Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

Hangzhou Xiaoshan serves one of eastern China’s most dynamic cities — a tech and commerce center near Shanghai, and a major domestic tourist draw for the famous West Lake. The airport has grown quickly, adding terminal capacity to match the city’s rise, and it now handles a large domestic operation with a growing set of international routes.

The layout

The airport spans multiple terminals, including a large newer building that expanded its capacity considerably. As with other big Chinese airports, expect long internal distances and clear bilingual signage; check which terminal your flight uses and allow time to reach a far gate.

Getting into the city

Hangzhou Metro serves the airport, with lines running from the airport into the city center and connecting to the wider network — the traffic-proof way in. The airport sits about 27 km east of central Hangzhou. Taxis are metered and available for a door-to-door ride, and the region’s road network is good, though city traffic can build at peak times. For onward regional trips, Hangzhou’s high-speed rail connections are extensive once you reach the city.

Worth knowing

If you are transiting China through Hangzhou, confirm the current visa-free transit rules for your nationality and route before assuming you can leave the airport. Domestic travel volumes surge around Chinese public holidays and during the peak tourist seasons for West Lake, so leave extra time on both arrival and departure in those periods. Immigration and security on international flights are thorough, so avoid planning a tight international connection.