May Day in Hangzhou: Local's Playbook to Actually Having a Blast (Forget the Crowds!)

[Velma Thompson]

Hello everyone who is visiting Hangzhou!

It's the May Day holiday again! I can't help but feel anxious for you as Hangzhou becomes flooded with people. Want to play around Hangzhou elegantly without going through the crowds? Of course, follow the advice of a local!

Honestly, some tourist activities are not something I could easily stand... Always choosing crowded places to visit, they complain about how "Hangzhou is just like that" and "the West Lake is nothing special" after being tired from one day of sightseeing. Sigh, really don't know what else to say.

Now then, let me share my ideas on how to enjoy yourself gracefully while experiencing the beauty of Hangzhou.

Idea 1: Off-Peak Leisure Trip

Step One: Date with Sunrise

• First, get up early! Before the sun rises and make your way to the West Lake.
• At this time, although there'll be more people than usual, it’s far better than during the day! You may observe the sunrise at popular destinations like the Jade Mountain or the Su Causeway, Bai Causeway.
• Highly recommended: Experience the "blue hour" of the West Lake when the sky takes on a serene blue glow before sunrise — perfect for rejuvenation and healing. The pictures are beautiful too, and best of all, it's not crowded.

Step Two: Sweet Naps Are Best After an Early Morning Journey

• After enjoying the beautiful scenery early, you might feel a little exhausted, right? It's best to head back to your hotel to catch some Z's.
• During May Day, Hangzhou usually gets quite hot, so walking around in the sweltering sun during the daytime is truly miserable, not to mention taking pictures won’t look great due to harsh sunlight.

Step Three: Sweet Afternoon Tea Time

• Woken up but still feeling the heat outside? Find a tea shop to spend your afternoon!
• Hangzhou's teahouses are notorious for their competitive service and high-quality products (because they’re in fierce competition). By searching on your review app, you’ll find plenty of good options. Enjoy coffee, drinks and snacks and wander around without exhaustion.

Step Four: Gentle Sunset

• As the evening cools down, watching the sunset by the West Lake is incredibly soothing. At this time, you may go to Lake Front (that area along the east of West Lake near city center) to see the sunset.

Step Five: A Subway-Savvy Commuter Hack

• (Important note! ) After viewing the sunset, don’t head to the Longxiaoqiao subway station! It's extremely crowded!
• Instead, walk to Ding'an Road subway station, which will have far fewer crowds. Besides, this route offers unique architecture and some great restaurants to pass by on the way.

There you have the first approach, following which surely, you won’t feel overwhelmed, and the experience will be much better!

More Possible Scenarios and Strategies:

Morning Activities where people are few and spots beautiful, slow and steady wins:

• The entire West Lake deserves an early morning walk around, each corner providing a different appeal.
• Along Grand Canal, say Xiaohe Straight Street, Dadaolu History Street and Dachun Ridge Bridge itself offers unique Jiangnan style charm.
• Near Hangtang River or Binjiang District, you may glimpse open riverscapes.

Daytime Sightseeing Tips:

• Firstly, stay cool inside hotels, or find comfortable tea shops, cafes.
• If you intend to continue exploring West Lake, avoid its core visitor zones (such as Broken Bridge, Bai Causeway, Su Causeway).
• Consider going to Yang Gong Dyke, with places like Hangzhou Botanical Garden, Guo Zong (a beautiful Jiangnan landscape), Mao Abode, Bathing Heron Bay, Turtle Pool, offering quiet scenes.
• Check out Xianghu Lake, another major pool not far from West Lake, with fewer crowds and charming sights.

Evening Plans:

• Watch lights shows at Civic Center or Qianjiang Centric City (that place with the Big Lotus Stadium) for urban illuminations.
• Early bedtime is recommended, truly because other natural attractions are hard to see clearly at night except for urban lights.

Based on my suggestion, during the May Day holiday, you'll experience Hangzhou’s unique beauty comfortably avoiding exhaustion.

Hangzhou’s beautiful spots extend beyond these — ancient civilization like Liangzhu Ruins, wet landscapes around Xixi Wetland, hills of Qing Shan Lake, Fuchun River or more cultural sites deep within West Lake such as Lingyin Temple, Fahai Temple, Tiger Spring, Bamboo Forest Path, Qijie Smoke Trees... these need some leisure and appreciation, wait till another visit when you have more time to further explore!

[Anita Wiza]

Oops! I should've posted this before the holiday, haha.

[Joanne Swift]

I just got the idea yesterday.