Hiking Guides
Practical knowledge for hiking as an international visitor. Everything a foreign hiker needs beyond the trail map — transport, language, safety, and culture.
Planning Your Trip
Getting to the Trailhead
How to reach each trailhead from central Hangzhou — metro stops, bus routes, taxi costs, and what to look for at the drop-off point.
Hangzhou 杭州How to Go Hiking in Hangzhou Without a Car
How to reach every trailhead by metro, bus, or taxi — with key stations, estimated fares, and Chinese place names.
Hangzhou 杭州Best Season for Hiking in Hangzhou
When to visit Hangzhou for hiking. What each season feels like, how it affects trail conditions, and what to pack.
ChinaHow to Rent a Bike in Hangzhou (2026) — Red Public Bikes & HelloBike for Foreigners
Which bike to rent in Hangzhou, step by step: use the free public red bikes (1 hour free, 5,500+ docks) inside West Lake, HelloBike elsewhere; avoid the Su/Bai Causeway ban, park in the right zone, and pick the right route.
Hangzhou 杭州Best Hikes in Hangzhou
The best Hangzhou hikes ranked by scenery, accessibility, and overall experience. Start here if you have time for only one or two trails.
Shanghai 上海Best Season for Shanghai Walks
When to walk Shanghai's trails and riverfront — spring and autumn are best, summer is hot and humid with plum rains, winter is cold but clear.
Shanghai 上海Best Walks & Rides in Shanghai
The best walking and cycling routes in Shanghai, grouped by what they feel like — forest parks, riverfront greenways, natural hills, and industrial heritage citywalks. Pick by mood, not by difficulty.
Shanghai 上海Building a Shanghai Day Out
How to string Shanghai's routes into a real day — sample itineraries, transit math, and logistics for food, toilets and tickets.
Shanghai 上海Easy Walks in Shanghai
The gentlest Shanghai routes — flat, paved, and a short metro ride from the centre. Ideal for families, older travellers, and first-time visitors.
Hangzhou 杭州Easy Hikes Near West Lake
Short, accessible hikes within easy reach of West Lake. Perfect for a half-day outing from the lake area.
Shanghai 上海Getting to Shanghai's Trailheads
How to reach each Shanghai route from central Shanghai — metro lines and stations, connecting buses, taxi and DiDi instructions, the Huangpu River ferry, and what to look for when you arrive.
Shanghai 上海How to Rent a Bike in Shanghai (2026) — HelloBike, Meituan & Qingju for Foreigners
Which shared bike to rent in Shanghai and how: three dockless operators (HelloBike, Meituan, Qingju), fares from ¥1.88 for 60 minutes after the June 2026 change, P-zone parking with out-of-zone fees, no-ride zones around the Bund, and a ~3 km ride from Sheshan metro to the forest hills.
Shanghai 上海Shanghai Without a Car
Why Shanghai is the easiest car-free city in China for visitors — the metro with a foreign-card QR code, buses for the last mile, DiDi ride-hailing, shared bikes, and the Huangpu River ferry.
Shanghai 上海Which Shanghai Walk Should I Choose?
A decision guide for Shanghai's walking and cycling routes — choose by how much time you have, how you want to travel, and what you feel like doing.
Hangzhou 杭州Which Hangzhou Hike Should I Choose?
Compare Hangzhou's trails by transport access, duration, difficulty, and scenery type. Pick the right hike for your situation.
On the Trail
How to Use Amap for Hiking in Hangzhou: A Step-by-Step Guide (No Chinese Needed)
Google Maps doesn't work well for Hangzhou trails. Learn how to use Amap (高德地图) to find trailheads, navigate, share your location, and download offline maps — step by step, with no Chinese required.
Hangzhou 杭州Trail Surfaces in Hangzhou
What Hangzhou trails are actually made of — stone flagstones, concrete stairs, tea-terrace earth — and which shoes to wear for each surface.
Hangzhou 杭州Safety on Hangzhou Hiking Trails
The real risks when hiking in Hangzhou — slippery stone, summer heat, mosquitoes, dogs, and signal dead zones. What to prepare for and what not to worry about.
Shanghai 上海Safety on Shanghai Walks
The real risks on Shanghai's flat urban walks and rides — summer heat and humidity, sun exposure, traffic and crowds, slippery pavement after rain, and phone signal.
Going Deeper
Chinese Phrases for Hiking in Hangzhou
Essential Chinese phrases for hiking in Hangzhou — asking directions, hailing a taxi, ordering food, and finding a toilet. With pinyin and characters.
ChinaHiking Etiquette in China
What's different about hiking in China — graves on the trail, tea pickers, smoking, noise levels, and how to navigate cultural norms with confidence.
Hangzhou 杭州Building a Full-Day Hike in Hangzhou
How to combine multiple Hangzhou trails into a full-day walk — suggested itineraries, bus connections between trailheads, lunch spots, and bail-out points.
Shanghai 上海Shanghai Trail Surfaces
What to expect underfoot on Shanghai's routes — paved riverside promenades, compacted forest paths, stone hill steps, and boardwalks.