Bilingual guide · English / 中文 Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

The most scenic drives through Hangzhou's surrounding mountains

Hangzhou is often experienced from the shore of West Lake, yet its wider landscape rewards anyone willing to take the wheel. West of the city, tea-covered ridges lead toward Tianmu Mountain; to the northwest, Anji pairs bamboo forests with gorges; farther afield, Moganshan, Xianju Mountain and Qiandao Lake form a varied circuit of forest roads, granite peaks and island causeways. The most scenic drives through Hangzhou's surrounding mountains reward careful route choices more than speed.

Australians from Sydney and Melbourne are used to keeping left, but mainland China drives on the right, even though many cars have the right-hand-drive layout Australians know. Speeds and distances use metric units, as in Australia, while motorway sections resemble a run from Melbourne toward the Great Ocean Road. The difference appears off the ramp: village traffic, scooters, produce stalls and pedestrians can emerge quickly after a broad expressway, so anticipation matters more than outright speed.

Spring brings fresh tea around Longjing, summer opens the bamboo country of Anji, and autumn transforms the ridges above Moganshan and Tianmu. Avoid weekend congestion around the best-known viewpoints, reserve accommodation before Friday evening, and allow more time than map estimates suggest. A compact SUV is the most comfortable choice for steep roads, mixed surfaces and occasional flooded sections.

Tea hills and lakeside roads near West Lake

Begin on Hangzhou's western fringe, where the road toward Longjing passes orderly tea terraces, orchards and lanes too narrow for comfortable two-way passing. Meijiawu, Yanggong Causeway and the wooded paths around Liulang Wenying offer quieter alternatives to the busiest lakeside viewpoints. Park near a village entrance and continue on foot; scooters often outnumber cars on the smaller lanes.

Route Typical time from central Hangzhou Best season Main attraction Key caution
Longjing tea hills 30–50 minutes March–April Tea terraces and village lanes Scooters and limited parking
Tianmu Mountain 1 hour 40 minutes–2 hours October–November Cliffside forest road Steep bends and shuttle rules
Zhejiang Grand Canyon 1 hour 40 minutes–2 hours May–October Bamboo forests and stream gorges Narrow scenic-area approaches
Moganshan 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours 30 minutes Autumn Stone villas, cafés and misty woods Heavy weekend traffic
Xianju Mountain 3–3 hours 30 minutes Spring and autumn Granite peaks and high footpaths Long, winding approach roads
Qiandao Lake 2 hours 30 minutes–3 hours Year-round Island causeways and reservoir views Congestion near main piers

West Lake itself is best explored without a car, since central roads are maze-like and restrictions can change with traffic conditions. Use the TravelWestlake city guide to plan walking routes and understand the lake area before collecting a vehicle. Once beyond the city, the same compact car can reach Longjing in under an hour, making this the easiest mountain drive for a short stay.

Tianmu Mountain’s forest switchbacks

Tianmu Mountain lies about 95 kilometres northwest of central Hangzhou and takes roughly two hours via the G56 corridor and climbing local roads. The approach winds through plantations and forest before entering the scenic area, where private-car rules and shuttle arrangements should be checked before departure. Unlike the gentle tea-country roads, this route develops genuine gradients and blind bends.

Visit on a clear autumn weekday for red and yellow foliage, or choose spring for rhododendrons and damp green views. The mountain has separate walking areas with ravines, waterfalls and cliff paths, so a drive plus a short hike works well. Carry water, keep to marked paths, and descend before dark; mist can obscure both lane markings and oncoming scooters.

Anji’s canyon and bamboo country

Anji is a practical northern excursion with two distinct moods. The Zhejiang Grand Canyon combines a forested gorge, streams and high footbridges, while nearby Jiangnan Tianchi spreads across rolling uplands with broad views and easier access. From Hangzhou, allow around two hours by expressway, then budget extra time for narrow approaches, parked tour buses and roadside vendors.

The surrounding Anji countryside is known for bamboo groves, bamboo shoots and white tea. A small local market or produce stall makes a useful stop for snacks, but choose cooked items and bottled water if preparation is uncertain. Within the Grand Canyon, park once and use the scenic transport for the principal viewpoints. Outside peak holidays, this road offers one of the region’s most satisfying combinations of woodland bends, green ravines and open upland scenery.

Moganshan cafés and misty retreats

Moganshan, reached through Deqing County in about an hour and a half, is a compact mountain escape known for Republic-era stone villas, thick woodland and quiet lanes. The drive itself is attractive, passing bamboo, tea fields and hillside settlements before climbing into the resort area. It feels comparable to a weekend run from Melbourne into the Victorian high country, but the closely packed villas and forest roads create a more intimate setting.

Stay overnight rather than treating it as a quick viewpoint. After the weekend rush, morning roads are peaceful, mist often hangs between the trees, and small cafés provide an easy reason to linger. Check parking arrangements at each attraction and never block a village lane for a photograph. During holidays, leave early because access roads and the return journey can become frustratingly slow.

Xianju Mountain’s sculptural peaks

Xianju Mountain is the longest and most dramatic option, lying near Taizhou roughly 220 kilometres southeast of Hangzhou. Allow three to three and a half hours through expressways and winding county roads. At Shenxianju, pale granite towers rise above forested valleys, creating a landscape unlike Hangzhou's rounded tea hills. The drive toward the visitor centre is scenic, but it is demanding, with repeated turns and steep gradients.

Most travellers combine the road trip with the Guanyin Peak circuit, where boardwalks, glass sections and exposed passes reveal the formations from several angles. Wear shoes with grip, carry a light layer for exposed ridges, and follow shuttle rules where private cars are restricted. Clear spring and autumn days suit the open paths; summer rain and winter damp can make them slippery. Fuel before the final rural stretch and avoid a night arrival on unfamiliar roads.

Qiandao Lake’s island causeways

Southeast of Hangzhou, Qiandao Lake provides a different kind of scenic road trip. Tunnels and expressways lead toward Chun'an, where causeways cross the reservoir to wooded islands and small communities. The islands, misty hills and broad water views make the route feel spacious after the dense city. From central Hangzhou, the drive usually takes around two and a half to three hours.

A complete lakeside circuit is close to 230 kilometres and is best divided into two days. Spend the morning on the western shore, cross to islands such as Meifeng Island and Longshan Island, then follow quieter northern roads as the light softens. Ferries and sightseeing road trains can shorten parts of the circuit, while the full route rewards travellers with their own vehicle. Weekend traffic is heaviest at the main piers, so weekday dawn visits offer the cleanest reflections and easiest parking.

Planning a smooth mountain road trip

Licensing and payment deserve attention before departure. China drives on the right, so Australian drivers must consciously move to the opposite side when leaving a parking area. Before paying, ask each rental company which licence it accepts; some require a Chinese temporary licence, while others may accept an International Driving Permit with the original licence and passport. Obtain written confirmation, download an offline map such as Gaode, save key destinations in Chinese, and keep an emergency number accessible.

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay for parking and small purchases, ask the rental desk how expressway tolls are charged, and carry some renminbi for rural stalls. For meals between routes, this guide to dining near West Lake helps identify neighbourhood restaurants serving dishes such as West Lake vinegar fish and Beggar's Chicken. Hangzhou produce markets are useful for tea, fruit and picnic snacks, offering the same self-catering rhythm many Australian travellers know from a roadside fruit stall or weekend farmers' market.