Tag Archives: Hangzhou

Qinghefang Ancient Street- Hangzhou, China

Qinghefang Ancient Street: A Feast for the Senses

Qinghefang Ancient Street- Hangzhou, China

just before the crowds…

We emerged from the narrow street where our little guest house sat nestled into a row of white washed buildings. It was quiet, and the essence of another era lingered between the walls and the cobbles. Then, as we rounded the corner and stood at the opening of Qinghefang Ancient Street we saw it: a throng of humans stretching as far as the eye could see. I am not going to lie- Continue reading


West Lake walkabout: scenes from Hangzhou, China

West Lake Walkabout

West Lake walkabout: scenes from Hangzhou, China

We woke on our first morning in Hangzhou to the sound of birds chirping in the courtyard. I kept my eyes squeezed shut and listened intently to their song, not yet wanting to break the spell, and tried to imagine what words the ancient Chinese poets would use to describe the moment. Is it possible that there was a proverb somewhere in their early morning music?
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Little guardians of Quinghefang Ancient Street... Hangzhou, China

Hangzhou, we arrive.

Little guardians of Quinghefang Ancient Street... Hangzhou, China

little guardians of Quinghefang Ancient Street…

 

The bus hurdled westward until Shanghai was just a collection of faded grey shapes.  I watched through the window as the suburbs rolled by: groups of colourful housing complexes creeping their way across green.  Power lines, train tracks, industry.  Even in the mystical land of the red dragon Continue reading