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Published: July 15th 2012
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The first impression of Hangzhou when I stepped out of the railway station was of its similarities with an Indian city. But Hangzhou is really far from it. The station seems a little bit chaotic at first especially when you compare it with the Shanghai or Nanjing railway stations. But it is really, an organised mess, the Chinese people seem to have done a great job of managing their people.
We, my parents and I, stayed at the 'West Lake Youth Hostel'. Very friendly staff and a comfortable, conveniently located place to stay. It’s tucked in, between leafy wutong trees and really set the mood for our trip in Hangzhou. We reached by a morning train and hired cycles from the hostel. My parents very bravely, opting for a twin cycle! The twin cycle looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun, but for what we had in mind to do that afternoon, probably wasn't the best of ideas. 'Lonely Planet mentions a wonderful bicycle trip to Dragon Well Village and the Nine Creeks in the misty forest area. So we set off with a packed lunch of yummy parathas and aaloo sabzi.
Hostel
Cozy West Lake YHA Within half a kilometre the traffic thinned and we were on some of the really lovely, shaded roads of Hangzhou. Cycling here can really be a pleasure; the distances and roads are perfect. Soon gentle climbs gave way to steeper slopes and it was time to start dragging the cycle up. Hot and humid weather doesn't help, but the thought of coming back down on the cycle is pleasing. The tea plantations and forests make for a beautiful landscape and even though it was very hot, we were enjoying the workout and the views.
The famous longjing tea comes from this area and soon we entered the actual Longjing village. Lovely houses lined the road and many old Chinese women tried to lure us in, to sell some of their extremely expensive tea. At a fork while trying to figure out the way we tried asking one of them, but it seemed she understood little else, apart from selling tea. Mom desperate for something refreshing figured she might give her iced longjing tea. So we parked our cycles and climbed up a flight of steps. She was actually taking us to her house. There she brought out sacks of
Twin cycle
Already dragging the twin cycle different varieties of Longjing teas. Thankfully it was an air conditioned room, also probably the reason her two grand children, her husband and her daughter were all in the same room watching tv, while we sat there enjoying a really refreshing but hot longjing tea. Mum tried her best to convince the women to give her iced tea in all the Mandarin that she knows, but it didn’t help. She tried cooling the tea down for her by pouring it from one cup to another, but the concept of cold water and ice didn’t quite click.
After the break and lunch and saying our byes to her grandchildren we continued our way through the village to the Nine Creeks. A beautiful area, where the stream criss-crosses the stone path all along and makes for convenient points where one can cool off, in the clean cool water of the stream. Every point where the stream would cross the path, tourists were huddled around it, spraying water at each other, slipping, splashing. For the first time I didn’t mind the number of tourists because, they were quite spread out and one could have their moments of reflection in the spaces in
Longjing tea
Longjing village, sacks of tea between. This forested area ends with a small pool of water fed by a waterfall.
By this time it had started drizzling, but the way back from here was a breeze. All downhill, through forested areas and another beautiful village.
It rained all late afternoon and in the evening, yet we ventured out to a pedestrian street close by. The rain made all the lovely cloth lanterns reflect on the paved wet streets and the live string music and colour added to the atmosphere.
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