Hangzhou part II

On Friday I had my class then quickly dropped my books back at the flat before taking the metro to Hongqiao Railway station. I totally spaced out and then a girl next to me asked me something in Chinese I wasn't too sure until it was too late and I realised she was asking me if I knew where this train was headed. Line 10 branches out at Longxi Lu and I forgot! So as she had the sense to get off the train and wait on the platform I didn't think fast enough and ended up staying on the train and realised it wasn't going in the right direction.

I got off at Longxi and then found this station isn't like the others where you can cross the platform to get back to the other direction but have to go out and across the walkway to get to the other side. So I had to wait 5 more minutes for the next train and asked a girl on the platform if this train was going to the railway station. She confirmed it was and I felt a bit stupid.

I got to the station in good time and went to get some cake to eat whilst waiting for the train. I was lucky enough to sit in 1A in first class so it was very roomy and quiet. The journey took just under 1 hour and when I left I wanted to avoid all those strange men trying to offer rides in their private taxis. As I headed away from the station and men on bikes or in rickshaw things started yelling and getting me to ride with them it really scared me. I then went to the bus stop and flagged down a taxi which already had a passenger and he kept trying to convince me to hop in as well. When I kept waving at him to go and I waited until I got another taxi. This one had some laminated paper in it telling me he was going there but I couldn't read it so I got out. I then headed away and some man started following me I was so scared!

I quickly got my phone out and tried calling Sam and Richie for some help but without much help. I then walked a bit before trying another taxi and he seemed a bit more helpful that I wanted to be on the other side of the road. I managed to cross over but couldn't get a taxi so I headed back to the station. At this point I saw the K7 bus I took last time to West Lake so I quickly hopped on.

When I got to the West Lake stop from before I managed to ask some directions and eventually found the hotel. It was a big room with a lake view for about 700RMB. I then met Sam and Richie at the Honeymoon Dessert place and we took a taxi to a restaurant. This restaurant was huge and apparently very well known in Hangzhou.

Food was something different and the view was stunning. After dinner we split up and I walked around West Lake at night it was so beautiful and not to busy. I just missed the musical fountain show but the Dragonboat tour just docked in so I paid 90RMB and sat on board. I didn't realise we'd sit there for 45 minutes before moving! At this point I caught the musical fountain show twice.

On the boat we were given hot tea and some fruit to enjoy whilst enjoying the tour. It was harder to see things at night but the lights were very pretty. After 50 minutes it ended and I walked back to my hotel.

The next day I woke up around 9am and checked out. I took the K7 bus to the other side of the lake and walked around Yangs Causeway for a while before I took a taxi to Lingyin Temple. I had to pay to go into the grounds and was expected to pay again to go into the temple so I didn't go and headed to Yong Temple at the end near where Sam and Richie were staying. It was by complete chance I found their hotel in the village there.

We ate lunch at the local restaurant and then went on a tea tour. The guide, Linda, she took us to Nine Creeks where it was a 30 minute walk to the Longjing Village. Nine Creeks means crossing on skipping stones which felt rather scary and dangerous - I was so glad to not have to cross back again! The tea village was so different and we were  shown the different kinds of leaves and tea ceremony.

We got back in the car and went to the tea museum nearby and got to try some samples of tea. After this we were dropped off by West Lake and went to Hagan Daaz for high tea ice cream! The train back was at 8pm and we arrived back in Shanghai by 9pm. We thought we'd go to Din Tai Fung in Xujiahui but when we arrived nearly all the restaurants were closing! The only thing we could have was KFC in the end!

A family visit

I was very anxious in class to get out and meet Sami and Richie. I dropped my things off and headed to their hotel at the Bund. After meeting up we took a taxi to Yongfu Lu where there is an Elite club we were going to try to have tea there. I had walked past this place before and didn't know it was a bar/restaurant so it was interesting to walk in. They are very strict about no photos! However, we didn't find the tea menu and so we got a taxi and went to Xujiahui where I got to show them my favourite place which is in the basement of Metro City where there are many things to eat.

We went to the Udon restaurant which was nice and cheap for a big bowl of noodles. After lunch we took a taxi to People's Square to wait in Celina's hotel. We then went to Dapu Bridge station where there is a big hot pot restaurant. I had never seen something like this before where downstairs there are many small tables with games to play whilst waiting for a table and even places set up for manicures!

The service here was amazing and food was really good. You can mix your own sauces too.

The next day we had some small bao like xiaolongbao but made with bread it was really tasty. Then we took the sight-seeing bus and got off at Yu Gardens.

We made our way straight for the xiaolongbao restaurant and sat in the VIP section so we didn't need to wait. The minimum spend per person there is 150RMB. I had to quickly rush off to my class and then later met up with everyone at Xintiandi. I actually didn't know the Olympic torch was on display there so that was cool to see! We then walked through People's Square back to Celina's hotel and took a rest.

For dinner we went to Raffles City, upstairs is a big food court. I shared a roasted fish with Celina which was ok but not as nice as the fish I have more locally.  Then I had to say bye to Celina as she was heading back to Hong Kong the next day.