Where to live in Hangzhou

How to choose a district in Hangzhou

Start with your commute rather than the apartment. Hangzhou's metro network is fast and inexpensive, but door-to-door times still vary enormously: a riverside apartment in Binjiang and a canal-side apartment in Gongshu can be the same rent yet differ by 30 minutes of daily travel. Once you know which two or three lines you will depend on, the district shortlist usually shrinks to two candidates.

Second, decide how much space you actually need. Central districts such as Shangcheng and Xihu trade square metres for location. If you work from home, or have a family, the west and north-east districts — Yuhang and Linping — offer considerably more room for the same budget, at the cost of a longer ride into the core.

Districts at a glance

• Xihu District — West Lake and Xixi wetlands; the most scenic and central choice, average rent around ¥8,500.
• Binjiang District — the technology corridor across the Qiantang River; newest buildings and river views, around ¥11,100.
• Yuhang District — Future Science City and Liangzhu; the best value for space, around ¥6,000.
• Shangcheng District — the commercial core and Qianjiang CBD; the widest choice, around ¥10,600.
• Gongshu District — Grand Canal waterfront living; calm and well connected, around ¥8,000.
• Xiaoshan District — Olympic Park and its own CBD; high-floor views at fair rents, around ¥7,900.
• Linping District — quiet new-town living beside the high-speed rail station, around ¥5,600.
• Qiantang District — Xiasha university town; accessible rents with a strong campus community, around ¥6,900.

Not sure yet?

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