Hangzhou Getaway

After a solid month of urban living, Jerel and I were both feeling a strong desire to escape the relentless crowds, traffic, and lights of Shanghai. So, last weekend, we prescribed ourselves a getaway to the ancient city of Hangzhou, renowned for its natural beauty (and easily accessible by train). We stayed at a historical state guesthouse set on the famous West Lake, and featuring expansive, impeccable gardens as well as unique landmarks such as “the spot where Mao Zedong practiced English”. We found ourselves acutely aware and very appreciative of the fresh air and of the sounds and sights of nature – birds chirping, crickets singing, chipmunks scurrying…

We wiled away our time strolling around the lake, deliberately avoiding the bustling city that lurked a short distance away. One memorable episode from our stroll is our stop at a lakeside tea house where we enjoyed the local Longjing tea and some novel snacks. To our embarrassment, when the the bill arrived, we were a few dollars short. Eventually, after much ‘discussion’ with the non-English speaking staff, Jerel was sent off on one of their small, brakeless scooter to find the nearest ATM.

Westerners are even more of a rarity in Hangzhou than they are in Shanghai. Consequently, we noticed more than a few fellow lake-strollers inconspicuously snapping photos of us as we passed by, and once, when I was distracted, a young lady leapt at the chance to ask Jerel to pose with her for a photo!

For more photos from our visit to Hangzhou click here.