Hangzhou is the capital of the Chinese province of Zhejiang. The city of 13 million is situated at the head of Hangzhou Bay and the estuary of the Qiantang River. Hangzhou is comprised of 10 districts, with the city center built around the eastern and northern sides of the West Lake, just north of the Qiantang River. There are some excellent options for running in Hangzhou, owing to an extensive system of greenways built around West Lake and along the numerous waterways.
The signature run in Hangzhou is at West Lake, where there’s a 12.5 km loop & many other options. There’s also excellent running along both banks of the Qiantang River, with a spur along the Yuhangtang River. In the historic Gongshu District, there are lovely paths along the Grand Canal, a UNESCO heritage site. We also love running on the many km of scenic trails at Xixi Wetland Park. Good trail running options include the Baoshi Mountain area just north of West Lake and the Misty Forest in the Xihu District.
Runner Notes: Hangzhou summers are very hot and humid.
