Hiking in Zhejiang: The Ultimate English Guide to China's Most Accessible Trails
The honest guide to hiking in Zhejiang province. Moganshan bamboo forests, Hangzhou tea terraces, the Hui-Hang Ancient Trail, Yandang Mountain, Qiandao Lake, Mount Putuo — ranked honestly. Which are world-class, which are day hikes, which are just nice views.
Moganshan Bamboo Forest Trails (莫干山竹海) ★★★★★
A mountain of bamboo forests, century-old colonial villas, and China’s highest density of boutique guesthouses. Moganshan has been Shanghai’s summer retreat since the 1910s — and it’s still the best weekend escape in eastern China.
- Difficulty: Easy–Moderate · Duration: 2–6 hrs (multiple routes) · Altitude: 719m · Best: Year-round
- Access: 20 min from Deqing HSR (德清), 1.5 hrs from Shanghai
Yandang Mountain Ridge Traverse (雁荡山山脊线) ★★★★
One of China’s “Three Famous Mountains” — a UNESCO Global Geopark with volcanic rock formations, vertical cliffs, cave temples, and a 190m waterfall. The ridge traverse is the real hike; the scenic area is the backup plan.
- Difficulty: Moderate–Hard · Duration: 1–2 days · Altitude: 1,150m · Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Access: Direct HSR to Yandangshan Station (雁荡山站)
West Lake Hill Circuit — Ten Mile Tea Trail (十里琅珰) ★★★★★
The classic Hangzhou ridge walk through Longjing tea terraces with panoramic views of West Lake and the Qiantang River. Start in the city, walk through tea fields, end at a village teahouse — this is how Hangzhou locals spend their weekends.
- Difficulty: Easy–Moderate · Duration: 3–5 hrs (~10 km) · Altitude: ~340m · Best: Mar–May (tea harvest), Oct–Nov
- Access: Hangzhou Metro → Longjing / Meijiawu / Yunqi
Longjing Tea Terraces Walk (龙井茶园漫步) ★★★★
A gentle walk through the birthplace of Dragon Well tea — China’s most famous green tea. Stone paths, white-walled villages, tea pickers in spring. Pair it with a tea tasting at a local farmer’s house.
- Difficulty: Easy · Duration: 1–2 hrs · Altitude: ~200m · Best: Mar–May
- Access: Hangzhou Bus 27 → Longjing Village
Hui-Hang Ancient Trail (徽杭古道) ★★★★
A 1,000-year-old merchant path connecting Anhui and Zhejiang. Stone-paved trail through gorges, waterfalls, and mountain passes. One of China’s Top 10 ancient hiking trails — and completely unknown to English-speaking hikers.
- Difficulty: Moderate · Duration: 1 day (~20 km) · Altitude: 1,050m · Best: Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Access: Hangzhou → Jixi HSR (1.5 hrs) + car to trailhead
How to Combine Them
| Days | Route | Trails Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Hangzhou | West Lake walk, settle in |
| 2 | Hangzhou hills | Ten Mile Tea Trail (十里琅珰) or Longjing Tea Walk |
| 3 | Hangzhou → Moganshan | Morning HSR to Deqing, afternoon bamboo trails |
| 4 | Moganshan | Full-day bamboo forest hike, stay at a villa guesthouse |
| 5 | Return | Back to Hangzhou or Shanghai |
Extended trip (7–10 days): Add the Hui-Hang Ancient Trail (1 day) and Yandang Mountain (2 days) for a proper Zhejiang hiking circuit. Qiandao Lake makes a good 1–2 day add-on for cycling or lake trails.
Trails Coming Soon
These are on our radar — researched, scouted, and queued for production:
| Trail | Status |
|---|---|
| Yunqi Bamboo → Nine Creeks (云栖竹径→九溪) | Research done |
| Beigaofeng → Lingyin Temple (北高峰→灵隐寺) | Research done |
| Jingshan Ancient Trail (径山古道) | Research done |
| West Tianmu Mountain (西天目山) | Research done |
| Tiantai Mountain (天台山) | Research done |
| Xianju Shenxianju (神仙居) | Research done |
| Mount Putuo (普陀山) | Research done |
| Qiandao Lake Trails (千岛湖) | Research done |
| Anji Bamboo Sea (安吉竹海) | Research done |
| Zhoushan Island Coastal (舟山海岸) | Research done |
| Nanxi River Villages (楠溪江古村落) | Research done |
| Jianglang Mountain (江郎山) | Research done |
Why Zhejiang Over Other Provinces
| Factor | Zhejiang | Yunnan | Sichuan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | HSR 1–2 hrs from Shanghai/Hangzhou | Flight + 3+ hrs driving | Flight + long drives |
| Altitude | 0–1,800m (no AMS) | 2,000–5,400m (AMS risk) | 3,000–7,500m |
| Weekend-friendly | Yes — most trails are day hikes | No — multi-day required | No |
| Permits | None needed | Required for some peaks | Required for many areas |
| Cell signal | Good (95% coverage) | Patchy in deep gorges | Unreliable |
| Expat density | Highest in China (SH + HZ) | Low (travelers only) | Very low |