West Lake

Hangzhou is famous for its lake. Its very pretty but its the most ridiculously pristine place I've ever been literally not a leaf is out of place. The lake was built for some emperor chap back in the day (as you can tell I've been reading up!) and is lined with hundreds of willow trees. Its also has some causeways which are really nice to cycle along, all very photogenic and lovely and I got lucky with the weather too as the full day I had there was the only day it wasn't really hazy.
Seemed a fairly affluent and slightly yuppyish city but it certainly wasn't an unpleasant place just a little bland. I wonder if the rest of China will end up like this as it gets richer?
The highlight was stumbling into some Chinese street opera and watching all the locals really enjoying the performances from whom I assume where other locals.

Back to Shanghai for the weekend.

Hangzhou, China