May 2nd West Lake Sculling Boat: The Lowdown

[Josephine Cremin]

I have something to tell those friends who want to take the gondolas with paddles on Hangzhou’s docks! Let me give you some advice.

• I originally thought early birds catch worms, so I rushed to a dock by West Lake bright and early at seven, hoping to enjoy the slow ride on a wooden boat (that's what they call yáolǔchuán, a small boat that reflects the charm of a water town).
• The situation? No one was queuing up! Everyone was yelling at their boatmen in an attempt to get one first.
• Truly waking up in vain, mood spoiled.
  • #West_Lake_bells_of_beauty
  • #Spring_is_beautiful_everywhere_in_Jiangnan
  • #Out_on_the_water

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• Later, a little junior girl said that Majiawan Dock had more boats. So I took my kids there by taxi.
  • (Majiawan Port is another part of the lake where you can get a boat ride.)
• Oh noes! There was a sea of people! Staff directly advised us to not join them as we'd be queueing for at least six hours!
• In a word, we gave it our last shot and took the kids out in a child-size paddle boat.
• Today, I simply have to voice out an inconvenience. Trying to be a boater in Hangzhou is nothing but yelling loudly, as a way of 'claiming' your boatman. This experience is simply awful!
  • #Between_cynthis_there_is_heaven_Below_there_are_Suzhou_and_Hangzhou
  • #Hiking_at_Liu_Lang_Wen_Ying

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️ Special tips for foreign visitors:

• About Yáolǔchuán:

  • It is a highly popular way to cruise the beautiful Lake West, where the oarsman uses a long oar, and the speed is relaxing, allowing for leisurely sightseeing.
  • They are typically privately owned, unlike large cruise vessels, which have fixed ticket counters and queues.

• Heads up! Possible pier problems:

  • No Orderly Queue: Just like in my case, in certain docks, especially during early morning light attendance periods, there might be no official queueing system. Everyone just tries to chat with the boatman directly (or "grab" him). The loud haggling and crowding may discourage some who would rather avoid the crowds or chaos.
    • How to deal with it: If you see this situation, you could try negotiating your needs with the boatman directly, or observe how locals cope with it. If you are bothered by the situation, consider trying the boat at a different dock or opting for a different kind of boat.
  • Extremely Long Waits: At popular docks (such as the one I visited, Majiawan) and peak tourist seasons, wait times could potentially be several hours even if there is a queue (such as 6 hours!).
    • How to deal with it:
      • Enquire beforehand: Ask hotel staff or local residents about which dock has better order, or less crowded times.
      • Rethink your expectations: If you really wish to experience yáolǔchuán, prepare yourself for long waits.
      • Consider alternatives: West Lake also holds other kinds of boats, such as those under official operation with fixed schedules and ticket counters. Or child-friendly pedal boats like the one I finally chose; these usually feature orderly queue lines.

• Overall suggestion:

  • To enjoy yáolǔchuán without too much hassle or disappointment, you may want to avoid public holidays and weekends, when congestion levels reach peaks.
  • Alternatively, try your luck at a somewhat obscure dock (but bear in mind obtaining relevant information may prove challenging).
  • Last but not least, take a walk around the lakeside if everything else fails. The Lake West itself is quite charming!

[Maryann Daniel IV]

I booked a service provider (shifu) in advance on Xiaohongshu.

[Maryann Daniel IV]

I did try. But as soon as they heard it was for May 1st (a major holiday), they just ignored me.

[Clarence Hessel II]

It's so frustrating! How are people with social anxiety supposed to cope?

[Brenda Shanahan]

Exactly! I mustered up the courage to shout out twice, but then I realized the boatmen only stop where there are big crowds. So, I gave up.

[Dr. Ruben Larkin MD]

How do you even shout out to them?

[Leslie Kunde]

of us!' It was incredibly awkward, to be honest.

[Franklin Weimann IV]

I really want to file a complaint about this.

[Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert]

But I guess there's probably no effective way to complain, right?