🏛️ 5A National Attractions
Last verified 26 Jul 2025
Hangzhou officially counts 3 国家5A级景区. Together they showcase the city's "heaven-on-earth" lake vistas, China's only national wetland park inside a tier-1 metro, and an emerald archipelago in the upper Yangtze watershed. Plan a two-day city loop (West Lake & Xixi) and one reservoir day-trip—No Tourist Traps. No BS.
1 Quick Metrics
Total 5A sites
3
UNESCO share
1 / 3 – West Lake Cultural Landscape (inscribed 2011)
Core ticket range
Free lakefront promenade → ¥160 peak (Qiandao Lake boat pass)
Real-name booking
Required for Xixi Wetland & Qiandao Lake boat decks in high season
Metro reach
2 / 3 on Hangzhou metro; Qiandao Lake 2 h HSR + shuttle
2 Why It Matters
West Lake is the postcard — UNESCO lists it as the prototype for East-Asian lake-garden design.
Xixi Wetland puts reed boardwalks — kingfisher hides and traditional Dragon-Boat culture a 20-minute metro ride from Alibaba HQ.
Qiandao (Thousand-Island) Lake turns hydro-dam back-water — into jade archipelagos—China's cleanest large reservoir and Zhejiang's cycling mecca.
3 Pro Tips
1
West Lake sunrise — arrive 05 : 30 at Broken Bridge for mist HDR; no ticket needed.
2
Xixi Wetland tickets — drop 07 : 00, 3 days ahead in mini-prog "西溪湿地预约"; pick boat-+-walk combo ¥85 to save queue.
3
Qiandao Lake boat pass — high-season (Apr-Oct) needs ID; choose "环湖精华线" (¥160) for three islets, 5-hour loop.
4
Metro hacks — West Lake's hub exits: Longxiang Bridge (L1) for lakeside stroll; Shentang Bridge (L5) for Xixi North Gate.
5
Off-peak Xixi — Bird hides empty after 16 : 30; sunset reeds turn gold, mosquitos light—spray up.
4 The Full 5A List
🌊
UNESCO Lake Garden · Xihu & Shangcheng
West Lake Scenic Area / 西湖风景名胜区
UNESCO lake-garden; 15 km shoreline bike lane; musical fountain nightly 19:00 & 20:00; free entry, pagoda/boat extra.
🦆
National Wetland · Xihu District
Xixi National Wetland Park / 西溪国家湿地公园
China's only urban national wetland; boat-+-boardwalk loops; ¥80 entry (+ ¥20 boat); metro L5 Shentang Bridge.
🏝️
Thousand Islands · Chun'an County
Qiandao (Thousand-Island) Lake Scenic Area / 千岛湖风景名胜区
987 forested islets in 573 km² reservoir; ¥160 essential boat pass; HSR 2 h to "Qiandaohu" + 15 min shuttle.