Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake
West Lake, Hangzhou, China
Location
West Lake, Hangzhou
The resort sits on the banks of UNESCO West Lake in Hangzhou, in acres of Jiangnan gardens, lily ponds and willows, about five kilometres from the commercial centre. There is no beach — the water is the lake and ponds — a serene garden escape, about 45 minutes by train from Shanghai.
Transfer
A Hangzhou transfer
Fly into Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH), about 45 minutes by car, or take the high-speed train from Shanghai in around 45 minutes. West Lake is on the doorstep.
Villas
78 rooms & suites + 3 villas
Just 78 rooms and suites — from around 678 square feet, with terraces and garden, pond or forest views — joined by three private villas, one with its own indoor pool and cinema, from Premier Garden and Pond View rooms through Courtyard Suites to the Song-Dynasty Villa.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, culture-lovers and wellness travellers who want a serene Jiangnan garden resort on West Lake — lily ponds, Jin Sha's cuisine and an imperial-style pool — easily paired with Shanghai.
Board Basis
B&B
Booked on bed and breakfast. Jin Sha brings award-winning Hangzhou cuisine and West Lake Bistro Italian and modern Asian, with Longjing tea to live guzheng in the lobby.
About the Resort
The West Lake garden resort
Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is a Jiangnan garden resort on the banks of UNESCO West Lake, the lake the old saying placed alongside heaven itself. Low-rise pavilions sit among acres of landscaped gardens, lily ponds, bamboo, willows and mist-covered lagoons in Song-Dynasty style, about five kilometres from the commercial centre and only around 45 minutes by train from Shanghai. Just 78 rooms and suites — from around 678 square feet, with terraces and garden, pond or forest views — are joined by three private villas, one a Song-Dynasty residence with its own indoor pool, cinema and garden. Jin Sha serves award-winning Hangzhou and Zhejiang cooking, its legendary crispy chicken among eleven private rooms around a garden lagoon, while West Lake Bistro does Italian and modern Asian al fresco over the ponds. The imperial-style indoor pool has private daybed alcoves, the chinoiserie spa offers treatments fit for an emperor, and Longjing tea is poured to live guzheng in the lobby. There is no beach — the water here is the lake and ponds — a serene garden escape and a gentle counterpoint to Shanghai.
Accommodation
Rooms, suites & villas
Just 78 rooms and suites — from around 678 square feet, with terraces, walk-in closets and garden, pond or forest views — joined by three private villas, one a Song-Dynasty residence with its own indoor pool, cinema and garden. They run from Premier Garden View and Pond View rooms through Courtyard Suites to the one-bedroom and Song-Dynasty villas.
Entry
Premier Garden View Room
Sleeps two. Around 678 square feet with a terrace and marble bath, with garden views — the entry room.
~678 sq ftGarden view
Pond
Premier Pond View Room
Sleeps two. Pond and lagoon views from a private terrace.
TerracePond view
Suite
Courtyard Suite
Sleeps two to three. A separate living area with garden or pond views.
Living areaGarden view
Apex
One-Bedroom / Song Dynasty Villa
Sleeps two to four. A private pond and garden, some with a private pool and cinema — the signature villa.
Private pondGarden view
Food & Drink
Dining
Two destination kitchens and a tea-scented lobby. Jin Sha serves award-winning Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Shanghainese and Cantonese cooking — the legendary crispy chicken — across eleven private rooms around a garden lagoon; West Lake Bistro does Italian and modern Asian al fresco over the gardens and infinity pond; and the Lobby Lounge pours Longjing tea to live guzheng.
Chinese
Jin Sha
Award-winning Hangzhou and Zhejiang cooking — the legendary crispy chicken — in garden-lagoon private rooms.
Italian
West Lake Bistro
Italian and modern Asian al fresco, over the gardens and infinity pond.
Tea
Lobby Lounge
Longjing tea and afternoon tea, to live guzheng.
Wellbeing
The Spa
The Spa is imperial-era and chinoiserie in style, with body treatments described as fit for an emperor. The water runs through the resort — an imperial-style indoor pool with private daybed alcoves, lily ponds and an infinity pond — with a fitness centre alongside.
Chinoiserie spa
An imperial-era, chinoiserie-style spa with treatments fit for an emperor.
Imperial-style pool
An imperial-style indoor pool with private daybed alcoves.
Gardens & ponds
Acres of Jiangnan gardens, lily ponds and an infinity pond.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
West Lake and a Jiangnan garden to lose yourself in. Walk or cycle the Su Causeway, cruise the lake by wooden boat, eat the crispy chicken at Jin Sha, sip Longjing tea in the gardens, and take the short train to Shanghai for the day.
West Lake
West Lake itself — the Su Causeway walk and cycle, wooden-boat cruises, temples and pagodas.
Jiangnan gardens
Acres of Jiangnan gardens, lily ponds and willows — a Zen escape in the city.
Jin Sha cuisine
Award-winning Hangzhou cuisine at Jin Sha — the legendary crispy chicken.
Imperial pool & spa
An imperial-style indoor pool and a chinoiserie spa.
Shanghai by train
A day trip to Shanghai, about 45 minutes by train.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By road
About 45 minutes from HGH
About 45 minutes by car from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH).
By train
Shanghai
On the banks of West Lake, about 45 minutes by high-speed train from Shanghai.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Booked on bed and breakfast, with the award-winning Jin Sha among the kitchens.
Setting
- On the banks of UNESCO West Lake, in acres of Jiangnan gardens — a serene garden resort, with no beach.
Pairing
- Easily paired with Shanghai, about 45 minutes away by high-speed train — a relaxed counterpoint to the city.
Getting there
- About 45 minutes by car from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH).
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