The line begins at Xianghu station in Xiaoshan District, located just north of its namesake lake.

Upon reaching Shangcheng District on the north side of the Qiantang River, the line passes by the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau's headquarters and runs for a short distance along Wujiang Road to Hangzhou Railway Station.

The line crosses under the Grand Canal near the Wulinmen Dock and curves eastward towards Hangzhoudong Railway Station.

Upon reaching Xiasha Subdistrict, the line runs along Jinsha Avenue and 2nd Street until it reaches South Wenhai Road station, where passengers can transfer to Line 8 to continue to the east end of Qiantang District.

The line crosses the Qiantang River in a tunnel a second time and returns to Xiaoshan District.