Best Time to Visit Hangzhou
Month-by-month conditions — crowds, weather, and festivals.
Golden Week Warning — National Day (Oct 1–7)
This destination experiences extreme crowds during National Day Golden Week. Hotels, transport, and major attractions sell out weeks or months in advance. If travelling in early October, book everything before you arrive in China.
Monthly Conditions
| Month | Crowds | Temp (°C) | Rain days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3/10 | 1–8°C | 9 | Cool and misty. West Lake takes on a serene winter character with few visitors. |
| Feb | 5/10 | 2–10°C | 10 | Spring Festival celebrations around West Lake; plum blossoms at Lingfeng Scenic Area. |
| Mar | 6/10 | 6–15°C | 12 | Cherry blossoms and spring flowers around West Lake. Getting busy. |
| Apr | 8/10 | 11–21°C | 12 | Ideal spring weather. West Lake at its most beautiful and most crowded. |
| May | 8/10 | 16–26°C | 12 | New tea season — Longjing (Dragon Well) tea at peak freshness. Crowds are heavy. |
| Jun | 6/10 | 21–30°C | 14 | Plum-rain season. Lotus flowers bloom on West Lake — beautiful despite the rain. |
| Jul | 6/10 | 25–35°C | 11 | Hot and humid. Early-morning boat rides on the lake before the heat peaks. |
| Aug | 7/10 | 24–34°C | 10 | Summer holidays maintain high visitor numbers despite the heat. |
| Sep | 7/10 | 19–28°C | 10 | Best month for West Lake — autumn colours, manageable temperatures. |
| Oct | 10/10 | 13–22°C | 8 | Golden Week (Oct 1–7) brings extreme crowds to West Lake. One of the most visited spots in China during this period. |
| Nov | 5/10 | 7–16°C | 8 | Autumn foliage around the lake. Quiet, colourful, and great value. |
| Dec | 3/10 | 2–9°C | 8 | Cool and quiet. Winter mist over West Lake creates classic ink-painting scenery. |
Festivals & Events
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
2027-01-29 · 15 days
Plum blossom viewing at Lingfeng Scenic Area is a Hangzhou tradition during the New Year period.
⚠National Day Golden Week
2026-10-01 · 7 days
West Lake is among the most crowded tourist sites in China during Golden Week. Book hotels and boat tickets weeks ahead.
West Lake Expo
2026-10-15 · 10 days
Annual cultural and economic expo drawing businesses and tourists from across Asia.
Longjing Tea Festival
2026-04-05 · 7 days
Celebrates the first flush of the spring Longjing harvest. Tea picking experiences in the Meijiawu tea village.