Hotels in Jiaxing
Jiaxing is a Zhejiang canal city an hour south of Shanghai, best known for South Lake's Red Boat memorial and as the gateway to the water towns of Wuzhen and Xitang. Its hotel scene is mostly business-grade, built around the Shanghai-Hangzhou rail corridor rather than tourism.
Hotels in Jiaxing serve two very different trips: a business stopover on the Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed line, and a base for exploring the water towns of Wuzhen and Xitang without paying Shanghai prices. The city center clusters around South Lake, where the Red Boat replica marks the site of the Communist Party's first congress, while a newer business district has grown up nearer Jiaxing South station. Travelers staying here will find fewer international chains than in Hangzhou but better value on the ones that exist, several with pools built for a post-meeting swim rather than a resort afternoon. Humid summers and damp winters make an indoor or heated pool worth checking before booking, especially outside the short spring window.
Jiaxing in numbers
Hot tub / jacuzziFour Points by Sheraton Jiaxing
Jiaxing's top-rated jacuzzi hotel, priced to undercut the rest
Indoor poolPullman Jiaxing Pinghu Excellence
Five-star finish on an indoor pool priced like a four-star
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Jiaxing
The most reviewed pool and jacuzzi hotel in Jiaxing
Indoor poolJiaxing Marriott Hotel
Indoor pool and jacuzzi with a bar attached, near South Lake
Indoor poolHilton Jiaxing
A reliable indoor lap pool for the corporate travel crowd
What to expect
- South Lake and the Red Boat memorial in the city center
- Day trips to the water towns of Wuzhen and Xitang
- Jiaxing South station on the Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed line
- Business-grade hotels with better value than nearby Hangzhou
- Humid summers make an indoor or heated pool worth prioritizing
- A quieter, more local alternative to staying in Shanghai
Local tips
- Book near Jiaxing South station if you plan on day trips to Wuzhen or Xitang, since both are a short taxi or bus ride from there rather than from South Lake.
- Pack for humidity from June through September, when an indoor or heated pool matters more than an outdoor one that closes for the season.
- Compare South Lake addresses against the newer business district before booking, since the former favors sightseeing and the latter favors rail access.
- Budget less than you would for Hangzhou or Shanghai; a 4-star Jiaxing hotel with a pool often costs half what a comparable Shanghai property does.
- Ask about breakfast inclusion specifically, since several business hotels here price it separately even at 4-star level.
- Visit South Lake in the early morning if you want the Red Boat memorial without the day-trip crowds that build up by mid-morning.
Where to stay
FAQ
What is Jiaxing known for?
Jiaxing is known for South Lake, where a replica Red Boat marks the site of the Communist Party's first national congress in 1921, and for being the gateway city to the water towns of Wuzhen and Xitang, both a short drive away.
Is Jiaxing worth visiting instead of Shanghai?
Jiaxing works well as a lower-cost base for travelers who want to see Wuzhen and Xitang without commuting from Shanghai, though it lacks Shanghai's international nightlife and museums, so it suits a two or three day add-on rather than a full trip.
How do you get to Jiaxing from Shanghai?
High-speed trains from Shanghai Hongqiao reach Jiaxing South station in about thirty minutes, making it one of the easiest day-trip or overnight extensions from the city, with departures frequent enough through the day that booking a specific train ahead is rarely necessary.
What kind of hotels does Jiaxing have?
Jiaxing's hotel stock leans business-grade, built for the Yangtze River Delta trade and manufacturing crowd rather than leisure tourism, with a handful of international chains offering indoor pools and hot tubs aimed at longer corporate stays.
Where should you stay in Jiaxing for the water towns?
Staying near Jiaxing South station puts both Wuzhen and Xitang within a manageable taxi ride, while a South Lake address suits travelers prioritizing the city's own sights over the surrounding water towns.
Is Jiaxing hot and humid?
Summers from June through September are hot and humid with a wet plum-rain spell in June, while winters are damp and chilly rather than cold, which is why an indoor or heated hotel pool is worth checking before booking outside spring.