Hangzhou Railway Station: getting in, finding your train and getting out
Hangzhou's older central station, known locally as City Station (城站), about 2.5 km from West Lake. Here is how to get in, through to your train, and out to the metro or a taxi with a foreign passport.
| Chinese name | 杭州站 |
|---|---|
| Trains to | Some high-speed trains, mostly to Shanghai, plus conventional and overnight trains |
| Metro | Lines 1 and 5, at City Station (城站) |
| Arrive | 45 minutes before departure |
Departing from Hangzhou Railway Station
- Getting in. Enter from the station square; it is smaller than Hangzhou East, so walks are short. Use the staffed lane at the ID check and at the gate. The passport you booked with is your ticket: use the staffed lane, where it is checked against your booking, unless signs say the automatic gates take passports.
- Security. Bags go through an X-ray right after the ID check, and you walk through a scanner.
- The waiting hall. Waiting rooms are upstairs; the boards show your room and gate. Find your train number on the departure boards; boarding usually starts 15 to 20 minutes before departure and the gate closes a few minutes before.
- The platform. Your coach number (车厢) is printed on the floor markings and over the doors; stand at yours, as trains stop only briefly.
Left luggage: Left luggage by metro Exits A1 and A2; check the hours.
Arriving at Hangzhou Railway Station
Arrivals come out on B1, which links to the metro, the taxi pickup and the underground car parks.
Taxi and Didi: Taxi pickup is at the B1 exit. Ride-hail (网约车) cars pick up in the underground north car park.
Tips
- A ticket that says 杭州 means this station. Hangzhou East (杭州东) and Hangzhou West (杭州西) are different stations.
- Line 1 reaches Longxiangqiao by West Lake in two stops, about 5-10 minutes; a taxi is about ¥15-20.
- Line 1 also runs to Hangzhou East in about 15-20 minutes if you need to change stations.
Next steps
- Paying for the metro and buses in Hangzhou
- Also in Hangzhou: Hangzhou East Railway Station. Check which station your ticket says.
Sources: hznews.hangzhou.com.cn, www.wanderinchina.com, chinaairlinetravel.com, www.chinahighlights.com. Spotted a change? Use the box below.
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