Hangzhou Metro Guide

Find the hub first, then the exit

Hangzhou has enough metro lines that numbers are easier to track than colors. Plan with the origin, interchange, and train destination. Once you arrive, check the exit number. A search for "West Lake" alone cannot choose among entrances spread around a large shoreline.

The diagram explains line relationships, not true geographic distance. It also cannot show same-day service changes, so check Hangzhou Metro before departure.

Paying for a ride

International visitors can open Transport in Alipay and apply for a Hangzhou public-transport QR code. Follow the in-app identity and international-card steps. Set it up before reaching the gate; a weak data connection is a poor ticket clerk.

If the code does not work, buy a single-journey ticket from a station machine or ask the service center. Machine languages and payment options can change as equipment is updated, so a small amount of RMB is a useful backup. Enter and exit with the same ticket or code. One code cannot pass two people through in sequence.

Lines serving the airport and rail stations

• Xiaoshan International Airport: Lines 1, 7, and 19.
• Hangzhou East rail hub: Lines 1 and 4 use East Railway Station; Lines 6 and 19 use East Railway Station (East Square).
• Hangzhou West Railway Station: Lines 3 and 19.
• Hangzhou Railway Station at Chengzhan: Lines 1 and 5.
• Hangzhou South Railway Station: Line 5.

Line 19 is the Airport Express. Its wider station spacing and role differ from the ordinary metro lines. It works well between the airport, Hangzhou East, and Hangzhou West; most other city destinations require a transfer.

Pick a side of West Lake

For the eastern lakeside and Broken Bridge, Longxiangqiao on Line 1 is a common start. For Hefang Street, Wushan Square, and the eastern end of Nanshan Road, use Wushan Square on Line 7. Su Causeway, Prince Bay Park, Lingyin Temple, and Xixi Wetland each need a more specific combination of metro, bus, or walking.

Exits can sit across broad roads, shopping complexes, or long underground passages. With luggage, follow the lift signs even if the route looks a little longer.

Last trains, security, and transfers

First and last train times differ by line, station, and direction. One time copied from an old guide cannot cover the whole route or guarantee a final connection. Check the last leg in the official service information on the evening you travel.

All riders pass through security. At rush hour, with large luggage, or after an airport arrival, allow time for the queue and the walk inside the station. If the last train has gone, continue from an official taxi rank or the assigned ride-hailing point.

Check the current network and operating information from Hangzhou Metro.