The Chinese have a saying: "In Heaven there is Paradise; on Earth there are Hangzhou and Suzhou". The beauty of Hangzhou has been recognised for centuries by Chinese and fortunate foreign travellers alike; yet it still is relatively unknown outside China.
I have been there twice now: the first time a fleeting visit in 1998, the second time for 2 weeks in September 2001. The first visit left me with the impression of the most beautiful city I have ever visited; the second visit reinforced all I had felt in its absence.
The most obvious and famous feature of Hangzhou is the West Lake (Xi Hu), a vast area of water to the west of the city, bordered on the south and west sides by towering green hills. This is an area to walk around, to take a boat across, to find peace and solitude, even on crowded days. In the Lake are 3 islands, the main one being Santanyinyue - The Three Ponds Mirroring The Moon - an imaginative title for a beautiful location.
The hills conceal another selection of delights, including the Temples of Ling Yin, Tiger Spring, Nine Creeks; and the home of the most subtle and delicious green tea imaginable - Long Jing.
Yet, alongside all the tranquility of the west side, there lies a thoroughly modern and thriving city, the capital of Zhejian Province. Public transport is cheap, food is cheap, there good hotels at reasonable rates (even for foreigners!), shops both Chinese and Western.
In short, Hangzhou offers the traveller a feeling of timelessness and serenity in a rapidly-changing world
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Hi and welcome to Ciao. A good first opinion but I'm sure there is much more to say. Good luck, Paul.
ray52 20.11.2001 21:10
Welcome. Great first op. Keep writing.
Thamisgith 20.11.2001 20:02
Nice first op. Welcome to Ciao. Hangzhou was the first place I ever visited in China and I've been back many times since then. It certainly is very scenic. Cheers :o)
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