Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport (HGH): the arrival guide
Arrival essentials · Verified 2026-09-28 · Rules change — confirm entry specifics with the National Immigration Administration before you fly
The short answer
Hangzhou's single airport, 27 km from West Lake: the Line 19 airport express reaches Hangzhou East railway station in about 35 minutes, with metro Lines 1 and 7 as slower alternates.
What happens at immigration?
HGH's international flow is moderate, so visa-free and 240-hour-transit checks move quickly off-peak. Arrival-card kiosks and complete English signage are standard. The official entry, visa-free and 240-hour transit lists live at the National Immigration Administration — check your nationality against our visa checker before you book.
How do you get connected and paid on landing?
Operator counters sit in the arrivals hall for passport-based SIM registration; as at every China airport they close overnight. An eSIM activated before you fly skips the queue entirely. For the full comparison of eSIM vs roaming (and what stays blocked), see our internet & eSIM guide. Alipay/WeChat Pay with a linked foreign card work everywhere in the terminal including metro gates; ATMs and exchange counters near baggage claim are the cash fallback. The complete playbook, including what to do when verification fails, is in payments in China and our rescue cards.
What is the best way into town?
Metro Line 19, the airport express, runs direct to Hangzhou East railway station in about 35 minutes (7 yuan) and on across the city - the first train from the airport toward town leaves at 06:03, the last at 23:14. Lines 1 and 7 also stop at the airport but wind down earlier (Line 1 toward town ends around 22:30). The Wulinmen airport bus costs 20 yuan, 06:00-22:00. Taxis and ride-hail cover the 27 km when the rails are done.
Landing late? Where should you sleep?
The 23:14 last Line 19 train is the cutoff, and the airport bus ends at 22:00 - later landings mean a taxi or ride-hail, or sleeping airport-side and taking the first express at 06:03. Airport-adjacent rooms trade convenience for distance from the sights — right call after 23:00, wrong call otherwise.
Where should you spend the first night?
Hubin / Wulin - the east-shore core with Line 1 toward West Lake under your feet; nightlife and malls in walking reach. Huanglong on Line 3 suits temple-and-tea days at friendlier prices; Qianjiang New City is the modern-skyline pick.
Two scenario bases, editor-researched with honest trade-offs: