Meh.

[Lula Schmidt]

Oh, speaking of Hangzhou, I had a whole bunch of beautiful imaginings before I came here, thinking that the people here were just as gentle and kind as the water in the West Lake.

• The reality? Upon arrival, I discovered that folks around here seem to be quite busy and hurried, with a very fast-paced lifestyle, and the stress was palpable.
• When trying to ask for directions, more than once I encountered expressions that seemed to convey "please don't bother me." It made my heart skip a little beat.
• At times it was even worse -- when interacting with vendors at tourist sites, who may wish to sell you something, but they might give you an impatient, indifferent stare if you ask even one additional question about the product details.

A small rant: Honestly, I feel that some of these beautifully marketed tourism promotions do not fully match up with the real-life experiences.

A heads-up for friends planning a trip to Hangzhou:

• Regarding seeking directions:
  • What you might encounter: You will find that locals may not have as much leisure or patience to guide you. Don't take it to heart; they may just be incredibly busy or suffering from the stressors commonly associated with big city life.
  • How to tackle this situation?
    • I strongly recommend downloading a reliable map app (in China, Alisms Ditu and Baidu Maps are usually pretty accurate), rather than asking people for directions.
    • Alternatively, seek out area staff in uniform, volunteers, or hotel porters instead. They tend to be more willing to help.
• Interactions with people:
  • Maintain a level-headed attitude: If faced with unkindness from someone, don't let it ruin your entire journey. In big cities, people come and go, after all.
  • Be mindful during shopping experiences: Should a vendor appear impatient concerning your inquiries, there’s no rush to buy there right away. Comparing prices and doing some more research always has its benefits.

In essence, while Hangzhou’s scenery is truly beautiful, there might be some discrepancy in social interactions compared to expectations, so lower your expectations slightly and prepare yourself mentally; then, you’ll have an even more enjoyable time!

End.