Hangzhou Chinese heaven on earth

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Hangzhou

Tuesday - Setting off from Shanghai town center I got the metro to the main train station to make my way to Hangzhou 30 minutes to get there 20 minutes in a queue finally at the desk and managed to explain what I want perfect time to pay and then the girl behind the desk asks for my passport and it all falls apart as I have left it with the reception at the hostel for safekeeping what a dope! Never mind headed back to shanghai and went to see the Pearl instead I’ll try again tomorrow.

Wednesday – not taking any risks today tickets have been booked online passport is in my bag and I’m out of the hostel by 6:15am nothing is stopping me today!! I get to the station pick up my tickets seamlessly and I’m running to catch my train as it has been move 10 minutes earlier. I catch it and I’m off woohoo. Arriving in Hangzhou I need to transfer via metro and walk for a while before I reach the West Lake scenic area which is a UNESCO site and it is easy to see why even though it was pouring with rain and overcast it was still easy to see the beauty of the area.

Willow trees hanging over the side of the lake lily pads covering the water where large golden carps bob their heads above the water looking for food. Walking around the quaint three moon island after a little boat trip across the lake it’s like taking a step back in time walking around the gardens and crossing ancient stone bridges where you can imagine an empress wandering spending the hours of her day enjoying the scenery all around. I was completely swept away and found the whole thing to be something out of a fairy tale. After dressing up in traditional clothes and getting my picture taken were everybody stopped and stared I sat in a tiny cafe and watched the lily’s swaying and the water from the rain bouncing off the lake.

Once I was back on the main land I started to walk around the outside of the lake and found it to be absolutely ginormous and every path was swarming with umbrellas of tourists but I found my way to the base of the golden pagoda. Dodging the occasional tourist mini bus that swerved in my direction I was starting to get the impression that they were aiming for me.

I had read on trip advisor that it was better to take the stairs within the pagoda and not the lift as there were amazing things to see on each floor beautiful art work and 3d models and an increasing view of the lake outside the windows. However I would change that recommendation yes see each floor but do it on the way down would be much easier. J the view from the top was worth the climb lovely surroundings weather could have been nicer but still worth it.

After walking for an almost solid 6 hours I decided that my feet and back had, had enough and it was time to head back to the train station although I definitely misjudged the distance between all of the walking and sleeping on such a bad mattress my back was about to give up on me but I had to keep walking tried to hail a taxi with no success so kept pushing myself looking at the maps app on my phone and eventually found a metro station with near tears of joy in my eyes. Made my way to the main station and bought my ticket had to wait two hours for an available train but at least I could sit down. I went on the hunt for food and went to the toilet. I have kind of gotten the hand of using these squatter toilets and there not so bad unless of course your back goes in to spasm as you try to stand back up and almost end up bare butt back on the floor! Not pleasant. as you can imagine i slept like a baby that night!

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