Hangzhou Greeters
‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ Free Walk with a local
Discover Hangzhou through a free walk with a local
Welcome to Hangzhou, a city where classical tranquility harmonizes with vibrant everyday life. While famous landmarks like the West Lake and Lingyin Temple captivate travelers worldwide, the true soul of our city is found just off the beaten path. Strolling past traditional tea villages, exploring peaceful waterside alleys along the historic Grand Canal, and discovering lively neighborhood food markets reveal a remarkably intimate side of Hangzhou that typical guidebooks often miss.
We believe the best way to experience our city is through genuine human connection. With a passionate Local by your side, you will uncover hidden tea houses, quiet ancient bridges, and the authentic stories that make our neighborhoods so distinctive.
Your Hangzhou Greeter is ready to welcome you with open arms and share their personal favorite spots. Whether you are curious about local tea culture, traditional architecture, or modern city life, we invite you to join us for a relaxed, custom Free walk. Come wander with us, experience genuine local hospitality, and see Hangzhou through the eyes of a friend.
Click here to request your greet
Remember: A Greet means meeting a local resident to walk around town with you as new friends. The first step will be to talk to the Greeter about the details of your personalized tour. It's not about taking part in a standardized tour, but about exploring the city with an expert volunteer .
Mini group, maximum six people
Our core value #2 reads "Greeters welcome individuals and may serve small groups of up to six people."
The reason is that each Greet should be an opportunity to talk to each other and that seems impossible in bigger groups.
Also important: we do not mingle people from different requests but serve only you (and your friends).
Meet a local volunteer
Our core value #1Â reads "Greeters are volunteers, a friendly face for those visiting a city."
It's true: Our Greeters love their city or town and they are proud to share this with guests.
How could you better discover the most interesting spots of a place?
Free service, no tipping
Our core value #3 reads "Meeting a Greeter is free of charge."
We do not follow a "give what you think is ok (but please give)" strategy. Greeters honestly do not like any tipping because what they give comes from their heart not because of any tipping expectation.
If you would like to support the Greeters as a whole you are welcome to donate to the International Greeter Association here.
Submit Feedback here after your Greet
On behalf of myself and my friends, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Gary and May for their warm welcome and for accompanying us on a delightful walk along the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou.
The stunning scenery, together with the pleasant conversations and stories we shared, created a truly special atmosphere that made those hours together unforgettable.
What made the experience even more meaningful was the genuine warmth and friendship we felt throughout our time together. By the end of our walk, we said goodbye not as strangers, but as old friends.
Thank you so much, Gary and May, for such a wonderful experience!
I wholeheartedly recommend discovering Hangzhou with the local Greeters.
Become a Hangzhou Greeter or contact us for general questions.
