice for reaching the northern part of the lake, especially Broken Bridge (Duanqiao Canxue) and Beishan Street.
- Wushan Square Station (吴山广场站, Line 7): Convenient for exploring Orioles Singing in the Willows (Liulang Wenying), Hefang Street, and also for accessing Leifeng Pagoda.
Getting to West Lake from Other Hangzhou Railway Stations
Hangzhou has four major railway stations, and here’s how you can reach West Lake from each:
- Hangzhou East Railway Station (杭州东站): Take Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao Station (about 20-30 minutes).
- Hangzhou Railway Station (城站): This station is very close to West Lake. You can either walk for about 20 minutes or take a short metro ride (Line 1 to Ding’an Road or Longxiangqiao).
- Hangzhou South Railway Station (杭州南站): not an ideal train station for going to West Lake.
- Hangzhou West Railway Station (杭州西站): Still relatively new and further away. The best option is to take Metro Line 19 to West Lake Cultural Station, then change to line 1 and get off at eighter at Fengqi Road Station or Longxiangqiao Station. Then walk to West Lake.
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