Hangzhou Metro Guide

The Hangzhou Metro is the fastest and cheapest way to navigate the city. With 12 operational lines spanning over 516 km and serving roughly 3.5 million daily riders, the network connects every major tourist attraction, both railway stations, and Xiaoshan International Airport. This guide covers the lines you need, station-by-station tips, payment methods, and practical advice for riding like a local.

Hangzhou Metro Network Overview

As of 2026, the Hangzhou Metro operates 12 lines with more than 260 stations. The system carries approximately 3.5 million passengers on an average weekday, with ridership spiking above 5 million during national holidays. Total track length exceeds 516 km, making it one of the ten longest metro systems in China. Trains run every 2 to 6 minutes during peak hours and every 5 to 8 minutes off-peak. All stations have bilingual signage (Chinese and English), and announcements are made in both languages. Platform screen doors are installed on all lines, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the network.

The system is divided into fare zones based on distance, not concentric rings. Transfers between lines are free as long as you stay within the paid area. Most tourist-relevant destinations sit on just four lines: Line 1, Line 4, Line 5, and Line 7.

Key Metro Lines for Tourists

Line 1 (Red) — The Tourist Backbone

Line 1 is the single most important line for visitors. It runs north-south through the city center, connecting Xiaoshan International Airport in the south to Linping in the north, with 34 stations over approximately 54 km. Travel time from end to end is about 80 minutes.

Key stations for tourists:

• Longxiangqiao (龙翔桥) — The closest station to West Lake. Exit B puts you 5 minutes from the Hubin promenade and the Musical Fountain. This is the busiest tourist station in the entire network, especially on weekends and holidays.
• Fengqi Road (凤起路) — Walk 10 minutes south to reach the north shore of West Lake near Broken Bridge. Also connects to the Wulin shopping district heading north.
• Ding’an Road (定安路) — Walk 5 minutes to Hefang Street (清河坊), the famous pedestrian shopping street with traditional architecture and snack stalls.
• Wulin Square (武林广场) — Major shopping hub with Intime Department Store, Hangzhou Tower, and the Wulin Night Market. Transfer point to Line 3.
• Chengzhan (城站) — Hangzhou Main Railway Station (often called “Hangzhou Station”). Not to be confused with Hangzhou East Station.
• Hangzhou East Station (杭州东站) — The primary high-speed rail hub. Transfer here for trains to Shanghai (1 hour), Beijing (4.5 hours), and most other major cities.
• Xiaoshan International Airport (萧山国际机场) — Terminal 1, 2, and 3 all have metro access. Travel time to Longxiangqiao is approximately 60 minutes.

Line 7 (Orange) — Airport Express

Line 7 provides a faster airport connection from Qingshuiwan to Jiangnan, passing through Olympic Sports Center and Civic Center. It is particularly useful if your hotel is in the Qianjiang New Town area, cutting airport travel time to about 40 minutes compared to 60 on Line 1. Trains run every 5 to 7 minutes.

Key stations:

• Olympic Sports Center (奥体中心) — Near the Lotus-shaped stadium and the Big Lotus tennis venue.
• Civic Center (市民中心) — Transfer to Line 4. Walk to City Balcony for the Qiantang River light show.

Line 4 (Green) — Qianjiang and South Lake

Line 4 connects Qianjiang New Town with the southern West Lake area. It is essential for reaching the City Balcony light show and the Leifeng Pagoda area.

Key stations:

• Civic Center (市民中心) — City Balcony, Qiantang River views, and the spectacular light show on weekend evenings.
• Near West Lake area — Access to Leifeng Pagoda and Changqiao (Long Bridge) viewing area.
• Jiangling Road (江陵路) — Transfer to Line 6 for Binjiang district.

Line 5 (Yellow) — Cross-City and Xixi

Line 5 runs east-west across the city and is your best option for reaching Xixi Wetland and the Grand Canal area.

Key stations:

• Xixi Wetland North (西溪湿地北) — Direct access to Xixi Wetland Park’s north entrance. The park is a UNESCO site with boat tours through reed-lined waterways.
• Gongchenqiao East (拱宸东) — Walk to Gongchen Bridge, the Grand Canal, and several canal-side museums including the China Umbrella Museum and Knife Museum.
• Chengzhan (城站) — Transfer to Line 1 for Hangzhou Main Railway Station.

Tourist Station Guide

Fares and Ticketing

Hangzhou Metro uses a distance-based fare system. There are no zone-based tickets — you simply pay based on how far you travel. Fares are among the lowest of any major Chinese metro system.

Distance	Price
0–4 km	¥2
4–12 km	¥3
12–24 km	¥4
24–40 km	¥5
40+ km	¥6–9 (max ¥9)

Common tourist fares: Airport to Longxiangqiao ¥7, Longxiangqiao to Xixi Wetland North ¥5, Fengqi Road to Civic Center ¥3.

Transfer rules: Transfers between lines within the paid area are free and do not reset your fare. You only pay based on total distance from entry to exit. If you exit the paid area and re-enter, you start a new journey. There is no time limit for transfers, but the maximum stay within the paid area is 4 hours — exceeding this incurs an overstay fee.

Discounts: Alipay transport codes receive a 10% discount on every ride. Monthly pass holders get 50% off after the first 100 yuan of monthly spending. Seniors over 70 ride free with a senior card. Children under 1.3 m tall ride free when accompanied by an adult.

How to Pay

Alipay / WeChat Pay QR Code (Recommended)

This is the fastest and most common method. Open Alipay, go to “Transport” (出行), select Hangzhou Metro, and a QR code appears. Scan it at the entry gate, then scan again at the exit gate — the fare is deducted automatically. WeChat Pay works identically through its “Transport” mini-program. Both apps offer a 10% discount on metro fares. You must have Alipay or WeChat Pay set up with a linked payment method before using this option.

Single-Journey Tokens

Buy tokens from ticket vending machines at every station. Machines accept cash (¥1 coins and ¥5, ¥10, ¥20 bills) and Alipay/WeChat QR payments. Select your destination station on the touchscreen (English language option available), pay, and receive a green plastic token. Tap the token on the entry gate reader, then drop it into the slot at the exit gate. Tokens are valid for one journey only and must be used within 4 hours of purchase.

Apple Pay and Foreign Credit Cards

Apple Pay does not work directly on Hangzhou Metro gates. However, you can add a China UnionPay card to Apple Pay and use it at some gates that support UnionPay QuickPass — look for the silver “闪付” symbol on the gate reader. Foreign Visa and Mastercard are not accepted at metro gates or ticket machines. If you do not have Alipay or WeChat Pay set up, buy tokens with cash from the machines.

Tourist Day Passes

Hangzhou Metro does not currently offer a tourist day pass or multi-day pass. For most visitors, the per-ride fares are low enough (¥2–7 per trip) that a day pass would not save money unless you take more than 8 rides in a single day. If you are a heavy metro user, the Alipay 10% discount is the best available savings.

Operating Hours

First trains: Depart between 06:00 and 06:30 depending on the station and line. Terminal stations start earlier; mid-line stations see their first train slightly later.

Last trains: Depart between 22:00 and 22:30 from terminal stations. The last train from Longxiangqiao heading toward the airport leaves at approximately 22:30. If you are traveling from a mid-line station, your last train may be as early as 22:45 since it passes through later.

Friday and Saturday extended hours: On weekends, Line 1 and Line 4 extend service by approximately 30 minutes, with last trains departing around 23:00 from major stations. This extension is not guaranteed and may be suspended during maintenance periods.

Frequency: Peak hours (07:00–09:00, 17:00–19:30) trains run every 2 to 4 minutes. Off-peak, expect 5 to 8 minute intervals. Late evening (after 21:00) frequency drops to 8 to 10 minutes.

Rush Hour Tips

Hangzhou Metro gets extremely crowded during weekday rush hours. If you can avoid traveling during these windows, your experience will be much more pleasant.

Peak hours to avoid:

• 07:30–09:00 — Morning commute. Lines 1 and 5 are the most crowded, especially between Fengqi Road and Hangzhou East Station.
• 17:30–19:30 — Evening commute. Longxiangqiao station becomes packed with tourists and commuters alike.

Worst stations during rush hour:

• Longxiangqiao — Often implements flow control (限流) on weekends and holidays. You may wait 10 to 15 minutes outside the station before being allowed in.
• Wulin Square — Major transfer point between Lines 1 and 3. Crowded throughout the day.
• Hangzhou East Station — Extremely busy when high-speed trains arrive in batches. Avoid the 17:00–19:00 window if possible.

Tips for avoiding crowds: Start your sightseeing before 8:00 (most attractions open at 08:00 or 08:30). Use Fengqi Road instead of Longxiangqiao for West Lake access. Travel between 10:00 and 16:30 for the least crowded rides. On weekends, consider taking a bus or Didi instead of the metro near West Lake.

Luggage and Connections

Carrying Luggage on the Metro

All bags must go through X-ray security scanners at station entrances. This is mandatory and adds 30 to 60 seconds to your entry time. During peak hours, security lines can take 5 to 10 minutes at busy stations.

Size limits: Bags must not exceed 30 kg in weight or 1.8 m in total dimensions (length + width + height). Standard suitcases are fine. Oversized items like bicycles (even foldable ones) are not permitted.

Practical advice: Avoid traveling with large luggage during rush hours. Elevators are available at all stations but are sometimes located at the far end of the platform — look for the elevator symbol on platform signs. If you are traveling between the airport and a city-center hotel with heavy bags, consider taking Didi instead for door-to-door convenience.

Metro-to-Scenic-Area Connections

Some popular attractions require a short bus ride or walk from the nearest metro station. Here are the key connections:

• Lingyin Temple: Take Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then bus 7 from the Hubin bus stop (15 minutes). Or take a Didi from the station (8 minutes, approximately ¥15).
• Longjing Tea Village: Take Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then bus 27 or Didi (20 minutes by car).
• Baochu Pagoda: Take Line 1 to Fengqi Road, then walk 15 minutes uphill.
• China National Silk Museum: Take Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then bus 12 or walk 20 minutes south.
• Hangzhou Paradise Park: Take Line 1 to Xianghu Station, then walk 10 minutes.

FAQ