Hangzhou Major Railway Stations

Use this diagram for rough orientation only. It omits many roads, metro lines, and railway routes, and it is not a navigation map.

The full station name matters

Hangzhou East Railway Station, Hangzhou West Railway Station, Hangzhou Railway Station, and Hangzhou South Railway Station are not four entrances to one hub. They sit in different parts of the city. A last-minute trip to the wrong one is rarely fixable, so copy the complete station name from the booking into maps and ride-hailing apps.

Foreign-passport holders can buy real-name tickets through China Railway 12306. Carry the original passport used for the booking. If an automatic gate cannot read it, use the staffed identity-check lane. Security and the walk from the metro to the departure gate also take time.

Hangzhou East: the largest choice of trains

Hangzhou East is the station most visitors encounter. Lines 1 and 4 use East Railway Station; Lines 6 and 19 use East Railway Station (East Square). Both serve the rail complex, but the entrances and internal walking routes differ.

• Best for: eastern Hangzhou, Qianjiang New City, and connections to the airport or Line 19.
• Pickup tip: reach the assigned taxi or ride-hailing zone before ordering, then send the floor and zone to the driver.
• Train check: the large timetable does not mean every service stops here. Follow the 12306 booking.

Hangzhou West: useful for western Hangzhou

Hangzhou West is in Yuhang District near Future Sci-Tech City and Hangzhou Cloud City. Metro Lines 3 and 19 serve the station. It is practical for western accommodation and airport transfers, but hotels around the lakeside, Hefang Street, or the southern shore require a longer cross-city journey.

• Best for: Future Sci-Tech City, western Yuhang, and places along Lines 3 or 19.
• Name warning: Hangzhou West is not a west entrance to Hangzhou Railway Station, and it is not the West Coach Station.
• Train check: some newer high-speed routes use West, but the destination alone cannot tell you the departure station.

Hangzhou Railway Station, also called Chengzhan

Hangzhou Railway Station is in Shangcheng District and is commonly called Chengzhan. Metro Lines 1 and 5 serve it. The location is often convenient for the eastern lakeside, Hefang Street, Southern Song Imperial Street, and older central neighborhoods, although it has fewer services than Hangzhou East.

• Best for: the eastern lakeside, Hefang Street, and central Shangcheng.
• Name warning: the rail booking says Hangzhou, while local signs and the metro use Chengzhan.
• Pickup tip: send the exact entrance or pickup point, not just "Chengzhan."

Hangzhou South: a separate station in Xiaoshan

Hangzhou South is in Xiaoshan District and is served by Metro Line 5. It can work well for accommodation in Xiaoshan, southern Hangzhou, or along Line 5. From West Lake, allow more time to cross the city.

• Best for: Xiaoshan and places along the southern section of Line 5.
• Name warning: Hangzhou South is not a south entrance to Hangzhou Railway Station.
• Train check: a southbound destination does not imply departure from South. The ticket decides.

Before entering the station

• Make sure the passport name and number match the 12306 booking, then carry the original passport.
• Take identity problems to a staffed railway counter rather than repeatedly trying the gate.
• Railway security rules apply to knives, sprays, power banks, and other restricted items.
• Inside, follow the waiting-area and gate number instead of guessing from the train's direction.

Read China Railway 12306's current list of accepted documents.