1Highlights
Leifeng Pagoda carries two things at once. It is the tower of the White Snake legend โ in the story, Lady White is imprisoned beneath it โ and it is the subject of "Leifeng at Sunset", one of West Lake's ten classic scenes. What it is *not* is an ancient building: the Northern Song original collapsed in 1924, and what stands today is a 2002 reconstruction. That matters less than it sounds, because the rebuild deliberately preserves the original ruins at its base, included in the ticket, so a visit gives you both the excavated foundations and a modern tower to climb. And climbing is the real reason to buy the ticket. From the upper galleries the whole lake resolves at once โ water, causeways, islands, hills โ which no point on the shoreline can do.
- Legend
- The White Snake, Lady White
- Original
- Northern Song, collapsed 1924
- Present tower
- Rebuilt 2002
- Draw
- Original ruins plus lake panorama
- Inside
- Lift available, stairs optional
- Ticket
- Reference about ยฅ40
- Location
- Xizhao Hill, southern shore
- Duration
- 1โ2 hours
2Tickets
Leifeng Pagoda is ticketed separately from everything else on the lake โ the shoreline is free, this is not. The reference price is around ยฅ40, with the official listing governing, and it covers both the climb and the original ruins at the base. There is a lift inside, included, and stairs if you prefer them. For a single ticket this is unusually good value in one specific sense: it is the only paid item on the lake that changes what you can see rather than just where you can stand.
| Leifeng Pagoda ticket | Reference about ยฅ40 | Covers the climb and the original pagoda ruins at the base |
|---|---|---|
| Lift to the upper floors | Included in the ticket | A lift runs inside the tower; the stairs remain an option |
| Concessions | Per operator policy | Students, seniors and children with valid original ID |
Dusk is not a preference here โ it is what the ticket is for๏ผ"Leifeng at Sunset" is one of the ten classic scenes for a reason, and the practical consequence is sharp: climbing in the half hour either side of sunset gives you the lake under low light *and* the city coming on, in one visit. Daytime gives you the same geometry under flat light with coach groups in it. If your schedule only allows one slot at the pagoda, spend it at dusk and skip it entirely rather than going at noon. One further piece of sequencing: the classic photograph of the tower is taken from Changqiao Park, not from the tower, so the efficient order is to wait at Changqiao for the sunset shot and then climb for the night view.
The lakeshore is free, but the sights around it are each ticketed separately๏ผThis is the single most useful thing to understand about Hangzhou. The West Lake shoreline is genuinely free and open 24 hours โ the loop, Su Causeway, Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge cost nothing and need no reservation. That is unusual for a Chinese site of this rank, and it leads visitors into two opposite mistakes. The first is assuming everything is free: the island boat, Leifeng Pagoda, Lingyin Temple, Yue Fei Temple and the private lakeside gardens are all separate paid items, and Lingyin in particular needs two tickets rather than one. The second is the reverse โ there is no such thing as a "West Lake admission ticket", so anyone selling you one, or a compulsory-spend "lake day tour" near Hubin, is touting. Buy from official counters or official online channels only.
Klook
Compare pagoda tickets bundled with the lake boat
The pagoda sells its own ticket, and so do the island boat and Lingyin Temple, which is the case for booking them together rather than queueing at three counters. Klook lists Leifeng Pagoda admission and bundles that pair it with the West Lake boat and other lake-area sites, with an English interface and overseas-card payment. On the listing, confirm which sites are actually included, whether the boat fare covers the island landing, and whether the ticket is valid on the date and time you want to climb.
- If dusk is your plan, check the product's valid entry window covers it
- Check exactly which items the product covers โ Hangzhou sells almost everything separately
- Prices, opening hours and reservation rules follow the operator's notice for your own date
- Read the change and refund terms before paying
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
3Getting There
From the southern end of Su Causeway or from Changqiao Park, about 15โ20 minutes
Hubin or Su Causeway to the pagoda, about 10โ15 minutes
Routes such as You-2 and 4 stop near Jingci Temple and the pagoda
A natural stop while riding the shoreline loop
Pair it with Changqiao Park, in that order๏ผThere is no metro to the pagoda, but it sits on Xizhao Hill on the southern shore, which means the shoreline loop delivers you there anyway. The useful detail is what to do on arrival: Changqiao Park is the classic vantage point for the tower at sunset, and it is a few minutes away on foot. So wait at Changqiao for dusk, photograph the pagoda with the lake and its reflection, and only then go up for the night view. Doing it the other way round means coming back down to find the light gone.
4Route & Photos
The flow is simple and hard to get wrong: enter at the ruins area โ climb floor by floor, by lift or stairs โ panorama from the top โ down for the sunset shot from Changqiao. One to two hours, which makes it a natural second half to a day spent on the lake.
The top floor is the end of the visit, not the start๏ผThere is a lift, and it is tempting to ride it straight up. Resist that: each gallery circles the lake from a different height, and the composition genuinely changes as you rise โ the causeways flatten out, the islands separate, the hills step back. Going straight to the top collapses the whole visit into one frame. Walk a full circle on each floor on the way up, then use the lift on the way down if your legs prefer it.
Recommended Route
- 1
Enter at the ruins area
See the excavated foundations of the Song pagoda and the relics recovered from them, at the base
- 2
Climb floor by floor
Circle each gallery for a view of the lake that rises and reorganises as you go
- 3
Top floor
A 360-degree panorama of the lake, the causeways and the city skyline behind them
- 4
Down for the sunset
Walk to Changqiao Park before the light goes for the classic view of the tower itself
Best Photo Spots
Changqiao Park
The signature sunset frame: the tower, the lake surface and the reflection, all in warm side light
Top-floor gallery
Su Causeway, the Three Pools and Mid-Lake Pavilion together; a wide angle handles it best
Mid-height galleries
Often better than the top for the causeways, which read more clearly from a lower angle
5Food & Stay
| Jingci Temple vegetarian hallVegetarian noodles and dishes | Reference ยฅ30โ60 per person | The temple next door is known for it โ an easy stop after the tower |
|---|---|---|
| Nanshan RoadHangzhou cuisine, coffee | Reference ยฅ80โ150 per person | The lakeside dining strip with plenty of choice |
| Back in the cityHangzhou cuisine | Reference ยฅ60โ120 per person | Better value for a proper sit-down meal |
Where to Stay
- Nanshan Road / Hubin โ the pagoda, Su Causeway and Changqiao are all close. Reference ยฅ400โ800 a night.
- Boutique stays around the lake โ quieter and more characterful. Reference ยฅ600โ1200 a night.
6Tips & Pitfalls
- Come at dusk. "Leifeng at Sunset" is one of the ten scenes; climbing around sunset is what the ticket is actually for.
- Photograph the tower from Changqiao Park, not from underneath it โ you cannot frame a pagoda while standing on it.
- Stop on every floor. The lake reorganises with height; riding the lift straight up wastes most of the climb.
- Read the White Snake story first. Ten minutes of context changes what the tower means when you are standing in it.
- It is a reconstruction, and that is fine. Do not arrive expecting a thousand-year-old tower; the original fell in 1924 and its ruins are part of the visit.
- Buy through official channels. At the gate or on official platforms, not from someone approaching you outside.
- Ticket prices, boat fares, opening hours and reservation rules all change; verify the official listing for your own travel date rather than relying on any figure quoted online.
- Set up Alipay before you arrive โ Hangzhou is close to cashless, and shared bikes, boat tickets and small restaurants all expect a scan.
7Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Leifeng Pagoda ticket?
Reference around ยฅ40, with the official listing governing, covering both the climb and the original pagoda ruins at the base. The lift inside is included, and you can take the stairs instead if you prefer.
Is Leifeng Pagoda an ancient tower or a new one?
The present tower is a 2002 reconstruction. The Northern Song original collapsed in 1924, and the rebuild preserves the excavated foundations and recovered relics at its base, included in the ticket โ so you see both the ruins of the old tower and the lake panorama from the new one.
When is the best time to visit Leifeng Pagoda?
Dusk. "Leifeng at Sunset" is one of West Lake's ten classic scenes, and climbing around sunset gives you the lake in low light together with the city lights coming on. Daytime means coach groups and flat light on the same view.
Where do I photograph the whole pagoda?
From Changqiao Park, not from under the tower. Changqiao is the classic angle for "Leifeng at Sunset" โ late afternoon side light with the tower, the lake and the reflection in one frame. Shoot there first, then climb for the night view.
How do I get to Leifeng Pagoda?
It stands on Xizhao Hill on the southern shore of the lake. There is no direct metro; take a bus (You-2, 4 and others) or a taxi at roughly ยฅ20โ30, or simply walk 15โ20 minutes from the southern end of Su Causeway or from Changqiao Park.
Combine With
Other Hangzhou sights that genuinely pair well with this one
Before You Go
The practical guides you will actually need here
All Hangzhou attractions
Klook
Compare West Lake area combinations
Most people climb the pagoda as part of a lake day rather than as a destination in itself, so the thing worth comparing is the combination: boat, tower, temple, and whether transport between them is included. Klook lists Hangzhou itineraries covering the lake area with English-speaking guides and overseas-card payment. Check the running order, the time allowed at each stop, and whether the schedule reaches the pagoda near sunset.
- Check exactly which items the product covers โ Hangzhou sells almost everything separately
- Prices, opening hours and reservation rules follow the operator's notice for your own date
- Read the change and refund terms before paying
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
GoChinaTravel Editorial Team
Our team of China travel researchers combines on-the-ground contributor insights, official government sources, and traveler community feedback to create the most detailed English-language China guides available. Every guide is fact-checked against primary sources (NIA, 12367, official attraction websites, Railway 12306) before publication.