Hangzhou May Day Holiday: My Two Cents (and a Warning!)

[Edith Friesen]

Hello, here I casually record my true feelings, just for personal views.

• I am 16, this is the first time I traveled alone, and my destination is Hangzhou, a place that has always been on my mind. Before departure, I had many fantasies about the "beautiful scenery of the Jiangnan" (the south of the Yangtze River, known for its exquisite gardens and picturesque water villages).
  • On the afternoon of the 30th, I visited Hangzhou Botanical Garden. I specially chose what I thought would be an amazing route. But the feeling was somewhat mediocre, even worse than the parks near my home. Many people go there to take pictures of Buddha statues or other things, but I have little interest in merely taking pictures at a landmark. I prefer getting closer to nature and documenting my thoughts in real-time. Was it because I chose the wrong approach?
  • Looking back at the photos shared by others on "Little Red Book" (a highly popular social app in China where people share travel photos and tours similar to Instagram and Pinterest) after visiting several places, I feel they weren't as stunning as I perceived them from my initial browsing.
  • The plan was to visit "Cloud Forest Bamboo Path" later that afternoon (a well-known bamboo forest trail), but due to mild disappointment with the botanical garden and weather reasons, I didn’t make it there; I instead went back to the hotel to relax.
  • These days, Hangzhou is quite hot and sunny. I feel the Jiangnan area might be perfectly matched with rainy days, creating a certain smoky and misty charm.
  • On the 1st, I planned to visit Tai Zi Wan Park.
  • (Side note: when planning a trip, it seems that I will unintentionally choose popular scenic spots, which can be tedious. That said, discovering underrated scenic spots with fewer crowds is also difficult, maybe by chatting more with local fishermen or mountain hikers, one might find lesser-known landscapes.)
  • Tai Zi Wan was crowded, which took away some of my enjoyment, and I did not find it particularly impressive.
  • I cannot ride bicycles, so transportation became a major issue.
    • Attention! Buses were packed with strong odors ...you understand.
    • Unable to bear this any longer, I had to walk all the way almost to exhaustion. Upon arriving at the destination, I found it wasn’t the kind of view I desired. As an 'introvert' (an introverted individual), I felt like my soul nearly dissipated, ha!
    • At that moment, I fantasized staying in a luxurious hotel called "Yunzhongjing" (if exists), relaxing for an entire day, enjoying a spa... This is precisely our 'i-person' charging and recharge method.
  • Early next morning, I planned to board a hand-powered boat on "Turtle潭Lake" (a less crowded area of West Lake), arriving on time at seven o'clock. However, the crowd surprised me!
    • Traveling tips/warning! At this point, I realized my innocence and naivety, lacking experience! To avoid crowds, one really needs to leave early, or choose a time off the peak period.
  • Later, going through all the attractions in Hangzhou, I could not find any particular place that excited me especially.
  • In February this year, I had once gone to Chengdu with my classmates (a large city famous for food and pandas, located in the southwestern part of China).
  • I then realized that traveling with others doesn't always allow a carefree atmosphere.
  • All the efforts spent during the trip on thinking about such things like sitting in public transportation drained my energy. It was quite mentally exhausting. And I failed to truly enjoy the travel.
  • I then noted down some experiences in my notes:
    • 1. Traveling, either alone, or with close friends who enjoy the same things.
    • 2. Or consider joining a group tour (I do know many people dislike this, but honestly, it does save a lot of trouble… I used super much energy doing plans myself as a perfectionist who cares deeply about details).
  • After two trips, I began to ponder over the purpose of travel.
  • For me, travel is a form of relaxation. I prefer to find a beautiful but uncrowded place to sit peacefully for half a day and do nothing.
  • My own feelings are most important; I wish it gives me a calming and serene feeling, just like an ancient Chinese poem says, “This heart at rest is my hometown.” I want a place where I could read books or take a nap securely.
  • But finding these kinds of places is too hard; it can only happen by chance.
• I am not a big fan of cultural landmarks or places with heavy commercialization, such as Hangzhou's "Xiaohe Street" (a historical street area) or other "Jiangnan Water Villages" (ancient Chinese towns with numerous small bridges and traditional buildings). I don’t think I will choose this kind of travel anymore.
• Maybe the standard I have set is too high. Yet, presently, I am not sad about it, as I consider it a valuable experience, helping me exclude unsuitable options.
• There might still be something in Hangzhou that I like, but it is just too hard to encounter. However, Hangzhou under the rain or a day with fewer crowds should present a different picture in my imagination. We students still secretly look forward to it!

[Mattie Lockman]

Actually, before it got so packed with tourists, strolling around areas like Longxiangqiao or Beishan Street was incredibly pleasant. Back when I was in high school, on Fridays after school, my classmates and I would walk and chat by West Lake with our schoolbags – that felt like the happiest thing in the world. Now, I only choose to go there on rainy days. Firstly, I don't mind the rain, and secondly, the area is truly beautiful when it rains. My favorite thing now is to start from Huyu Road and walk all the way to Hupao Road, holding an umbrella, surrounded by lush greenery. It feels like I can truly immerse myself in nature. These photos were all taken around Hupao Road and Quyuan Fenghe (Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard). They got a lot of likes when I posted them online, and they really capture what it looks like in person.

[Misty Dare]

OMG! Your photos are amazing! Do you mind sharing the settings? My Pocket 3 always seems to make overcast days look washed out and too white.

[Josephine Cremin]

Luckily, I know myself well enough – I hate the sun and I'm not really into mountain and water scenery. So I just woke up and went straight to Hubin in77 to wander around all day.

[Melinda Wilderman]

I want to go see Crayon Shin-chan tomorrow.

[Priscilla Marquardt IV]

Curious to see the parks near your place? ~

[Sylvia Franecki]

Quyuan Fenghe (Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard).

[Dr. Israel McLaughlin]

That Youhao Park I visited today was really beautiful.

[Clarence Hessel II]

Honey, I totally get how you feel, and I'd like to share my thoughts, hoping they might help. I'm from Sichuan and have been interning in Hangzhou for a month now. I've been living here all this time, and I also love to quietly find a spot, gaze at the scenery, and just zone out. My favorite places are those full of lush greenery because they give me that spring vibe, which makes me really happy! During Qingming Festival, regular weekends, and the May Day holiday, I've been out exploring Hangzhou. I'm someone who loves planning itineraries. I've been to popular spots around West Lake, famous online check-in locations, and also some relatively less crowded parks. My take is: Hangzhou is vast and has many beautiful places. You don't necessarily have to hit all the major tourist attractions. Sometimes, over-planning can detract from your experience, making it feel like just checking off a list. For short holidays like Qingming or May Day, try to go during off-peak hours (like super early in the morning) or avoid the big attractions (like the Longxiangqiao section of West Lake). Places like Wansong Academy and Hupao Park are much less crowded during these holidays, and the scenery is still great.

[Frank Cole]

Wansong Academy and Hupao Park are also very beautiful. I actually went to Hupao yesterday, and even during the May Day holiday, you could describe it as uncrowded. You can quietly find a little corner and do your own thing. Your own experience at the moment is what matters most. Traffic can be bad during short holidays or weekends, but using the subway plus a bus or bike is very convenient. If you want to quietly zone out, consider these two places. However, with the current weather, there will be quite a few mosquitoes, so remember to spray repellent, or they'll start bothering you pretty quickly if you sit down for a while.

[Lewis Larkin]

Huh?! I actually quite like this bamboo forest in the Botanical Garden. I've loved it since my first visit over ten years ago. I went on the afternoon of May 1st, and there was no one there. Could you tell me where your neighborhood park is? I'm not trying to be argumentative; I'd genuinely like to check it out too.

[Barry Kuphal]

So, you're saying the park near your home is better? Tell us where it is then.

[Priscilla Marquardt IV]

I think it's very beautiful.

[Kathryn Heller]

I stubbornly came to Hangzhou for the May Day holiday. West Lake was packed, but I still had a great time. Maybe it's because I actually enjoy lively atmospheres. I also really enjoyed city walking through the scenic areas. Even though southern Chinese landscapes can be quite similar, seeing such a continuous stretch of beautiful scenery made the trip totally worth it.

[Antonio Sawayn]

Hangzhou has many uncrowded spots. If you're looking to explore some hidden gems or less-traveled paths, you can find tips and guides on Xiaohongshu.