Hangzhou and Suzhou
Museums aren’t my thing. I prefer natural beauty over immersing myself in culture. And I’m completely amazed by water. So after visiting Beijing, I decided against visiting Shanghai. Instead, I went to Hangzhou and Suzhou a month ago, which are all within 2 hours of each other by high speed rail.
In heaven there is paradise, on earth there is Hangzhou and Suzhou – old Chinese saying
Not quite, but those were unrealistically lofty standards, so I’ll let that pass.
I was so determined to go, I ended up travelling solo, which was interesting. It was definitely the right decision (the alternative being missing out). Hangzhou was incredible, and for me, far more memorable than Beijing.
My favourite places (in descending order)
1. Impression West Lake
It was pricey (but not expensive) at ¥260, but absolutely breathtaking theatrics set on the water at the West Lake kept me in awe for over an hour. This is a must-see night show, (originally) directed by Zhang Yimou, who also directed the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympics.
2. West Lake
Hangzhou is the most bike-friendly city I’ve seen. On the side of virtually every road is biking lanes. And public bike stations are scattered around the West Lake, costing nothing for the first hour, and ¥1-3/hour after that.
I spent an entire morning just biking around the West Lake, from my accommodation near Zhejiang University to Yuquan Road and across the Su Causeway, surrounded by the West Lake. Loved it.
3. Xixi Wetlands
As I said, seeing water dazzles me. There are boats within the wetlands that take you around the different areas. They make a big deal about If You Are the One and Running Man, two very popular Chinese shows having filmed there.
4. One Garden
Suzhou is well known for its gardens, which it has a lot of. I’d recommend just going to one, because they just blur together…
Humble Administrator’s Garden is better than Lingering Garden
5. Hanshan Temple Area
There’s a lot more to the area than just the temple.
44. Linyin Temple
Notes
- At the suggestion of a bus ticket salesperson, I discovered that Chinese tourist attractions often accept Hong Kong student ID for 50% off the entry price!
- Take the bus in Suzhou – it’s between ¥1-3 per trip. Have change ready, because there is no change given.
- Rent a bike in Hangzhou – for longer distances, taking the bus is also similarly cheap. You’ll need a public transportation card for bike rentals (Z Card), and get 10% off bus fares if you don’t use cash. Registration requires a ¥200 deposit, but I think it’s worth the time. (My Airbnb host was kind enough to lend me a spare card.)
- You will need to present your passport to book Impression West Lake tickets.
- Hangzhou (1-3 on the list) was far more enjoyable than Suzhou (4-5), though Suzhou is still worth visiting if you have time. In my mind though, it will always be secondary to Hangzhou.
- I went to Tongli, a water town just over an hour by bus from Suzhou. It was okay.
- I also visited Chongyi Church in Hangzhou, one of China’s largest churches.
It might be too early to call it, but this is probably the highlight of my exchange travels.