How to get to Huzhou

Huzhou is a picturesque ancient city in the eastern part of China, situated on the shores of Lake Taihu and renowned as the "Capital of Silk." If you are looking for information on how to reach Huzhou, you will be pleased with the region's convenient logistics: you can arrive here by various means, including high-speed trains, buses, and car transfers from neighboring metropolises.

The city itself does not have its own major civil airport handling regular passenger flights. However, traveling to Huzhou is effortless thanks to China's excellently developed transport network.

Most often, tourists choose to fly into Hangzhou International Airport (Xiaoshan), which is located closest to the city. It is a convenient hub with a wide range of flight connections. From there, you can quickly reach your destination by bus or taxi.

An alternative and very popular option is flying into Shanghai's airports (Pudong or Hongqiao). Shanghai receives flights from all over the world, and the well-established railway connection allows you to travel from there to Huzhou on a comfortable high-speed train.

Rail transport is one of the most convenient and fastest ways to get to Huzhou. The city operates a modern railway station that accommodates high-speed trains (Gaotie). Thanks to this, the trip turns into a comfortable journey without tiring transfers, allowing you to enjoy the views from the window.

The logistics are excellent: the journey from Shanghai will take about 2 hours, while from neighboring Hangzhou, you can arrive in just 20–30 minutes. There are also regular connections with Nanjing and the capital, Beijing. Upon arrival at the station, tourists can easily use a taxi or public transport to reach their hotel or the main attractions.

A developed network of highways makes traveling by bus to Huzhou a convenient and budget-friendly option, allowing you to enjoy the scenery of Zhejiang province. The most popular route runs from neighboring Hangzhou: comfortable coaches cover the distance of about 80 kilometers in approximately one and a half hours. Equally in demand is the route from the famous garden city of Suzhou, from where the journey takes just under two hours.

Travelers also frequently choose to depart from the city of Jiaxing, located 75 kilometers to the east; travel time on this route is a little over an hour. Most intercity buses arrive at the central bus station, from where it is easy to reach the Lake Taihu promenade or the historical quarters by taxi.

Traveling by car to Huzhou is an excellent way to appreciate the landscapes of Zhejiang province, as the roads here are of superior quality. The shortest path lies from neighboring Hangzhou: a distance of 80–90 kilometers can be covered in just an hour and a half, heading north. The route from the city of Jiaxing, located approximately 75 kilometers to the east, is equally convenient, taking about an hour on modern highways.

If you are departing from the famous Suzhou, be prepared to spend about an hour and a half on the road, covering a distance of just under 100 kilometers. Taking a taxi for such intercity distances in this region of China is a common practice, and the trip will cost approximately 300–500 RMB depending on the car class. It is worth noting that most expressways are toll roads, but this is compensated by the high comfort of travel.

To ensure your trip to the "Capital of Silk" is comfortable, it is worth considering a few important nuances in advance. Huzhou is a modern and safe city, but like everywhere in the region, it has its own rules regarding digital etiquette and daily life.

• Connectivity and Internet. Familiar western services (Google, WhatsApp, YouTube, social networks) are blocked in China. To stay connected and access your usual websites, it is necessary to install a reliable VPN service or purchase a tourist eSIM before your flight.
• Finances. Visa and Mastercard bank cards are not accepted everywhere, mostly only in large international hotels. The primary payment method is via QR codes through Alipay or WeChat Pay apps. It is highly recommended to install Alipay in advance, complete the verification, and link your card—this is the main payment tool for a tourist. Cash is accepted, but change may not always be available.
• Language Barrier. Few people in Huzhou speak English. Be sure to download an offline translator with text recognition via photo (for menus and signs) and voice input. It is best to have your hotel address saved in Chinese characters to show the taxi driver.
• City Transport. The most convenient way to get around is by taxi. You can hail a car on the street, but it is easier to use the DiDi app (similar to Uber), which is built into the Alipay interface and often has an English version.
• Seasonality and Clothing. The climate here is humid subtropical. Summers can be very humid, while winters, despite temperatures remaining above freezing, feel damp and cold. Please note that central heating is generally not available in residential buildings south of the Yangtze River, so for a winter trip, be sure to bring warm clothes for sleeping and staying indoors.
• Water and Safety. Drinking tap water is not recommended—it should be boiled or you should buy bottled water. Dispensers with hot water are widely available in hotels and train stations, as locals prefer drinking hot water.
• Shopping. Huzhou is famous for its high-quality silk. If you plan to purchase items made from this material, do so in specialized stores or at factories. In markets, there is a high risk of buying synthetic materials at an inflated price.

It is also worth remembering local etiquette: in China, tipping in restaurants and taxis is not customary. Be prepared for the fact that the concept of personal space in queues and transport here differs from what you might be used to, but the attitude towards tourists is invariably friendly and welcoming.