Hangzhou on Rambling Record

Back to West Lake

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It has only been 3 months since my last visit to Hangzhou, but I’m happy to be back.

As soon as I arrive, I meet again the cluttered sidewalks with cars parked everywhere, loud conversations drifting through the streets, and the smells of simmering dishes. Because it’s Chinese New Year season (this year falling on 17 February), red and gold decorations are up all over the city.

I recognize the neighborhoods around the botanical garden and West Lake. The hills and ponds come back to me easily, as do the buildings and shops. Getting around by public transport is smooth, using Alipay—the Swiss-army-knife app that does almost everything.

Hangzhou

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Arrived on the previous evening, we headed straight to our hotel in the Qing Zhi Wu district. This area had long been neglected by residents, but the city helped owners renovate the buildings and convert them into hotels. As a result, there’s now a good concentration of accommodation and restaurants in this neighborhood next to the botanical garden, which we visit the very next day.

Day 1 – Botanical Garden and a walk around the university

The street leading to the botanical garden’s north entrance is lively. Cars and scooters are parked everywhere—along the roadside or on half the sidewalks—much like the rest of the city.