About Hangzhou. So far, most of my Chinese experiences have been with bustling cities or in small rural areas, but with big groups. This past weekend, I went to Hangzhou, a city about an hour and a half train ride from Shanghai. Hangzhou is a fairly old city, known most famously for the West Lake (西湖).
The city hasn't developed as much as other cities, such as Shanghai, but is clearly fairly wealthy. I think it's better off not becoming a booming metropolis, personally, because it has so much character in all of the gardens and greenery throughout the city, something sorely Shanghai lacks.
These pictures come from various places in Hangzhou, including locations around the West Lake and the Hangzhou Botanical Center. The hostel I stayed at was right in the heart of the scenic region of Hangzhou, near the former home of a famous Beijing Opera singer. And yes, the sky really is white (not blue).
