The delights of Hangzhou other than the lake

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There are numerous other attractions in Hangzhou many along the lakes edge or easily accessible nearby. Some of them include:

A small art gallery on the little island off the causeway, which seemed to specialize in the traditional water colour art works that most people know as Chinese art. People working and playing, scenes of gardens and houses, with very washed out colours, heavy black outlines, and the use of only 3 or so colours per piece. Very well displayed but very little in English to enlighten us as to the artist/s or the significance of the works.

The Hangzhou museum, near the art galley, which had excellent written English commentaries throughout. This museum displayed the history of the local area, from the past, which the guide books say was a city in 221 BC, to the present century and the numerous changes in modern day China.

The Chinese National Silk museum on Yuhuangshan Lu, which is the street near Nanshan Lu, only 1 km or so from the youth hostel. A very informative look at the history of silk making, throughout China and the world, with excellent examples of old silk costumes. Again, English commentary throughout.

The China Tea Museum which is a bikeable distance away, follow the brown tourist signs around the lake and turn off left away from the lake on the side away from the city, head up the hill, turn right at the sign near the top of the hill and the town, up the next hill, go through the tunnel, and turn immediate right at the crossroads. You are now in tea country, plantations as far as the eye can see. So very different to what we had seen so far. Go down this road, not far now on the left. Informative English commentary with the history, significance and the importance of tea culture for China.

And all of these are totally free!!!

There is a little village near the tea museum with some local eateries; we tried our luck at one, got a girl who spoke English, and an English menu and a delicious meal for 80Yuan. Much needed after a 15 kilometre bike ride.

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Photos

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Silk musuem

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they have many articles of clothing from different historical era's all with excellent English commentary

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a silk loom

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the museum

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A very interesting and little place, with lots of English commentary, focussing on the local history

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a large mural

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Old Chinese army clothing

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Very beautifully displayed

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At the start of the tunnel, very noisy, big jet engines on the roof extracting the car fumes

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What you see when you pop out the mountain on the other side of the tunnel

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Looking back at the mountain we came through

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Me surrounded by tea

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Last display in a very informative tea museum

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Karl surrounded by tea, too bad he only likes coffee

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Nice little mountain stream near one of the eateries