Overview
Hangzhou Metro is a rapid transit system serving Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province. It opened on November 24, 2012, and is the 17th city in China to operate a metro system. The network comprises 12 lines with 270 stations covering 516 km as of August 2024. To ride the metro end-to-end, you purchase a single-journey ticket or tourist pass at a vending machine (accepting cash and mobile payment), enter through the ticket gates, follow signs to your platform, board your train, and exit at your destination station. Trains typically operate from approximately 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
The network
Metro lines
Hangzhou Metro has 12 operating lines. Line 1 is an arc-shaped line running from Xianghu in Xiaoshan through downtown Hangzhou across the Qiantang River to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. It serves West Lake, Hangzhou Railway Station, Hangzhou East Railway Station, and Xiasha Higher Education Park. Line 2 links Xiaoshan Industrial Park with Qianjiang Century City, downtown Hangzhou, and Liangzhu in Yuhang District, running in a northwest–southeast direction.
Line 3 begins in Xingqiao subdistrict in Linping District and runs northeast–southwest, terminating near Hangzhou West Railway Station north of Wushanqiancun, with a branch serving Xiaoheshan Higher Education Park near Xixi Wetland. Line 4 is a hook-shaped line stretching from Puyan to Chihua Street in north Sandunzhen in Xihu District; it connects Puyan, the West Lake scenic area, Qianjiang New City, and Hangzhou East Railway Station.
Line 5 is a Z-shaped line stretching from Future Sci-Tech City in Yuhang District through downtown areas and ending near the Hangzhou–Shaoxing city limit. It is one of the busiest lines in the system, serving more than 500,000 passengers per day, and provides multiple transfer points. It connects to Line 1 of the Shaoxing Metro at Guniangqiao station. Line 6 connects Fuyang District with Olympic Sports Park, Qianjiang Century City, Asian Games Village, and Hangzhou East Railway Station; it is one of two metro lines serving the main 2022 Asian Games venue.
Line 7 links West Lake with Qianjiang New City, Olympic Sports Park, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, and Dajiangdong Industrial Park. Line 8 provides a link between Xiasha Higher Education Park and Dajiangdong Industrial Park. Line 9 connects Qianjiang New City with Linping District and connects to the Hangzhou–Haining Intercity Rail at Linpingnan Railway Station; the section between Linping and Coach Center was transferred from Line 1 in July 2021.
Line 10 provides a north–south link between Huanglong Sports Center and Renhe subdistrict in Yuhang, with plans to connect Hangzhou–Deqing Intercity Rail in the future. Line 16 is an express metro line linking Lin'an District with Yuhang District. Line 19 is an express metro line linking Hangzhou West Railway Station, Hangzhou East Railway Station, and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.
Hangzhou Metro has the only metro system map in China whose first seven lines follow the hue order of the rainbow colours.
Connecting rail services
The adjacent Shaoxing Metro connects the Hangzhou system at Guniangqiao station on Line 5. The Hangzhou–Haining Intercity Rail connects at Linpingnan Railway Station on Line 9. Line 10 plans to connect Hangzhou–Deqing Intercity Rail in the future.
Buses and ferries
Hangzhou has an extensive bus network with approximately 393 routes operating from around 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM, with night buses (numbered K2xx with blue signs) running until around 5:00 AM. Bus types include air-conditioned K-prefix routes (¥2–3), tourist Y-prefix routes (¥3–5), and Bus Rapid Transit B-prefix routes (¥4, with free transfers between B routes). Standard non-prefixed routes cost ¥1–2. Payment is accepted in exact cash, by dedicated bus card, or by tapping certain bike-sharing cards.
Hangzhou operates a water ferry system with 4 lines, all charging ¥3 per trip. These provide public transportation along the Grand Canal and other waterways, with varying schedules: Line 1 (Pujia–Genshanmen–Wulinmen–Xinyifang–Gongchen Bridge) runs 7:00 AM–6:10 PM weekdays and 7:00 AM–6:35 PM weekends; Line 2 (Xinyifang–Beixinguan–Hemu–Gucui–Gudun–Zijinghua Road–Yangjia Bridge–Jiangcun) runs 6:20 AM–5:30 PM; Line 3 (Datieguan–Zhaohui–Gongda–Daguan–Chengbei Sports Park–Xiwen–Gaotingba–Huanxi Yongning–Hangbo–Beijingyuan–Banshan) runs 6:30 AM–4:30 PM or 7:30 AM–5:30 PM depending on season; and Line 7 (Bazi Bridge–Baoshan Bridge–Guang'an New Bridge–Chaomingsi Lane–Caishiqiao–Kuiyang–Second Affiliated Hospital–Hangzhou Railway Station–Meihuabei) runs 7:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Tickets & fares
Ticket types and pricing
Single-journey metro tickets are distance-based: the first 4 km costs ¥2; 4–12 km costs ¥1 per 4 km increment; 12–24 km costs ¥1 per 6 km increment; and beyond 24 km costs ¥1 per 8 km increment. Single tickets are valid for the day of issue and are recyclable. Children under 1.3 m (approximately 4 feet) ride free when accompanied by an adult.
Tourist metro passes are available from customer service centres and are valid for six months from issue. A One Day Pass costs ¥15 and provides 24-hour unlimited travel; a Three Day Pass costs ¥40 and provides 72-hour unlimited travel. These prices are approximate and may change.
Cards and payment methods
Regular IC cards and the Hangzhou Multifunction Card (Hangzhou Tong / 杭州通) are accepted across the metro system. Mobile payment is available via vending machines, which accept Alipay. Some sources indicate a "Hangzhou Metro Code" through the Alipay app provides ticketing options, though specific details are limited.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets and passes are purchased at vending machines located in metro stations; these machines accept cash and mobile payment via Alipay. Tourist passes can also be obtained from customer service centres.
From the airport
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport is located approximately 27–30 km east of the city centre. Several public transport options connect the airport to the city.
Metro
Line 1 and Line 7 serve Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. Line 7 is noted as taking approximately 45 minutes to reach the city centre and costs ¥5. Line 19, an express line, also connects the airport to the city centre in approximately one hour.
Airport shuttle bus
A shuttle service charges ¥20 and departs to/from the Xiaoshan Bus Ticket Office on Tiyuchang Road (next to the KFC just west of Wulin Square). The shuttle bus also stops at Hangzhou Railway Station en route. Buses run every 30 minutes during daytime hours and take approximately one hour. Join the queue for your ticket at the booth just outside the exit before boarding. Service times are: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM every 30 minutes; 9:30 AM–5:00 PM every 15 minutes; 5:00 PM–9:00 PM every 20 minutes; and after 9:00 PM every 30 minutes. After all seats are taken, the bus departs within the stated interval.
Taxi
A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs approximately ¥90–120 and takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Standard metered fares apply with no additional airport surcharge. When returning to the airport by taxi, confirm with the driver beforehand that they are willing to make the trip before loading your luggage.
Hotel shuttle
Some hotels, such as the Shangri-La, offer airport shuttle services; the Shangri-La charges ¥50.
Etiquette & customs
On Hangzhou Metro, you are expected to queue when boarding and to board via doors in an orderly fashion. Specific local customs regarding escalator standing (left or right side) and priority seating etiquette are not detailed in available sources, though standard Chinese metro practices generally apply: priority seating is reserved for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and passengers with small children. Eating and drinking rules specific to Hangzhou Metro are not detailed in the available sources; however, many Chinese metro systems discourage or prohibit eating and drinking on trains. Rush-hour periods in Hangzhou are typically 7:30 AM–9:00 AM and 5:00 PM–7:00 PM, when trains are crowded and passengers should be prepared for busy conditions.
Survival terms
- 地铁 (dìtiě) — Metro/subway
- 车票 (chēpiào) — Ticket
- 线路 (xiànlù) — Line
- 入口 (rùkǒu) — Entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) — Exit
- 换乘 (huànchéng) — Transfer
- 单程票 (dānchéng piào) — Single-journey ticket
- 日票 (rìpiào) — Day pass
Download an offline metro map on your phone before your trip, as many drivers and staff speak limited English, and having a visual reference of your destination and route significantly eases navigation.