Blog 6:
Hangzhou is a beautiful city, especially in spring. There is a beautiful lake called West Lake, there are mountains that surround the Lake. I wish Ann Arbor had some mountains to climb too. Willow trees have green buds, and peach flowers are blooming. It was especially pretty when we had a boat ride. (Fan)
Hangzhou was very, very cool. There was a Lamborghini dealership and a Maserati dealership right next to each other, and we also saw a Gucci store, which was a front to a bunch of other really nice stores. Then we went to a play on West Lake, which looked amazing, but it was raining hard which dampened the experience. – Daniel
Hangzhou was much different from Shanghai. While it was similar in some ways, such as the densely populated areas and busy streets, it also had a few variances that were unexpected but not at all unwelcomed. Natives unabashedly pulled us aside for photos, and it was a joy to see how excited they were when we spoke a few words in Chinese. Hangzhou is a more rural area, which contrasts with the effervescence of urbanized Shanghai. It was a refreshing change. – Yelta
We left Hangzhou. It was fun. I liked the monetary. (Man of few words-Jackson)
Hangzhou was just as beautiful as I remember, with the lovely vegetation and atmosphere of the holiday surrounding us. Even though the weather was hard to tolerate at times, I still found myself enjoying going to the temple and tea garden just as much. Megan
Hangzhou was really beautiful, but I don’t think we had the chance to experience just how beautiful it was because of the rain. It was constantly raining!!! But we were brave and went out anyways. I finally found some stores with good clothes and bought some pineapple socks…hope I actually wear them. We’re on the plane right now to Xian, and I’m really exited to continue venturing in China with everyone! J Tamara
I really liked Hangzhou. The show we saw last night was really cool, it would’ve been better if it wasn’t raining so hard! I really liked the shops that were near our hotel. We went to a Gucci store and a Dolce & Gabanna store. I also tried some milk tea from a street vendor. I’m looking forward to Xi’an, I just hope it doesn’t rain as much. Langston
I really enjoyed my time in Hangzhou. This once in a lifetime experience is unbelievable. The show that we watched last night was incredible. It would have been even better without the rain. But it was still really cool. The dancers actually looked like they were walking on water. Woaoaoaoaw! The whole trip so far has been unforgettable. Ps. a quick shout out to everyone on the trip. It wouldn’t be the same without all y’all.
-Grace J
Hangzhou was absolutely amazing. The city was unlike anything I had ever seen before and I would actually consider living there if I had the chance. The monastery and West Lake were among my favorite parts of the trip so far. I would love to go back someday whether it is with my family or by myself. The mixture of dense forest and mountains with urban areas and a huge city made Hangzhou my ideal vacation area. I love China!
-Marcus
The technical aspects of the show on West Lake were impressive…a submerged stage, the lighting, the structure which arose from beneath the surface of the lake…I have never seen such an elaborate and technically sophisticated production. The colors achieved in lighting the trees around the edge of the lake were breathtaking, and best of all was the lighting of the triangular structure that rose up. I don’t know if it was because of the rain, but the mist that caught the color of the lights created such an ethereal mood…I loved it. Even though it was cold and we were soaked, I’m glad we got to see this show!
-Jane
Yesterday (Monday) we visited a green tea farm and went to a show staged on the water at West Lake. The green tea farm we watched as the workers pulled the new growth shoots from the evergreen tea plant and put them in bamboo baskets. Then the tea is warmed in small batches in a giant wok. The very skilled ‘cook’ slowly dries the tealeaves without letting them burn. Then they let us sample the tea, we were all hooked! Several cans of tea are coming home to America. (It really was good, but we are suckers for a great sales pitch!)
Ben
Hangzhou is a beautiful city, especially in spring. There is a beautiful lake called West Lake, there are mountains that surround the Lake. I wish Ann Arbor had some mountains to climb too. Willow trees have green buds, and peach flowers are blooming. It was especially pretty when we had a boat ride. (Fan)
Hangzhou was very, very cool. There was a Lamborghini dealership and a Maserati dealership right next to each other, and we also saw a Gucci store, which was a front to a bunch of other really nice stores. Then we went to a play on West Lake, which looked amazing, but it was raining hard which dampened the experience. – Daniel
Hangzhou was much different from Shanghai. While it was similar in some ways, such as the densely populated areas and busy streets, it also had a few variances that were unexpected but not at all unwelcomed. Natives unabashedly pulled us aside for photos, and it was a joy to see how excited they were when we spoke a few words in Chinese. Hangzhou is a more rural area, which contrasts with the effervescence of urbanized Shanghai. It was a refreshing change. – Yelta
We left Hangzhou. It was fun. I liked the monetary. (Man of few words-Jackson)
Hangzhou was just as beautiful as I remember, with the lovely vegetation and atmosphere of the holiday surrounding us. Even though the weather was hard to tolerate at times, I still found myself enjoying going to the temple and tea garden just as much. Megan
Hangzhou was really beautiful, but I don’t think we had the chance to experience just how beautiful it was because of the rain. It was constantly raining!!! But we were brave and went out anyways. I finally found some stores with good clothes and bought some pineapple socks…hope I actually wear them. We’re on the plane right now to Xian, and I’m really exited to continue venturing in China with everyone! J Tamara
I really liked Hangzhou. The show we saw last night was really cool, it would’ve been better if it wasn’t raining so hard! I really liked the shops that were near our hotel. We went to a Gucci store and a Dolce & Gabanna store. I also tried some milk tea from a street vendor. I’m looking forward to Xi’an, I just hope it doesn’t rain as much. Langston
I really enjoyed my time in Hangzhou. This once in a lifetime experience is unbelievable. The show that we watched last night was incredible. It would have been even better without the rain. But it was still really cool. The dancers actually looked like they were walking on water. Woaoaoaoaw! The whole trip so far has been unforgettable. Ps. a quick shout out to everyone on the trip. It wouldn’t be the same without all y’all.
-Grace J
Hangzhou was absolutely amazing. The city was unlike anything I had ever seen before and I would actually consider living there if I had the chance. The monastery and West Lake were among my favorite parts of the trip so far. I would love to go back someday whether it is with my family or by myself. The mixture of dense forest and mountains with urban areas and a huge city made Hangzhou my ideal vacation area. I love China!
-Marcus
The technical aspects of the show on West Lake were impressive…a submerged stage, the lighting, the structure which arose from beneath the surface of the lake…I have never seen such an elaborate and technically sophisticated production. The colors achieved in lighting the trees around the edge of the lake were breathtaking, and best of all was the lighting of the triangular structure that rose up. I don’t know if it was because of the rain, but the mist that caught the color of the lights created such an ethereal mood…I loved it. Even though it was cold and we were soaked, I’m glad we got to see this show!
-Jane
Yesterday (Monday) we visited a green tea farm and went to a show staged on the water at West Lake. The green tea farm we watched as the workers pulled the new growth shoots from the evergreen tea plant and put them in bamboo baskets. Then the tea is warmed in small batches in a giant wok. The very skilled ‘cook’ slowly dries the tealeaves without letting them burn. Then they let us sample the tea, we were all hooked! Several cans of tea are coming home to America. (It really was good, but we are suckers for a great sales pitch!)
Ben