Overview
The Hangzhou Metro (杭州地铁, Hángzhōu Dìtiě) is the rapid transit system serving Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. It opened on 24 November 2012, making Hangzhou the 17th city in China to operate a metro, and it has grown quickly into the easiest way to get around the city. As of August 2024 it covered roughly 516 km with around 270 stations, and the network now includes 12 metro lines plus connecting regional services.
Riding it end to end is straightforward. Enter a station, put your bags through the security X-ray, then either tap a QR code or travel card at the gate or buy a single-journey token from a self-service machine. Ride to your destination, tap or insert your token to exit, and follow the signed exits to street level. Trains typically run from about 06:00 to 23:00 on most lines, with extended hours during holidays, special events, Spring Festival and New Year. On-board announcements are made in both Chinese and English, and platform screens show the next train's arrival, usually in 2–5 minutes.
The network
The metro is the backbone of public transport in Hangzhou, but buses, a BRT system, ferries and intercity rail fill in the gaps. Here is what a visitor is most likely to use.
Metro lines
- Line 1 — an arc-shaped line from Xianghu in Xiaoshan to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, about 53 km. It links West Lake, Hangzhou Railway Station, Hangzhou East Railway Station, Xiasha Higher Education Park and the airport. It was the first metro line in Zhejiang Province.
- Line 2 — runs northwest–southeast between Chaoyang and Liangzhu (about 43 km, 33 stations), connecting Xiaoshan Industrial Park, Qianjiang Century City, downtown Hangzhou and Liangzhu in Yuhang District.
- Line 3 — runs northeast–southwest from Xingqiao in Linping District to Wushanqiancun, north of Hangzhou West Railway Station (about 57.5 km), with a branch near Xixi Wetland serving Xiaoheshan Higher Education Park.
- Line 4 — a hook-shaped line from Puyan to Chihua Street in north Sandunzhen, Xihu District (about 44 km), linking Puyan, the south side of the West Lake scenic area, Qianjiang New City, Hangzhou East Railway Station and northern residential districts.
- Line 5 — a Z-shaped line from Future Sci-Tech City in Yuhang District toward the Hangzhou–Shaoxing city limit (about 56 km). It is one of the busiest lines, carrying more than 500,000 passengers a day, and connects to Line 1 of the Shaoxing Metro at Guniangqiao station.
- Line 6 — connects Fuyang District with Olympic Sports Park, Qianjiang Century City, the Asian Games Village and Hangzhou East Railway Station (about 50 km).
- Line 7 — links West Lake with Qianjiang New City, Olympic Sports Park, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and Dajiangdong Industrial Park (about 47.5 km).
- Line 8 — a shorter link (about 17 km) between Xiasha Higher Education Park and Dajiangdong Industrial Park.
- Line 9 — connects Qianjiang New City with Linping District (about 23 km) and links to the Hangzhou–Haining Intercity Rail. The Linping–Coach Center section was part of Line 1 until July 2021.
- Line 10 — a north–south link between Huanglong Sports Center and Renhe subdistrict in Yuhang (about 15 km), with plans to connect to the Hangzhou–Deqing Intercity Rail in future.
- Line 16 — an express metro line (about 35 km, 12 stations) linking Lin'an District with Yuhang District.
- Line 19 — an express metro line (about 59 km) linking Hangzhou West Railway Station, Hangzhou East Railway Station and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.
A quirk worth knowing: the Hangzhou Metro has the only metro system map in China whose first seven lines follow the hue order of the rainbow colours.
Connecting rail systems
- Shaoxing Metro — a separate city system that connects to Hangzhou Metro Line 5 at Guniangqiao station.
- Hangzhou–Haining Intercity Rail — connects to the network at Linpingnan Railway Station on Line 9.
- Hangzhou–Deqing Intercity Rail — planned to connect with Line 10 in the future.
Buses and BRT
Hangzhou has an extensive bus network, but schedules, routes and on-board announcements are in Chinese only. Bus types are distinguished by prefix:
- Routes with no letter prefix generally have no air conditioning (with exceptions such as route 900) and cost about ¥1–2.
- "K" routes are air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter and cost about ¥2–3, halved when neither air-con nor heating is running.
- "Y" routes are tourist buses serving tourist destinations, costing about ¥3–5.
- "B" routes are part of the Bus Rapid Transit system, using articulated buses at dedicated stations; you can transfer between "B" routes without paying again, and the fare of about ¥4 is paid on entering the station.
- Night routes have blue signs and K2xx numbers, cost about ¥2.5, and mostly run from 21:00 to around 06:00.
Fares can be paid in cash (coins or bills, no change given), with a dedicated bus card, or by tapping the same card used to rent bikes. Board through the front doors and leave by the rear, except on "B" routes. Buses have very little spare space even when not full, so avoid bringing strollers or bulky items, and be ready for fast turns and sudden braking.
Ferries
The overnight boat service between Hangzhou and Suzhou/Wuxi is no longer available. You can, however, still take a ferry along the Hangzhou–Beijing Grand Canal to areas north of the main part of Hangzhou.
Tickets & fares
Hangzhou Metro fares are distance-based and approximate; they change from time to time, so check the current figure before you travel.
- Starting fare: ¥2 for the first 4 km, with a maximum fare of about ¥9.
- 4–12 km: ¥1 for each additional 4 km.
- 12–24 km: ¥1 for each additional 6 km.
- Beyond 24 km: ¥1 for each additional 8 km.
- Journey time limit: 240 minutes (4 hours) per journey.
Ticket types
- Single-journey ticket: from ¥2. A physical token is valid only on the day of purchase and is recycled at the exit gates; an e-ticket expires if unused the same day and is refunded automatically.
- Tourist Metro Pass: sold at Customer Service Centres of all metro stations, valid within 6 months of issue. One Day Pass ¥15 (unlimited rides within 24 consecutive hours from first use) and Three Day Pass ¥40 (72 consecutive hours). Some sources also list a 5-Day pass at ¥60 and a 7-Day pass at ¥80. Physical passes are non-refundable and non-reloadable; e-tickets must be activated within 7 days or are auto-refunded.
- Souvenir cards: ¥15–¥80, functioning the same way as tourist passes and valid for 6 months.
- Hangzhoutong public transport card: a rechargeable card giving about 9% off for regular users, usable on buses, metro and ferries. Seniors aged 60–69 get 50% off; those over 70 ride free outside peak hours.
- Regular IC card and Hangzhou Multifunction Card (Hang Zhou Tong) are also accepted.
Discounts and free rides
- Free: children under 1.3 m (one per accompanying adult), disabled individuals, veterans, firefighters and blood donor holders.
- 50% off: students with valid ID and seniors aged 60–69.
- Seniors over 70: free off-peak, 50% off during peak hours (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00).
Buying and paying
- Self-service ticket machines accept cash, WeChat Pay and Alipay; select your destination station and receive a single-use token.
- With Alipay, search "Hangzhou Metro" and use the Transport QR Code (乘车码), then scan it at the gate.
- All bags go through an X-ray security check. Lighters, knives, alcohol over 50% and pets (unless in carriers) are prohibited.
- There is no re-entry at the same station within 5 minutes of exiting.
From the airport
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) sits about 30 km east of the city centre and is served directly by the metro.
- Metro: Line 1 and Line 19 both connect the airport to the city. The last regular airport trains run at around 22:30, extended to midnight on holidays. For very late flights, Xiangyang Road Station on Line 1 has the latest airport-bound train, at about 00:02.
- Airport shuttle bus: about ¥20 to and from the Xiaoshan Bus ticket office on Tiyuchang Road, next to the KFC just west of Wulin Square, also stopping at the main railway station en route. Buses run every 30 minutes during the daytime and take about an hour; buy your ticket at the booth just outside the exit before boarding. Departures run roughly every 30 minutes from 07:30–09:30, every 15 minutes from 09:30–17:00, every 20 minutes from 17:00–21:00, and every 30 minutes after 21:00. The Shangri-La Hotel also runs a shuttle for about ¥50.
- Taxi: typically 30–60 minutes to the centre, with a fare of around ¥90. The standard metered fare applies with no airport surcharge. When heading back to the airport, confirm with the driver before loading your luggage.
If you are arriving via Shanghai instead, direct buses run from Pudong International Airport to Hangzhou (about ¥100, roughly 2.5 hours), departing every 90 minutes from 10:30 to 19:00 from the second-floor parking lot across from Gate 15, arriving at the Hangzhou Yellow Dragon Sports Center about 3 km west of the centre. Hongqiao Airport mainly serves domestic flights and sits next to Hongqiao Railway Station, which has high-speed trains to Hangzhou East Station in about 50 minutes for around ¥73.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing: Join the designated queue or taxi rank rather than crowding the doors, and let passengers exit the train before you board.
- Escalators: Stand on the right and leave the left side free for people walking past.
- Priority seating: Priority seats are marked and should be given up to the elderly, pregnant passengers, parents with small children and passengers with disabilities. Elevators are available and marked with wheelchair signs.
- Eating and drinking: Avoid eating and drinking on the metro; it is not the local custom and can attract a fine or a reprimand.
- Rush hour: Peak times are roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:00. Avoid travelling with large luggage then, and expect crowded carriages.
- Security: Bag X-rays are mandatory at every station, so allow a little extra time.
- On buses: Board at the front and exit at the rear (except on "B" routes), and be prepared for sudden braking and tight turns.
Official links
Survival terms
- 地铁 (dìtiě) — metro / subway
- 车票 (chēpiào) — ticket
- 线路 (xiànlù) — line / route
- 入口 (rùkǒu) — entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) — exit
- 换乘 (huànchéng) — transfer
- 单程票 (dānchéngpiào) — single fare / single-journey ticket
- 一日票 (yīrìpiào) — one-day pass
Before you set out each day, screenshot your route from Amap (高德地图) or Apple Maps in Public Transport mode, since you may lose signal underground.