Call Me Crazy, But Hangzhou Totally Outshines Kyoto.

[Abraham Kris]

Oh, another temple? And more scenic spots to see?

• I just got back from Hangzhou – you know, that Chinese city famous for its beautiful West Lake and abundant temples.
• But guess what, next month, I’m heading off to the Kansai region of Japan – places like Kyoto and Nara, I feel like it’s going to be another “temple overload”.
• At this point, I am getting so frustrated! I can’t think of anything new or fresh to do besides visiting these temples and gardens. I fear I will suffer from "temple fatigue" soon!

[Katrina Sporer]

Hangzhou is absolutely stunning!

[Kristi Doyle]

It has both culture and nature, I absolutely love it!

[Dr. Cheryl Willms]

Hangzhou is great if you're on a budget. If you have money, Kyoto offers a different kind of charm. I feel Japan is more suited for wealthier tourists.

[Lula Turner]

As everyone knows, Hangzhou is breathtakingly beautiful.

[Kathryn Hermiston]

Did you truly experience Kyoto?

[Linda Dietrich]

Likewise, did you truly experience Hangzhou? The sheer volume of tourists isn't even comparable.

[Israel Koss]

Hangzhou and Kyoto are actually quite similar. Both claim to be ancient capitals, but neither truly has that ancient capital vibe. Both city centers feature moderately tall buildings, and their main scenic areas are nestled in the mountains. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is strikingly similar to the Yunqi Bamboo Path, and Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka really remind me of the Drum Tower area in Hangzhou.

[Byron Larkin]

Walking around Kyoto felt very familiar to me, but I didn't like it.

[Alejandro Runolfsdottir]

Great! You all should just stick to traveling within China. That way, there'll be fewer Chinese tourists when I visit Japan.

[Ethel Morissette]

Xiaohongshu is full of Chinese people, yet I don't see you using it any less.

[Colin Cronin]

Kyoto is a global tourist destination, while Hangzhou is primarily a domestic one. They're on different levels.

[Joseph Thompson]

That's just because Hangzhou isn't well-promoted internationally, while Japan gets more recognition, partly due to its alignment with Western preferences. Actually, I was chatting with old classmates from the UK recently. After seeing a promo video for Hangzhou, they're already looking up flights, admitting they had no idea how beautiful Hangzhou is. Jingshan in Hangzhou is the birthplace of Japanese Zen Buddhism, and their tea culture was also adopted from there. Hangzhou boasts a richer cultural and historical heritage, and its scenery is superior too.

[Kristi Doyle]

Kyoto has a serene, almost hidden-world kind of tranquility. I only visited Hangzhou briefly once and found it quite boring.

[Samuel Kihn]

Your sense of aesthetics needs improvement.

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

I feel Kyoto is a bit more untouched and tranquil.

[Guadalupe Barton]

The mountains around Hangzhou's West Lake are genuine subtropical native forests, you know!

[Ms. Cecilia Lowe]

Kyoto, beautiful? My foot! Coming to Japan just to see its scenery is so uninspired.

[Joanne Swift]

This is very beautiful!

[Miss Angela Cormier]

Do you think people go to Japan just to see a few trees? Anyone can create a scene like this.