Choosing a base is easier if you decide first where you want to sleep most. In Hangzhou that means beside West Lake or near Hangzhou East station. In Suzhou it means near Pingjiang Road or near the railway station. This page compares 8 areas and 12 hotels whose details we checked against each hotel's own website on 16 October 2026. All were read from the hotels' Accor pages, and two have some text in Chinese, noted on the cards. We could not open the sites of IHG, Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton hotels on the day, so none of them appear. That does not mean those groups have no hotel in the cities.
If you have not chosen sights yet, start with the Hangzhou and Suzhou guide. Entry rules and payments are on the China hub.
Areas compared
| Area | Best for | Watch out for | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Lake and Hubin (Hangzhou) | Walking the lake, Su Causeway and boats | Crowded on Chinese holidays; some rooms may or may not see the lake (Mercure's site says only "some rooms") | Sofitel writes a 5-minute walk to Metro Line 1. Wikivoyage says the east shore is reached from Longxiangqiao or Fengqilu on Line 1 |
| Wulin (Hangzhou) | A city base with metro connections | Not on the lake; the page gives no walking time to it | Mercure Fengqi Road writes about 200 m to a metro station |
| Qingchun Road and Yan'an (Hangzhou) | Budget city base, shopping | The hotel itself says 30 minutes on foot to West Lake and names no metro station | ibis writes it is very close to a metro station |
| Hangzhou East station and Qianjiang | Early high-speed trains | Far from the lake; business district | Novotel writes near Lines 4 and 6 and at Hangzhou East station |
| Xixi and Zijingang (Hangzhou) | A quiet resort near the wetland | The page gives no distance to West Lake; you need a car | Banyan Tree names no station or travel time |
| Pingjiang Road and Guanqian (Suzhou) | Walking Pingjiang Road, Guanqian Street and the old city | Mercure gives the time to the museum as a car journey, not a walk | Mercure City Center writes about 100 m to Pingjiang Road and 600 m to Guanqian Street, near light-rail Line 1 |
| Renmin Road, near Suzhou railway station | Train connections and water-town day trips | North of the old city; you ride in to the gardens | Mercure Downtown writes 1 km to the station and about 200 m to Pinghe Road station on Line 2. Mövenpick writes next to the station |
| Industrial Park and Jinji Lake (Suzhou) | A new district with lakeside paths | Far from the classical gardens and Pingjiang Road; take the metro or a taxi into the old city | Novotel SIP writes a Line 1 station at the door. Mercure Jinji Lake writes 500 m from Exit 1 of Xinghai Square station |
Choose the station and line before the hotel
If you spend several days in Hangzhou and then continue to Suzhou, choose a first hotel near West Lake or Hangzhou East, then move to a second hotel near Pingjiang Road or Suzhou station. The train table and timings are in the Hangzhou and Suzhou guide. We queried 12306 for 20 October 2026 and found 18 direct trains from Hangzhou East to Suzhou station, the fastest in 1 h 15 min.
Getting to your area
Hangzhou, from Xiaoshan Airport (HGH)
The airport site says the airport has metro Lines 1, 7 and 19, and a taxi starts at CNY 13 plus CNY 2.5 per km. Wikivoyage says a taxi into the city takes 30 to 60 minutes and costs about CNY 90. Sofitel writes 40 minutes by car to the airport. Real times depend on traffic. The full table is in the guide.
Hangzhou, from the railway stations
Sofitel writes 10 minutes by car to Hangzhou City railway station and 30 minutes to Hangzhou East. Mercure Fengqi Road writes it is 7 km from Hangzhou East, and Novotel is at Hangzhou East itself.
Suzhou, from the railway station
Suzhou has no civil airport, per Wikivoyage. Everyone arriving by rail uses Suzhou station. Wikivoyage says it is north of the old city on Metro Lines 2 and 4, and a 20 to 30 minute walk to the old city. Mövenpick writes it is next to the station, and Mercure Downtown writes 1 km away. For Jinji Lake, Wikivoyage says Suzhou Yuanqu station is more convenient for visitors heading to the Industrial Park.
Locations as the hotels write them
This table uses only distances and times that each hotel's site states itself, read on 16 October 2026. A dash means the site does not say, which does not mean far or near.
| Hotel | Station or route per the site | Other things the site says |
|---|---|---|
| Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake | 5-minute walk to Metro Line 1 | By car: 10 minutes to Hangzhou City station, 30 to Hangzhou East, 40 to the airport |
| Mercure Hangzhou West Lake | - | Some rooms see West Lake from a distance (Chinese text) |
| ibis Hangzhou West Lake Qingchun Rd | Very close to a metro station (unnamed) | 30-minute walk to West Lake; near Yan'an Road |
| Mercure Hangzhou West Lake Fengqi Road | About 200 m from a metro station (unnamed) | Bus stop outside; 7 km from Hangzhou East |
| Novotel Hangzhou East Railway Station | Near Lines 4 and 6 | At Hangzhou East and the Qianjiang new town; near the Grand Canal |
| Banyan Tree Hangzhou | - | Resort of 72 suites and villas in a wetland setting |
| Mercure Suzhou City Center | Near light-rail Line 1 | 100 m to Pingjiang Road, 600 m to Guanqian Street, 10 minutes by car to Suzhou Museum |
| Mercure Suzhou Downtown | About 200 m to Pinghe Road, Line 2 | 1 km from Suzhou railway station; near Wanda Plaza |
| Mövenpick Suzhou Gusu | - | Next to Suzhou railway station |
| Novotel Suzhou SIP | Line 1 station at the door | 10-minute walk to Jinji Lake; near the exhibition centre |
| Mercure Suzhou Jinji Lake | 500 m from Exit 1 of Xinghai Square station, Line 1 (Chinese text) | 10 minutes by car to the centre and sights, the hotel's own estimate |
| Ibis Styles Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake | - | By Jinji Lake, East Gate, and the exhibition centre; 5-minute walk to the central business complex |
A note: if you want to walk to Pingjiang Road without taking a car, look at Mercure Suzhou City Center. If you want to walk to West Lake, look at Sofitel or Mercure West Lake. These are the hotels' own figures, and we have not measured the routes.
The 12 hotels we checked
The cards below show what each hotel's own site says, read on 16 October 2026: a headline claim and a caution, with no room rates and no review scores. All 12 are Accor hotels whose pages we could open on the day. Some detailed text on two is in Chinese, which is noted on the cards. Where sources disagree, the card uses the hotel's text and we flag the caution. Prices, offers and availability are on the booking page.
Hand-picked places to stay
Examples of established Hangzhou hotels, spread across areas and budget bands. Every fact below was checked against the hotel's own website or a reputable source on 2026-10-16 and links to that source. We have not stayed at these places and give no ratings; we show no prices because rates change daily. The band is the property class (hostel or guesthouse, mid-range, upscale), not a live price.
| Hotel | Area | Band | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake | West Lake lakeside, Shangcheng | Upscale | It suits travellers who want an upscale hotel right at the lake with Metro Line 1 within a short walk. |
| Mercure Hangzhou West Lake | Hubin, Xiacheng District | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a mid-range base in the Hubin area on the east side of the lake. |
| ibis Hangzhou West Lake Qingchun Rd Hotel | Qingchun Road, Shangcheng | Budget | It suits budget travellers who accept a longer walk to the lake and want a city-centre location near Yan an Road. |
| Mercure Hangzhou West Lake Fengqi Road | Wulin business circle, Gongshu District | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a Wulin-area base with a subway station about 200 m away. |
| Novotel Hangzhou East Railway Station | Hangzhou East Railway Station and Qianjiang New City | Mid-range | It suits travellers arriving or leaving by high-speed train who want to be next to Hangzhou East. |
| Banyan Tree Hangzhou | Xixi wetland area, Zijingang Road | Upscale | It suits travellers who want a quiet upscale resort stay near the wetland rather than a city-centre hotel. |
| Mercure Suzhou City Center | Pingjiang Road and Guanqian Street area, Gusu District | Mid-range | It suits first-time visitors who want to walk to Pingjiang Road and Guanqian Street. |
| Mercure Suzhou Downtown | Renmin Road, near Suzhou Railway Station | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want to be close to Suzhou Railway Station and Metro Line 2. |
| Mövenpick by Accor Suzhou Gusu | Renmin Road, next to Suzhou Railway Station | Upscale | It suits travellers who want an upscale hotel beside the train station for easy arrival and day trips by rail. |
| Novotel Suzhou SIP | Suzhou Industrial Park, Jinji Lake | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a lakeside business-district base with a Metro Line 1 station at the door. |
| Mercure Suzhou Jinji Lake | Suzhou Industrial Park, near Xinhai Square | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a mid-range hotel in Suzhou Industrial Park within a walk of Metro Line 1. |
| Ibis Styles Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake Hotel | Suzhou Industrial Park, Jinji Lake Scenic Area | Budget | It suits budget travellers who want a modern economy hotel by Jinji Lake. |
Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake
- The hotel says it is five minutes walk from Metro Line 1, 10 minutes by car to Hangzhou City Railway Station, 30 minutes to East Railway Station and 40 minutes to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. [Source]
- It lists 233 guest rooms and suites with an Oriental design and a French touch. [Source]
- It says the rooftop Sky Garden Lounge has views of West Lake and the city. [Source]
- The address is 333 West Lake Avenue, Shangcheng. [Source]
- It says the heated swimming pool and fitness centre welcome guests. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want an upscale hotel right at the lake with Metro Line 1 within a short walk.
Keep in mind: The page names no metro station and gives car times rather than walking times to the lake sights, so check the walk on a map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Hangzhou West Lake
- The hotel page (Chinese) says the Mercure Hangzhou West Lake Hubin hotel is in central Hangzhou with 272 French-style rooms. [Source]
- It says some guest rooms have distant views of West Lake. [Source]
- The address is No 3 Zhonghe North Road, Xiacheng District. [Source]
- It says the All Day Dining restaurant on Level 1 blends Western cuisine with Eastern delicacies. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a mid-range base in the Hubin area on the east side of the lake.
Keep in mind: The room count is given as 272 in the Chinese text; the page names no metro station or walking time to the lake.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
ibis Hangzhou West Lake Qingchun Rd Hotel
- The hotel says it takes only 30 minutes to walk from West Lake. [Source]
- It says it is very close to the subway station. [Source]
- It says it is close to the Yan an Road commercial street. [Source]
- The address is Jinhe Building A 1st Floor, No. 87, Hangzhou Qingchun Road. [Source]
Suits: It suits budget travellers who accept a longer walk to the lake and want a city-centre location near Yan an Road.
Keep in mind: The page itself says the walk to West Lake is 30 minutes and names no metro station, so check the nearest station on a map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Hangzhou West Lake Fengqi Road
- The hotel says it is close to the West Lake Wulin Business Circle and the West Lake scenic spot, has a bus stop at its door and is 200 m from a subway station. [Source]
- It says the hotel is 7 km from Hangzhou East Railway Station. [Source]
- The address is 96 Fengqi Road, Gongshu District. [Source]
- It lists a breakfast restaurant, lobby bar, 24-hour fitness center and laundromat. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a Wulin-area base with a subway station about 200 m away.
Keep in mind: The page does not name the subway station, and the lake is not within a stated walking distance.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Novotel Hangzhou East Railway Station
- The hotel says it is at the junction of Hangzhou East Railway Station and Qianjiang New City. [Source]
- It says it is close to Metro Line 4, Line 6, the East Railway Station, Pengbu Hub and the Grand Canal. [Source]
- It says the Chinese and Western breakfast restaurant is on the 19th floor. [Source]
- The address is Xiangjianglai Time Center, Shangcheng District. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers arriving or leaving by high-speed train who want to be next to Hangzhou East.
Keep in mind: The hotel is in the Qianjiang New City business district, not at the lake; the page gives no distance to West Lake.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Banyan Tree Hangzhou
- The hotel says it is a resort of 72 suites and villas. [Source]
- It says the resort welcomed its first guests in 2010. [Source]
- It describes a hidden wetland universe. [Source]
- The address is 2 Westbrook Resort, Zijingang Road. [Source]
- It says the Chinese restaurant offers Chinese and Hangzhounese cuisines and a wide selection of teas. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a quiet upscale resort stay near the wetland rather than a city-centre hotel.
Keep in mind: The page gives no distance or travel time to West Lake or the city centre, so plan on taxis or car transfers and check the map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Suzhou City Center
- The hotel says it is adjacent to the Pingjiang Road historic conservation area and close to Light Rail Line 1, Suzhou University and Guanqian Street. [Source]
- It says the hotel is roughly 100 m from Pingjiang Road and about 600 m from Guanqian Street. [Source]
- It says the drive to Suzhou Museum is only 10 minutes. [Source]
- The address is No 535 Ganjiang East Road, Gusu District. [Source]
Suits: It suits first-time visitors who want to walk to Pingjiang Road and Guanqian Street.
Keep in mind: The page gives drive times, not walking times, to the Humble Administrator's Garden and Suzhou Museum, and names no station for Light Rail Line 1.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Suzhou Downtown
- The hotel says it is 1 km from Suzhou Railway Station and 200 m from Pinghe Road Station on Metro Line 2. [Source]
- It says it has 175 French-style guest rooms. [Source]
- It says it is located in Pingjiang commercial square. [Source]
- The address is 3189 Renmin Road, Gusu District. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want to be close to Suzhou Railway Station and Metro Line 2.
Keep in mind: The name "Pingjiang commercial square" on the page is a shopping area; it does not state the distance to the historic Pingjiang Road, so check the map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mövenpick by Accor Suzhou Gusu
- The hotel says it is in the heart of Gusu, next to the railway station. [Source]
- It says it blends Swiss craftsmanship with Suzhou's heritage. [Source]
- It says The Fang Restaurant specialises in Jiangnan cuisine with Gusu characteristics. [Source]
- The address is No 2899 Renmin Road, Gusu District. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want an upscale hotel beside the train station for easy arrival and day trips by rail.
Keep in mind: The page gives no walking time to the classical gardens or Pingjiang Road; the station is on the north side of the old city, so expect a metro or taxi ride.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Novotel Suzhou SIP
- The hotel says it is close to the Suzhou Expo Center and Metro Line 1. [Source]
- It says Jinji Lake is a 10 minutes' walk away. [Source]
- It lists 306 contemporary rooms, two restaurants and a lobby bar. [Source]
- It says the Metro Line 1 station is at the hotel front door. [Source]
- The address is 688 Suzhou Avenue East. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a lakeside business-district base with a Metro Line 1 station at the door.
Keep in mind: Suzhou Industrial Park is east of the old city; the page gives no time to the classical gardens, so expect a metro or taxi ride into the old town.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Suzhou Jinji Lake
- The hotel page (Chinese) gives the route from Exit 1 of Xinghai Square station on Metro Line 1: 500 m west. [Source]
- It says the drive from the hotel to the city centre and tourist attractions is about 10 minutes. [Source]
- It lists 303 rooms with modern design. [Source]
- The address is No72 Xindustreet, Suzhou Industrial Park. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a mid-range hotel in Suzhou Industrial Park within a walk of Metro Line 1.
Keep in mind: The 10-minute drive is the hotel's own estimate and depends on traffic; the walk to the metro is 500 m according to the Chinese text.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Ibis Styles Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake Hotel
- The hotel says it is in the Jinji Lake Scenic Area of Suzhou Industrial Park. [Source]
- It says it is adjacent to Jinji Lake, Oriental Gate and the International Expo Center. [Source]
- It says it is a 5 minute walk from the commercial building in the centre of Suzhou. [Source]
- The address is No.158 XingGang Street, Lakeside New World. [Source]
Suits: It suits budget travellers who want a modern economy hotel by Jinji Lake.
Keep in mind: The page names no metro station and gives no distance to the old town; the "centre of Suzhou" it mentions is the industrial park centre, not the historic centre.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Which hotel for which trip
| Trip | Look first at | Why, from the checked data |
|---|---|---|
| Walking West Lake and boats | Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake, Mercure West Lake | The sites write a lakeside setting with Line 1 (Sofitel) and Hubin (Mercure) |
| Budget in Hangzhou | ibis Qingchun Rd | Accor's budget brand per the site, but expect a long walk to the lake (we did not check prices) |
| Early high-speed train | Novotel Hangzhou East Railway Station | Written as being at Hangzhou East |
| Quiet, near the wetland | Banyan Tree Hangzhou | The site writes a wetland setting and suites and villas, but gives no distance to the city |
| Suzhou on foot to Pingjiang Road | Mercure Suzhou City Center | Writes about 100 m to Pingjiang Road |
| Suzhou trains and water towns | Mövenpick Gusu, Mercure Downtown | Written as next to the station and 1 km away |
| Suzhou new district by the lake | Novotel SIP, Mercure Jinji Lake, Ibis Styles | Written as Line 1 and Jinji Lake, with a budget brand (Ibis Styles), but far from the gardens |
Check before you book
- Open a map and check the real route from the metro exit. Some sites say only that a station is near.
- Check check-in times, cancellation terms and fees on the actual booking page.
- If you plan to visit Lingyin Temple or the Humble Administrator's Garden, read the booking and hours rules on the Lingyin page and the garden page before choosing, since the morning slots go first.
- Around China's National Day, 1 to 7 October, crowds are heavy and Wikivoyage warns that taxis are scarce. Book rooms and trains early.
- If you stay far from West Lake, allow extra morning travel time and read the boat and fee notes on the West Lake page.
Links on this page and our earnings
The price buttons in the booking box open providers' hotel search pages for Hangzhou. As of 17 October 2026 we have no registered affiliate link for accommodation in Hangzhou or Suzhou and earn no commission from them yet. We have not compared prices. You can book directly with a hotel or through any provider.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay in Hangzhou for the first time?
If you want to walk West Lake yourself, look at Hubin or a lakeside hotel such as Sofitel, which writes a 5-minute walk to Metro Line 1. If you need an early train, look at Hangzhou East.
Where should I stay in Suzhou?
To walk Pingjiang Road and Guanqian Street, look at Mercure Suzhou City Center, which writes about 100 m to Pingjiang Road. For trains, look near Suzhou railway station.
Should I stay in Suzhou or day-trip from Hangzhou?
Per 12306 for 20 October 2026, the fastest direct train from Hangzhou East to Suzhou takes 1 h 15 min and a typical one about 1 h 42 min. A same-day return is possible but tiring, and we suggest at least one night in Suzhou (our opinion).
Can I book these hotels through you?
No. We do not sell rooms. The price buttons open providers' search pages, and we earn no commission yet.
Why are other hotel groups missing?
We could not open those groups' sites on the checking day, so we included only hotels we could verify on the hotel's own site. It does not mean the other groups are worse or absent.
How much do rooms cost?
We show no room rates or review scores because prices change by date and we have no link that can check them. Add your dates on the booking page and compare.
See also
- Hangzhou and Suzhou travel guide
- West Lake: free to walk, boat prices
- Lingyin Temple: free entry, booking required
- Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou
- China hub: entry rules, payments, internet, trains
How this guide compares
We read China Highlights' Hangzhou guide and Travel China Guide's Hangzhou page as English benchmarks on 17 October 2026. China Highlights names four areas and a few luxury hotels with one-line descriptions, no walking times or prices and no check dates. Travel China Guide's page is a history article with no accommodation advice. This page compares 8 areas, prints only the distances each hotel writes about itself, drops what a hotel does not say, and names the groups we could not check.
Official sources and further reading
- Accor: Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake
- Accor: Mercure Hangzhou West Lake
- Accor: ibis Hangzhou West Lake Qingchun Rd Hotel
- Accor: Mercure Hangzhou West Lake Fengqi Road
- Accor: Novotel Hangzhou East Railway Station
- Accor: Banyan Tree Hangzhou
- Accor: Mercure Suzhou City Center
- Accor: Mercure Suzhou Downtown
- Accor: Mövenpick by Accor Suzhou Gusu
- Accor: Novotel Suzhou SIP
- Accor: Mercure Suzhou Jinji Lake
- Accor: Ibis Styles Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake Hotel
- Wikivoyage: Hangzhou (areas and transport; not official)
- Wikivoyage: Suzhou (areas and transport; not official)
- China Highlights: Hangzhou Travel Guide (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
- Travel China Guide: Hangzhou (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
