Hangzhouxi offers FREE rest lounge for overnight passengers

During Typhoon Co-may (Tropical Storm level) landfall in Zhejiang Province last week, many flights and trains from Hangzhou were suspended to ensure passenger safety. Hangzhouxi Railway Station suspended nearly 90 train services on July 30.

Surrounded by construction sites and located 4–5 kilometers from the nearest hotels, Hangzhouxi Railway Station presents a challenge for travelers — especially when it's pouring and taxis are hard to come by. Thus, during the typhoon some travelers had no choice but to spend the night at the railway station, where a delightful surprise awaited them — a free, upgraded rest lounge!

In the B1-level main hall of Hangzhouxi Station, signs point to a special lounge for travelers. Over the summer, this rest area underwent a full upgrade. It now offers free single beds to overnight passengers, along with central air conditioning , Wi-Fi, first-aid kits, and water dispensers. All you need is a valid ticket and ID to check in.

Outside the lounge, newly built restrooms and shower rooms have been added. Hairdryers hang outside too. Originally, the lounge was open from 10 PM to 9 AM the next day. But due to train suspensions, it opened early. All 32 single beds were occupied, with curtains separating each pair.

Spending the night at the station can

actually be humane 

Mr. Chen's students at the rest lounge

Mr. Chen, a physics teacher from a High School in Qingdao, Shandong province, had brought 10 top students from Grade 10 to Hangzhou for physics training. When he received the suspension notice just 30 minutes before departure, he instantly panicked: “How am I going to explain this to the parents…”

“Later I learned the cancellation was due to the typhoon — many trains via Shanghai were canceled. The ticket refund and rescheduling area was packed,” Mr. Chen said. He kept parents updated via group chat and eventually got new tickets for the next morning. “The parents were understanding but clearly anxious. They hoped I’d find a hotel for the kids. ”

It was pouring outside, and the students all had luggage, making a hotel stay inconvenient. Mr. Chen asked staff and learned about the rest area. Later, police from the station even used patrol cars to help transport the students and their luggage to the lounge.

The environment and facilities impressed both Mr. Chen and his students: “Better than train sleeper berths! We feel so pampered by Hangzhou.” One student added, “ We thought we’d be stuck on chairs all night. But here we have beds, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and chargers！”

Source:Hangzhoufeel