Hangzhou Tourist Trap Alert: The 'Seriously, I'm Listening!' Edition
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Hello, everyone!
I've been planning to head to Hangzhou on the 22nd for a three-day trip! There's an old Chinese proverb that says "heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below" (which means Hangzhou is as beautiful as heaven!), and I can't wait to be there!
However, when traveling outside one's native place, there are always concerns. What if I step into “pits” (troublesome or less favorable situations)? Hence, I would like to ask your advice:
- Are there any places or things that this "foreigner rookie" should pay special attention to? So that I can avoid them in advance.
- For example, are there restaurants specifically targeted at tourists (high-end prices with poor taste)?
- When hailing a taxi or shopping, what should I particularly beware of? (Like un-metered taxis or overstated souvenir prices?)
- Are there any famous attractions that are over-crowded and have diminished experience value, or with unfair cost-benefit ratios? (Chinese holidays bring out massive crowds!)
Of course, please feel free to share great dining and fun venues as well!
- Where can I get authentic traditional Hangzhou flavors (like Dongpo pork and West Lake Fish in Vinegar sauce)?
- Besides the West Lake (a must, because it’s so scenic!), are there great hidden spots worth my visit?
Many thanks to all of you for helping me navigate these waters!
I truly hope this Hangzhou adventure will be trouble-free and full of pleasure!#HangzhouFun #TravelTrophySeeking #FoodieHeaven #ScenicSpotsSelfie
- Are there any places or things that this "foreigner rookie" should pay special attention to? So that I can avoid them in advance.
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Definitely avoid the West Lake tour boats. Seriously, don't take any of them – it's a complete rip-off.
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There are public ferries on West Lake. It's 5 yuan for locals and I think around 15 for others. You buy tickets on the spot. A one-way trip is about 15-20 minutes, which is a nice little experience.
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For meals, try chain restaurants like Grandma's Kitchen (Waipo Jia), Green Tea, Xin Zhou Ji, Nong Tang Li, Xin Bai Lu, or Old Man's Stir-fried Shrimp; they mostly serve Hangzhou cuisine. For snacks, look for Xinfeng Snacks or Zhiweiguan. You generally can't go wrong with these, and the prices are reasonable.
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Where is your grandma's restaurant located?
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You should definitely buy Zhiweiguan's Longjing tea cakes!! They're incredibly delicious!! As for restaurants, I didn't actually eat Hangzhou cuisine.