This article covers how to take a one-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou by high-speed rail and use a local private car with driver for efficient station pickup, sightseeing, and return travel.
Based on local expertise, this guide explains the most efficient way to do a Shanghai-to-Hangzhou day trip by combining high-speed rail with a local chartered car. It includes practical tips from experienced guides on stations, driver pickup, and smooth same-day return planning.
A day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou by high-speed rail is a highly recommended itinerary for tourists.
Hangzhou's beauty isn't concentrated in one place. Relying solely on the subway and taxis will waste a significant portion of your precious day on finding your way, waiting for transportation, and traveling between attractions.
Therefore, we recommend the most efficient and hassle-free option: Shanghai high-speed rail + local Hangzhou car rental.
Step 1: Take an early morning high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou East Station.
Step 2: Your private driver will be waiting for you at the arrival level of Hangzhou East Station with a driver's pass.
Step 3: Enjoy a comfortable ride in your chosen car for your day trip.
Step 4: After the tour, the driver will safely take you back to Hangzhou East Station for your evening high-speed train back to Shanghai.
This method combines the punctuality and efficiency of high-speed rail with the flexibility and convenience of a private car rental, perfectly solving the transportation problems in and around Hangzhou, allowing you to focus on your experience rather than simply getting around.
Departing from Shanghai by high-speed rail: Pre-trip information
Recommended station combination
Shanghai Hongqiao Station：The main departure station, with the most frequent train services.
Shanghai Songjiang Station: Located in the southwest of Shanghai, it is a stop along some train routes.
Arrival Station: Hangzhou East Railway Station, Hangzhou's main high-speed rail hub.
Required documents: You must use the original passport you registered with when you booked the train for purchasing tickets and boarding. You will also need to scan your passport and pass through facial recognition for entry and ticket inspection.
How do I find my driver after arriving at Hangzhou East Railway Station?
Your train/bus number and actual arrival time
Driver's name and mobile number (WhatsApp/WeChat available)
Pickup point (usually a designated parking area on the arrival level, such as "P1 Parking Area" or "East Plaza Exit")
Vehicle color and license plate number
If you find this troublesome, you can also contact your travel consultant, who will send your information to the driver and arrange everything for you.
Three recommended one-day tour routes in Hangzhou
If you'd like to know how to travel around Hangzhou with a rented car and driver, you can check out the following routes：
Route 1: A Classic Jiangnan Water Town Dream – A Day Trip to Wuzhen
Suitable for: Tourists eager to experience the charm of a classic Chinese water town, photography enthusiasts, and those wanting to see scenery distinctly different from the modern metropolis of Shanghai.
Highlights of the Route: Small bridges, flowing water, and traditional houses. Spend a day immersing yourself in the picturesque water town world of Wuzhen.
What to do in Wuzhen?
A panoramic water town experience: Unlike the traditional residential atmosphere of Dongzha, Xizha has undergone overall planning and renovation, perfectly combining ancient architecture with modern tourist facilities.
Experience unique shops and teahouses: You can stroll through the blue-and-white printed fabric workshop, the Xuchang sauce shop, or find a riverside teahouse to sit down, order a cup of tea, and watch the small boats sway by the window.
Take a rowboat ride: We highly recommend experiencing a hand-rowed boat.Wuzhen is quite far from Hangzhou, so please be prepared to leave early and return late. It is also recommended that you bring some snacks and water.
Recommended Itinerary：Wuzhen Water Town Day Trip from Hangzhou
Wuzhen is quite far from Hangzhou, so please be prepared to leave early and return late. It is also recommended that you bring some snacks and water.
Route 2: Hangzhou Highlights Tour – Lingyin Temple, Longjing Tea Garden and West Lake
Suitable for: First-time visitors to Hangzhou, culture enthusiasts, nature lovers, and families (please be aware of the steps).
Route Highlights: A single journey encompassing three iconic elements of Hangzhou: Buddhist culture, Longjing tea region, and scenic mountain and lake landscapes.
What are some things to do at Lingyin Temple?
Feilai Peak Stone Carvings: Before entering Lingyin Temple, you will pass Feilai Peak. Along the way, hundreds of Buddhist grotto statues dating from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty are carved into the cliff faces. This is a rare treasure of grotto art in southern China.
The tranquility of an ancient temple: Lingyin Temple, nestled amidst mountains, is a place of enduring religious activity. Its main buildings cascade down the central axis, creating a magnificent and imposing structure. Here, you can experience the architectural aesthetics and solemn atmosphere of Chinese Buddhist temples.
Mountain trails: Ancient trees reach for the sky and streams murmur within the scenic area. Even without burning incense or praying, strolling through the mountains and forests is a pleasure.
What can you experience at a Longjing tea plantation?
Longjing Village vs. Meijiawu: Longjing Village is more famous and more commercialized, but you can see the "Eighteen Imperial Tea Trees" directly; Meijiawu is more tranquil, with continuous tea mountains, and is more suitable for leisurely tea drinking and dining.
Experience the "Tea Life": At a farmhouse near a tea garden, you can watch the master tea frying by hand on site, taste a cup of authentic and fragrant pre-Qingming Longjing tea, and learn about the Chinese lifestyle of "making friends through tea".
How to enjoy West Lake?
The best walking route: The West Lake loop is about 15 kilometers long, which doesn't need to be walked in a day trip. We recommend taking a walk along the Su Causeway or Bai Causeway, as these two causeways divide the lake into inner and outer sections, offering the best views of the lake and mountains.
Classic photo spots:
Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor: Located at the southern end of Su Causeway, you can admire red carp playing in the water and enjoy a distant view of Leifeng Pagoda.
Lotus in the Breeze at Quyuan Garden: This place is breathtakingly beautiful when the lotus flowers are in full bloom in summer.
Besides the two mentioned above, there are eight other must-see spots around West Lake. If you're interested in Hangzhou's West Lake and have enough time, you can stay there for a few more days!
Boat tour experience: If time permits, you can rent a rowboat and experience the feeling of "boating on the green waves, and people traveling in a painting" (about 1 hour).
Recommended Itinerary：Hangzhou Private Day Tour: Lingyin, Tea & West Lake
Value of Chartering a Car: Although Lingyin Temple, Longjing Temple, and West Lake are all located in the West Lake District, they are several kilometers apart, and the roads are mostly mountainous or prone to congestion. Chartering a car ensures that you can easily get on and off at each point, eliminating the hassle of finding a car, waiting for a car, or communicating with ride-hailing apps.
Route 3: Urban Ecology and Leisure Tour – Xixi Wetland, West Lake and Hefang Street
Suitable for: Families (especially those with elderly members and children), those who prefer a less strenuous experience, enjoy city walks, and want to experience the wetland ecology and local culture of Hangzhou.
Route Highlights: From tranquil natural wetlands to expansive lakes and bustling ancient streets, experience the diverse facets of Hangzhou.
What to do at Xixi Wetland?
A "Green Lung" in the City: This is a rare urban wetland park. Unlike the refined West Lake, Xixi showcases a wild and tranquil waterside marshland landscape.
Unique Boat Tours: The best way to explore Xixi is by electric boat or rowboat, gliding along the winding waterways, flanked by dense reeds, bamboo groves, and ancient waterside dwellings.
Walking Boardwalks: Disembark at key stops such as Qiuxue'an and Bo'an, and stroll along the wooden boardwalks to delve deeper into the wetland and experience its natural ecology.
What to do on Hefang Street and Southern Song Imperial Street?
Travel back in time: These two adjacent streets form one of Hangzhou's best-preserved historical districts. The Southern Song Imperial Street is wider and was once the emperor's route; Hefang Street is narrower, more commercialized, and more bustling.
Experience local culture: The streets are lined with traditional handicraft shops, teahouses, silk shops, and various snack stalls. You can find interesting Chinese-style souvenirs here.
Savor authentic local snacks: This is a fantastic spot to sample Hangzhou's local delicacies. Recommended dishes include:
Cong Bao Hui: Fried dough sticks wrapped in dough and scallions, grilled on a griddle. It's said to express hatred for the treacherous minister Qin Hui.
Ding Sheng Gao: Pink rice cake filled with red bean paste, soft and sweet.
Beggar's Chicken: Roasted chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, incredibly fragrant.
Recommended Itinerary：Hangzhou Day Tour: Xixi, West Lake & Hefang
How to choose the route that best suits you?
This is my first time visiting Hangzhou, and I want to visit all the iconic attractions.
Recommended Route: Route 2 (Lingyin Temple, Tea Garden, West Lake)
This is the most classic "calling card" of Hangzhou, encompassing World Cultural Heritage, Chinese tea culture, and Buddhist culture.
I have a strong longing for the water towns of Jiangnan and photography.
Recommended Route: Route 1 (Wuzhen Water Town)
Wuzhen is a real-life version of a Chinese painting, with irreplaceable visual effects and water town atmosphere, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts.
Accompanying the elderly or children, nature lovers
Recommended Route: Route 3 (Xixi, West Lake, Hefang Street)
The walking distance is moderate, and the wetland boat tour and shopping on Hefang Street do not require much physical exertion. They are also rich and interesting, and are not tiring.
Start your efficient Hangzhou trip
A day trip to Hangzhou from Shanghai by high-speed rail can be a relaxing, memorable, and enjoyable travel experience.
If you have your own schedule or specific attractions in mind, please contact us. We can customize a Hangzhou day trip just for you.
Related articles about Hangzhou：Hangzhou Charter Guide: When It’s Worth It
Links to attractions in the guide come from: China Travel Book
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou for a one-day trip?
The article recommends taking an early high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou East Railway Station, then meeting a private driver for the day. After sightseeing, the driver takes you back to Hangzhou East for an evening train to Shanghai.
Why use a private car in Hangzhou instead of only taxis or the subway?
Hangzhou's main sights are spread out, so using only the subway and taxis can waste a lot of time on transfers, waiting, and navigation. A private car makes the day more efficient by giving you direct transport between attractions and the station.
Which Shanghai station is best for going to Hangzhou by high-speed rail?
Shanghai Hongqiao Station is the main recommended departure point because it has the most frequent high-speed train services. Shanghai Songjiang Station can also work for some routes, especially for travelers staying in southwest Shanghai.
Where will I arrive in Hangzhou for this day trip?
You will normally arrive at Hangzhou East Railway Station, the city's main high-speed rail hub. This makes it a practical meeting point for station pickup and same-day return travel.
How do I find my driver at Hangzhou East Railway Station?
You should receive the driver's name, mobile number, train number, actual arrival time, pickup point, and the vehicle's color and license plate. Pickup is usually arranged at a designated arrival-level parking area such as P1 Parking Area or an East Plaza exit.
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