Category Archives: Hangzhou

Hangzhou has a history to the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC). It is linked with the north via the Grand Canal, which starts in Beijing and ends in Hangzhou.

Thursday, Hangzhou

Today is warmer but more hazy. There are lots of different works happening around the city including road works which delay the traffic. The G20 is happening later this year in this city and is contributing to the extra work going on in the city. The West Lake lies to the west of the city as the name suggests. Running north-south on the lake is the Su causeway which has 6 bridges. We got on a boat to do a circuit of the lake which looked very mystical due to the haze.

boat on West Lake

boat on West Lake

small temples in the water

small temples in the water

boat on West Lake

boat on West Lake

 

 

There are beautiful gardens around the lake and the blossums are just starting to come out which is very pretty. Again moon gateways featured, zig zag paths and pagodas.

moon gate

moon gate

willows in the gardens

willows in the gardens

beautiful blossums

beautiful blossums

 

Next stop was the Buddhist temple, caves and carved buddha statues in the rock wall.

buddahs carved n the wall

buddahs carved in the wall

happy buddha

happy buddha

Then on to a tea plantation and a green tea tasting.

tea plantation

tea plantation

 

After to a market and the tradition Chinese Medicine Centre where prescription-based herbalmedicine was being packaged.

Chinese traditional medicine centre

Chinese traditional medicine centre

ingredients for prescription

ingredients for prescription

[BTW we went back to the same restaurant as the night before which has traditionalChinese food. We floundered around with the menu and used our language book to help a bit. We wantedto order some chicken an we did get chicken… however, it was a it off-putting when the dish arrived with a whole small chicken including the head with eyes staring and beak open! We covered the head and ate the chicken meat which ws very tasty.]

 

Wednesday, on to Hangzhou

We travelled to Hangzhou by bullet train. The train station was again so busy but it isvery efficient, clean  and modern. We are staying at the Friendship Hotel. Our guide met us and then escorted us to arestaurant for traditionalChinese food. The food here is not so hot and spicy,more delicate and slightly sweet.

at the train station

at the train station in Shanghai

cake display at the hotel

cake display at the hotel

 

outside the hotel

outside the hotel