Okay, Back from Hangzhou & Boy, Do I Have Something to Get Off My Chest!

[Ms. Alberta Moen]

Alright, I have to talk about this annoying incident that's still bothering me!

• If you can't hold a decent conversation, better keep quiet and nobody will ignore you.
• Let me tell you what happened yesterday. I was chatting with my colleagues about the upcoming trip to West Lake in Hangzhou with great enthusiasm when all the planning is almost complete.
  • Just then, a woman (for the sake of description, let’s call her “Negative Nancy”) walked over with her plate, sat across from me, and interjected when she overheard us discussing Hangzhou.
  • She started with an air (I’m not quite sure how to describe it – look down-upon, or just plain amused) saying how her husband had come back from Hangzhou on business the day before and went by West Lake, pulling out her phone to show us what he took.
    • The picture was so dark you couldn’t see anything but mostly obscured the view of West Lake’s night scene and a cocktail placed frontstage – not much discernible, really.
  • She commented nonchalantly, "To be honest, I thought it was nothing special compared to the thousands of lights lake in Foshan. You could get the same experience there." (West Lake is one of China's most famous sites, with historic origins and beautiful landscapes. It is mentioned in many stories and legends. The thousands of lights in Foshan, though pleasant in its own right, does not come close in scale and charm to West Lake.)
    • At the time, I nearly burst a vein trying not to explode! "Why don't you visit and you'll find out!" I wanted to remark but held my tongue.
  • She continued: "You can't actually climb up Leifeng Pagoda, either; only admiring it from afar."
    • I jumped into the conversation as a travel reminder: "You can absolutely climb up!" (This pagoda is famously situated next to West Lake, and it is considered tourist behavior to climb the tower for scenic views.)
    • She halfheartedly answered "Oh I see", acting like she knew the place well.
• I became silent afterward, and she continued to drone on and on: "We originally asked my husband to take my son and me along but we couldn't work out the scheduling on our annual leaves. He said he didn't have enough leave at work, saying if only me and my son go, I need to control spending because now it has become very expensive with costs such as flight tickets running up."
  • Haha, given your insensitivity and the ease with which you dampen others’ spirits, is it really surprising that your husband doesn't want to take you?

Onward with my travel preparations for the West Lake!

• My expectations for this trip are through the roof!
• Traveling has always been something I anticipate with great eagerness, no matter the weather and how crowds may taint my experience.
• Although there aren't too many cities I've visited within China, each city possesses its own history and story.
• I never complained after coming home from a trip of a destination that sounded uninteresting by someone else’s wordage – “The point isn’t worth going to…” is not something I’ll ever say!
• For all the travelers (especially you, Negative Nancy):
  • If you don’t have the eye for beauty nor the ability to appreciate and embrace the experience, you’re best off staying at home with your feet up – better go walk around the Thousands of Lights Park!
• Travel reminder:
  • Don’t let people’s single-handed critiques mislead your own judgment – especially those with little experience or have no idea themselves. Experiencing West Lake’s beauty is something you need to feel yourself.
  • Remember how important it is to do research beforehand (like basic knowledge e.g., whether you can ascend the Leifeng Pagoda). It prevents any misconceptions.
  • Each place holds unique beauty; don't make unfair comparisons between a modern city park and a historical cultural site – it’s not fair.

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

Welcome to Hangzhou! Feel free to check out my homepage – I focus on itineraries that save you time, effort, and money. You might need to scroll down a bit to find some of the posts!

[Reginald Ziemann]

Just wondering, is there usually a lot of traffic going from Longxiangqiao to Lingyin Temple on a weekday afternoon?

[Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert]

For West Lake, don't just follow the crowds. Head straight for the Quyuan Fenghe area, and walk around Su Causeway and Yanggong Causeway. Otherwise, it's like a zombie apocalypse with how crowded it gets – way too many people! Leifeng Pagoda is worth a visit to see the ancient original foundation and the hollow bricks that once stored scriptures. You can also go to the top for a panoramic view of West Lake. Bottom line: avoid the crowds.

[Johnathan Schmeler]

Alright then! I was on the fence about going up Leifeng Pagoda, but it sounds like it's definitely worth it.

[Sally Breitenberg]

A local welcoming you to Hangzhou! Make sure to use sunscreen and bring mosquito repellent.