Hangzhou is very nice, a definite must if ever in the south of China. It is a 45 minute train ride from Shanghai. The train travelled at ~160 km/h, but it didn't seem that fast. Hangzhou is packed with interesting places - if you aren't traveling with Chinese people, consider hiring a guide or going with a tour group.
The West Lake, or "西湖" is in Hangzhou. It's a big lake, so one is unlikely to miss it. There are three islands on the lake, and boats can be rented to travel to the main one, that used to be a "holiday home" for the Emperor.
You can read about our trip to Hangzhou:
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
去杭州旅行的第一天。
我们都觉得杭州很好－每个到上海去旅游的人都应该去杭州。从上海到杭州做火车只要四十五分钟。杭州有很多很有意思的名胜古迹。
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01 - Checking the map of Shanghai South railway station |
02 - The train |
03 - Misleading sickness bag |
04 - View of the "country side" from the train |
04a - More "countryside" |
05 - The "view" from the hotel room |
06 - We have a direct line to batman |
07 - The entrance to the big tower place |
07a - Ticket for the tower |
07b - Other side |
08 - The big tower |
09 - If there are stairs in China, there is almost always also an escalator |
10 - Some mini-statues |
11 - The tower and escalator |
11a - Yep |
12 - Heaps of people forgot they already paid an admission fee, and mistook dirt for a cashier |
13 - The entrance to the tower |
13a - More people at the entrance to the tower |
14 - View from the tower. Note the "fog".jpg.JPG |
14a - View from a different side of the tower |
14b - Yvonne + the view |
15 - A thing |
16 - An example of the stuff inside the tower |
17 - Gold leaf |
18 - The tower |
19 - Another thing |
20 - Lions! |
21 - Yvonne's parents at lunch |
22 - Free from formaldehyde! |
22a - Free from formaldehyde! |
23 - Written on a wall near the temple |
23a - Ticket for temple |
23b - Front of ticket |
24 - A clean stream in China, they do exist! |
25 - The family at the temple |
26 - A small tower |
26a - Another small tower (there were a lot) |
27 - A carving |
28 - The stream goes into a cave |
29 - Another carving |
30 - The stream |
31 - A map |
31a - The English part |
32 - The first of many temples |
33 - A picture of the first of many temples |
34 - In front of the temple |
34a - From another angle |
35 - Yvonne praying |
36 - Yet another small tower |
37 - A thing that was in a wall |
38 - Big, detailed carving |
38a - This was a big carving |
38b - Big and detailed |
38c - See? |
38d - Another part |
39 - It is good luck or something to throw a coin onto the carving and have it land on it. Mine is the one on top of the ball, you can just see the e.JPG |
40 - Another lion |
41 - The picture of the inside of the temple from the outside |
42 - View from the topmost temple |
43 - A pool at the top |
43a - One of the dragons. I guess they squirt water some times, when the groundkeeper bothers to switch them on.jpg.JPG |
44 - PRETTY |
45 - Another temple |
46 - Yvonne's dad's favourite tree stump |
47 - The stream again |
47a - Again |
47b - And again |
48 - A hole in rock face |
49 - Looks like a carving of Buddha, and it is |
50 - The rocks |
50a - The rocks appear again |
51 - A bad photo of a carving |
52 - The rock has been worn smooth by people's hands |
53 - View from the boat as we travel to the island |
54 - A building on the island |
55 - I think it is a map |
55a - Yvonne and the map |
56 - Yvonne's favourite windows |
56a - Another window |
57 - This is a great picture, shame about the low resolution |
58 - A rock |
59 - Another picture showing some things on the island |
60 - I haven't seen a tree that doesn't have that white paint, I'm told it protects them from certain insects in summer |
61 - Some writing |
62 - Yvonne |
63 - Yvonne in the window |
64 - Another great photo ruined by low resolution |
64a - Repeat last comment |
65 - Yep, low resolution again |
66 - Yvonne and water |
67 - Yvonne's dad, Yvonne and water |
68 - Yvonne, myself and water |
69 - Me looking happy and eating |
69a - Me looking sad:angry and eating |
70 - WOMAN BAG |
70b - The other side |
70b - The other side.jpg-2.JPG |
71 - These are hung in the hallway of the hotel |
71a - A lot of different ones |
71b - Closer |
72 - Hangzhou night |
73 - Uneven Hangzhou night |
74 - Same part, no zoom |
75 - This photo on I discovered how to change Yvonne's camera's menu to English. Expect MUCH better photos.jpg |
76 - Yvonne with some statues |
76a - And again, Yvonne with statues |
77 - I need one of those flexible tripods |
78 - A more realistic lion |