Plan a summer Zhejiang trip with your girlfriends: cool off at West Lake in Hangzhou, stroll slowly through the water town of Wuzhen, and watch performances and molten iron fireworks at the Lake Tai ancient town in Huzhou. Whether you arrive by high-speed train or plane, book station transfers first to go straight to your hotel. If you want the pace, tickets and dinners for all three cities sorted at once, private custom travel makes it easier.
We're two friends who hate planning trips. We didn't want to bounce around on trains or rush through stops with a big group tour. Here's our three-day breakdown—you can hand the whole thing to a travel consultant or just pick one city.
If you want to get a feel for Hangzhou's street life and lake views first, check out this short video to warm up:
When you have a lot of luggage or get tired from intercity transfers, a private car gives you door-to-door service. If you want to hear the legends of West Lake and stories of the water towns, you can also hire a guide. For a hassle-free multi-day Jiangnan trip, check out the group tour cards in this article.
Day 1: Beating the heat at West Lake in Hangzhou & night markets
Drop off your luggage in the morning, then head straight for a walk along West Lake. In summer the shade is thick and the lake breeze is cool. There's no need to push through the crowds at Broken Bridge—just stroll slowly along the shore and snap photos as you go.
The paths around Broken Bridge are wide open, and on clear days the distant hills stand out sharply. If it gets crowded, move toward Su Causeway or Bai Causeway to leave room for group photos with your friends.
At the peak of lotus season, pink blossoms and boats make the best photos. Leave an hour to wander by the lake and don't pack your schedule too tight—in summer your energy drains faster than you think.
Close-up shots of the lotus pond work best in portrait orientation. After shooting, find some shade to rest and plan lunch—Hangzhou home-style dishes are light and slightly sweet, so river seafood and seasonal vegetables are always a safe bet.
Longjing shrimp is a local signature—the tea aroma perfectly complements the tender shrimp. Order two or three main dishes plus a vegetable; that's plenty since you'll be walking in the afternoon.
Old streets and Wulin Night Market
In the afternoon, head to the old streets or alleys near West Lake, where stone steps and white walls are perfect for leisurely photos. To walk less, park nearby and use a private car to get to the night market more easily.
The atmosphere softens once the night lights come on, perfect for two friends strolling and chatting. Bring a light jacket—it gets cooler by the lake in the evening.
Wulin Night Market is full of local flavor. Share snacks like congbaohui (scallion pancakes) and crispy rice cakes—don't force yourself to finish everything.
The neon-lit streets are a great way to wrap up the day. Keep the pace relaxed on Day 1 so you have energy for Wuzhen on Day 2. You can also book station transfers back to your hotel.
Day 2: Wuzhen East and West Scenic Zones
Head to Wuzhen in Jiaxing in the morning. The East Scenic Zone feels more lived-in, while the West Scenic Zone has better night views. Visiting both in one day takes planning, or save the evening stroll for the West Scenic Zone.
The shaded canal and wooden boardwalk in the East Scenic Zone are the coolest spots—perfect for escaping the summer sun. Stroll slowly and take photos instead of chasing a tour guide's flag.
Shops along the old stone-paved street mostly sell blue cloth, pastries and handicrafts. Just buy a few small souvenirs and leave bulky items on the bus.
West Scenic Zone dye workshop and alleys
The blue calico at the West Scenic Zone Dye Workshop is a classic photo spot—take turns posing with your friends. For an explanation of the dyeing process, you can book a private guide for a half-day water town route.
The hanging blue cloth makes great photos, but watch your step on the uneven bricks. After shooting, keep strolling along the canal instead of lingering in one spot.
The wooden houses and stone alleys look richly layered at sunset—a perfect way to wrap up your daytime visits to the East and West Scenic Zones. Save your energy after dinner for the night views.
Night tour of Wuzhen
At night in the West Scenic Zone, the lights reflect on the river, and Wupeng boats gliding under the bridges give it a true Jiangnan feel. During peak crowds, stick to the inner side of the path and set a meeting point.
The reflections on the river are the highlight of a Wuzhen night tour. If you're tired from traveling that day, just pick one section for the night tour and let custom private travel streamline your route.
The view from the boat is quieter—perfect for sitting with friends and chatting about the day's sights. After the night tour, take a private car back to your hotel so you don't have to search for a stop in the dark.
Day 3: Huzhou Longemont and Lake Tai Ancient Town
On day 3, head to Changxing Longemont Resort and Lake Tai Ancient Town: explore the park and ancient town streets by day, then enjoy performances, molten iron fireworks, and night lights after dark.
The park's globe sculpture is easy to spot and makes a great meeting point for photos. The park is huge, so agree on a meeting time in advance to avoid getting separated.
The lotus lantern gate at Lake Tai Ancient Town looks even better at night—one group photo with your friends is enough. Then head toward Yanyi City to grab seats before the show starts.
The red walls and yellow lanterns of the Yanyi City opera stage are striking. Live shows like "Zui Mei Taihu" run according to the day's schedule—check the on-site notices for entry rules.
Molten iron fireworks and Lake Tai at night
The molten iron fireworks show is the highlight of the ancient town's evening, with sparks splashing into the water for a stunning effect. Stay in the designated viewing area, protect your eyes and camera, and don't climb over the railings.
The lanterns under the eaves and the molten iron fireworks make a festive shot. Take a few photos, then give way to the crowd behind you.
The night lights on the three-arch bridge reflect as perfect circles on the water—a classic photo spot in Lake Tai Ancient Town. When it's less crowded, grab a photo with your girlfriends too.
Festival fireworks or the water stage make the atmosphere even better. Families with kids may need to head out earlier, but friend groups can stay an extra half hour to enjoy the night.
When the molten iron fireworks on the raft and the arch bridge are in the same frame, watch your step on the damp ground. That wraps up the three days—if you have lots of luggage, book a station transfer to the train station or airport.
If you want to add Mount Putuo, Shaoxing and more to a longer trip, check out the group tour cards below, or fit these three days into a custom travel plan.
【如梦江南6天5晚】杭州（西湖+西溪湿地+胡雪岩故居）+苏州周庄+乌镇东西栅纯玩
【水乡园林】乌镇东西栅全景，小桥流水人家；拙政园+周庄，多角度欣赏江南的柔美！ 【精华景点】拙政园、周庄、西湖、乌镇、西溪湿地、胡雪岩故居等！ 【舒适住宿】4星酒店/5星酒店任您选择！ 【贴心服务】专属定制车型，拥有多年安全行驶经验的华东司机，让旅途更安心！ 【纯玩享受】纯玩品质团，尽享纯净之旅，一次旅行，记忆一生！
The lake breeze in Hangzhou, the lantern-lit canals of Wuzhen, and the molten iron fireworks over Lake Tai are enough to give you and your girlfriends a relaxed, complete Jiangnan summer memory.
FAQs
What's the most relaxing 3-day Zhejiang itinerary for a girls' summer trip?
We suggest West Lake plus a night market in Hangzhou on day one, Wuzhen East Scenic Zone and West Scenic Zone (including the night tour) on day two, and Huzhou Longemont plus the Lake Tai Ancient Town nightscape on day three. If you don't have much stamina, skip East Scenic Zone or the daytime park hours, but keep the evening shows.
How do we get between cities? Should we book a private car?
Traveling between Hangzhou, Wuzhen, and Changxing by high-speed train and taxi works, but involves lots of transfers. If you have heavy luggage or finish your evening tours late, it's better to book a private car or arrange door-to-door station transfers upon arrival so you won't be up late figuring out directions.
How do we beat the heat at West Lake and Wuzhen in summer?
Stick to shaded lakeside paths in the morning, eat or rest indoors around noon, explore tree-lined lanes in the afternoon, and hit the night markets or evening boat tours after dark. A sun hat, sunscreen, and a folding umbrella are must-haves; avoid the exposed causeways under the midday sun.
Is one day enough for Wuzhen East and West Scenic Zones?
You can cover both sections in a packed day, but the West Scenic Zone night tour deserves plenty of time. Short on time? Do the East Scenic Zone by day and the West Scenic Zone at night. To dig deeper into the dye houses and canal stories, hire a private guide.
Group tour, custom trip or private car: which should you pick?
If you want to set your own pace across all three cities and have a travel consultant handle tickets, go with station transfers + a custom private trip. Want fewer transfers and less luggage hauling? Book a private car. Want stories and history explained? Hire a private guide. For a hassle-free multi-day Jiangnan itinerary, browse our group tour options.
Wrap-up: for a girls' trip, relaxing beats checking off sights
The point of a girls' trip is slowing down together, not racing through every attraction. Leave the transfers, bookings and night tours to a reliable plan, and your Zhejiang summer route will be beautiful without being exhausting.
If you'd like us to map out a "Hangzhou–Wuzhen–Huzhou" girls' itinerary with transfers and night tour stops, contact GreenTourAsia via the customer service button above.