August was a very eventful month, a month where I can unleash the wanderlust in me. After my AIESEC volunteering program ended, I decided to go to Hangzhou and Shanghai for 6 days 5 nights (3 days in Hangzhou and 3 days in Shanghai) with a few lovely new friends I've made during my stay in China. It was just a very short trip, but a memorable one indeed!
Let me walk you through our journey with photos!
First stop: HANGZHOU
Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang, located at the southernmost end of the Grand Canal- a UNESCO WORLD heritage site. Thanks to Hangzhou's picturesque mountains and scenery, many travelers come here to explore the rich cultural heritage Hangzhou has to offer, making it a top destination to travel in China. Hangzhou is famous for its West Lake, Linyin Temple, Water towns, Hefang Street, and Dragon Well Tea. I've only got to visit West Lake and Hefang Street during this trip.
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We started off by taking the train from Ningbo to Hangzhou.
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| The seating in the train is really comfortable and there's a lot of leg room but there aren't much space for you to place your luggage bag, so it's better to travel light! |
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| The train station is really HUGE. |
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| We were supposed to stay at a youth hostel with two of our Chinese friends because it was cheap to stay in a group. BUT when we got there, we realized the hostel only allows mainland Chinese citizens to stay and not for international tourists. So, we walked around to search for an international youth hostel. Worry not, there are many international youth hostels around Hefang Street you can choose from. Tips: Remember to book a hostel that accepts international travelers! |
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| The entrance of Gulou(Historical gate) |
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| Walking towards Hefang Street. |
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| HEFANG STREET (河坊街 He Fang Jie) Opening hours: 12pm-12am Hefang street is a well-preserved part of the old city. Hefang Street has been a flourishing business street since the ancient days. It's truly a local experience that gives you an idea of how the Chinese do their businesses in the olden days. You can find many shops, restaurants, pharmacies and tea houses that sells traditional food, health potions and novelties. The historical building along this street would make you feel like you've time traveled back into the olden days. |
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| Hefang Street |
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| Hefang Street |
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| Momicafe My favorite store! :D If you love arts and crafts or anything that shouts creativity, or you wanna send some postcards back home, this is the shop you should go to! |
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| A hand-drawn map of some famous streets in Hangzhou. |
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Welcome to the ever famous....
WEST LAKE (西湖 Xi Hu)
West Lake is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou. There are several temples, pagodas, gardens and artificial islands within the lake. West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou, and is famous for its beautiful and picturesque scenery. You'll never get tired of the sight of this lake! You can go on boat cruises, biking, scenic walks, or buy a ticket to see the Impression West Lake night show. It's a big area and it may take more than 4 hours to walk from the starting point till the other end of the lake. |
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| Clean and clear waters |
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| Looks more like a beautiful piece of painting than a photo! An absolutely stunning view of surrounding landscapes. |
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| All our smiley faces :D |
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| The ethereal embodiment of calm and tranquil |
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| European country vibes |
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| The beautiful lotus blossoms that attracts many tourists during the summer season. |
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| When the sun sets, it's time to get your camera out and take lots of pictures! |
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| The amount of people is crazyyyyy! |
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Read PART 2 on Shanghai!
Susu
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