Hangzhou? Seriously, Don't.
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Poor West Lake gets so much flak. 'Avoid it if it rains!' 'Too hot? Avoid!' 'Mosquitoes? Definitely avoid!' 'Don't know how to appreciate beauty? Avoid!' 'Didn't do your research? Avoid!'
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I'm so over it. All people do is list things to 'avoid.' I've been so many times, and it's always beautiful to me.
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So many restaurants label themselves 'Hangzhou cuisine' but aren't even run by locals. People just jump to conclusions, say Hangzhou food is awful, and then whine about it online! When we travel, if we eat something we don't like, we'd at most say 'it's not quite my taste.' We'd never go out of our way to badmouth it.
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They just don't know how to eat, yet they act like they do...
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West Lake, I won't allow anyone to slander you!
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It's so incredibly beautiful!
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Any recommendations for authentic spots?
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Seriously, if you're just going to complain about Hangzhou, then don't bother coming. Hangzhou locals would really appreciate it (sarcastically).
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@BigZ @RichWomanBoss Exactly! What kind of psychological need does trashing Hangzhou fulfill for them?
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...To be honest, I think Xinfeng Snacks are tastier than general Hangzhou cuisine.
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I took my friend to Xinfeng, and she found it too salty.
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It's true there's a lot of bad food in Hangzhou, but the really terrible dishes are often from so-called 'out-of-town' chefs/restaurants that couldn't make it back home and are just trying to fool people here.
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You've got a point.
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So, any recommendations for good noodle shops?
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Hmm, I haven't really explored many new places myself. I've mostly stuck to popular, well-known spots. You should probably ask the locals in the comments, hahaha! I'm actually from Wenzhou.
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Any recommendations for local Hangzhou dishes? Besides fish, though – I can't eat fish, got a bone stuck once and now I'm scarred by it.
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Crispy Pork Intestines, Duck Stew with Dried Bamboo Shoots, Braised Pork Belly, Scallion-Wrapped Dough Fritters (Cong Bao Hui'er)... Go try them at Baozhongbao.
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I've been here for 6 days. Initially, I also felt it was a bit of a 'food desert.' But yesterday, I tried Hangzhou cuisine for the first time, and the Vegetarian Rolled Chicken (Su Juan Ji) was delicious! I plan to try more today. Maybe it's because I'm from northern China, but I don't find West Lake boring at all. I spent three days just exploring the nearby attractions (I take my time and sometimes just sit and enjoy the breeze). I've also checked out a few different night markets on various evenings, and they were fantastic to wander through. I could happily spend two hours at the City Balcony just chilling and enjoying the breeze. Everywhere I've been is so clean, the people seem really upbeat, and there are so many pretty, fair-skinned young women – I'm seriously envious! Hangzhou is truly my favorite tourist city I've visited so far.
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It feels like the kind of place that's perfect for leisurely strolling. It's not really for those who just snap a photo and leave, because there's just too much to see to rush through it.