Hang Out In Hangzhou
Sometimes you need a break from Shanghai life; from the eternal honks and rumbles of cars, the bustling streets; the monolithic concrete jungle. Hangzhou is an escape from this. 40 minutes west of Shanghai on the G-train from Shanghai Railway Station, Hangzhou is all that was promised and more.
We took a taxi to West Lake, a journey that took us from the cold, blank walls of the high rises in the main commercial hub
of the city, to streets framed by trees and humble buildings constructed from wood and stone that perfectly complimented their lush surroundings. The further from the station we got, the greener the roads became and the denser the forest.
Dropped off at the entrance to the Liuhe Pagoda, we were met with wall-to-wall vegetation, the excited chatter of tourists, fresh air and a new outlook. From then on, my trip consisted of senseless, aimless wandering through the West Lake reserve and its numerous attractions; at times wedged between frantic group tours and school children on busier pathways, before finding ourselves completely alone on some forgotten trail, sheathed by canopies, bamboo and the gentle susurrus of the nearby lake.
Despite the popularity of Hangzhou and its scenic surroundings, The West Lake Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing the lake and three surrounding hills, covers an area of 8,210 acres and has numerous hidden attractions for one to visit, making it easy to escape the crowds hoarding around the Liuhe Pagoda, Jingci Temple or The West Lake Museum. Our mistake was assuming that we could visit all these places in one trip to Hangzhou; there is more than enough here to occupy you for an entire weekend.
After indulging our touristic impulse with a soothing one-manned boat ride around the lake, we began our frivolous wanders in earnest, stumbling upon
Yue Wang Temple, the Dragon Well Tea Plantation, Galloping Tiger Spring and the Tomb of Wusong, and saved the breath taking views of West Lake from the peak of Lingyin Temple for last. A highlight of the trip was the Ten Scenes of West Lake: scenes that have been chosen for capturing the quintessential beauty of West Lake. Unfortunately, we did not find all ten but when we did happen upon one, we knew about it. Lined
with Osmanthus,
peach blossoms,
lotus and tulips, with mallards and
halcyons weaving between the trees, the Ten Scenes are what the Romantics could only dream of; perfect, natural enclosures marked by their small ponds and occasional oriental shrines or statue. However, they are not exclusively these kinds of garden vistas, as the sight of Tianmu Mountain peaking behind the clouds has also warranted its inclusion to the list.
The West Lake Landscape is dotted with various restaurants and eateries. Nevertheless, the majority of them are accessible by reservation only and open after 4:30pm. As this was the case, we made do with an ice-cream from one of the countless vendors littered about the park, until we made our way back on to the main road adjacent to West Lake, which houses a collection of affordable, local diners where you can purchase a variety of dim sum or noodles.
Hangzhou, and West Lake more specifically, is the ultimate solution for those jaded by the Shanghai cityscape, and who instead want to meander through forests and gardens. For anyone looking for a change of scenery and a reprise from the hustle and bustle of city life, Hangzhou is an unmissable destination.
