This is our 6th Chinese New Year in China and the first in Hangzhou. And to make it even more special, my Mum and my daughter's fiance' and his mother joined us this year. What a good choice in time of year as HZ looked so beautiful draped in red for the New Year. We met them at HZ Xiaoshan International airport and brought them back to the Huangchen International hotel to freshen up. No rest for the wicked. Ha Ha. Once we were settled we decided to visit the Wushan market that is right behind the hotel. Great location. At the market it is good to have some good bargaining skills. Kyle was quite proud of bargaining his first buy in China.
We found a stall selling accessories for your pets and this cat was all pimped out.
We also visited West Lake. I know I have posted about these areas before, but I have tried to paste new pictures. We also went a bit off track so some of the views look a bit different. And being winter you don't see many trees with leaves - they are bare. But there is a red theme radiating throughout for the Year of the Pig.
Even though the trees had no leaves, the scenery was immaculate and shouting for photos to be taken.
We decided to go on a trip around the lake. It was very calming and relaxing to be out on the water. But in Winter, to go out on the side decks was extremely cold. Especially the icy wind. But hey, we needed the photo op.
I know how cold it was on the side of the boat, I wonder how the people that are in the little open boats feel? This area is not just a tourist attraction to the international visitor but also for the locals.
We also had some walk abouts in HZ. But we walked around another part that we have not visited before. We found some indoor markets and some eateries nice tucked away so if you were not looking in the nooks and crannies, it would have been easily missed.
Red ribbons are hung onto trees with good luck comments written on them.
We also stopped at a restaurant called Taste and had some delicious food.
During one of our walks to the indoor markets, we found one of my favourite Chinese fast food. The Chinese shawarma. It is pork sliced and then mixed with lettuce and onion and other spices and placed into a flat bread.
We again visited the Leifeng Pagoda but this time in winter. And the further up you go the colder it gets.
We also took our family to walk down HeFang Pedestrian street. It was really colourful during the Chinese New Year.
Love the names the locals come up with.
We found a little gem hidden away, a German restaurant called the Hauxinbausier. Oh man the food was out of this world.
Then it was time to get to the train station as we were getting the fast train to Shanghai.
We visited Art in the Park. Strange and weird art displayed and every time we go back there seems to be new art. There are many parks in Shanghai which you can visit. During the spring and autumn months you can visiting signing park where many locals go and sing, play instruments, dance or practise martial arts.
We visited the Science Museum. It was so very crowded and hot inside. It is definitely a place to take children. They would love it.
And of course the street food in Nanjing Pedestrian Street in Shanghai. In 2013 we bought at these same stalls. I could not believe that these stalls were still there.
One of the places to visit when in Shanghai is the French Concession. The buildings show an essence of the French. There are lots of shops and alleys that you can go explore. We decided to visit the Shake Shack, but the line was all the way around the corner. So we decided to go and have lunch at another restaurant. A great choice I must say.
In the French Concession is the section called TianziFang which is a myriad of alleyways with little shops all around. It really is beautiful. During Chinese New Year they had lights, plants, lanterns hanging over the alleyways. During spring you usually see colourful umbrellas.
And their humour makes me laugh.
You cannot have Chinese New Year without some dragons. We were very lucky to come across this dragon dancing crew while we were eating lunch and they gave us a little show on the side of the road.
In 2013 on our first visit to Shanghai, there was a building which the foreigners knew as the fake market. It was about 5/6 floors high. We took my family there and behold it's no longer there. Now if you walk in you will find upmarket restaurants. We eventually found out that the market moved to under the Shanghai History Museum and is now called the AP Market. You can get lost in there. Again make sure you have good bargaining skills and comfortable shoes.
And of course the Bund. This is a must tourist attraction. They have closed the promenade during very busy times as it has been a problem with crowd control and the safety of the visitors there. But the Bund at knight is magical. Standing and looking over the Huangpu river and seeing the lights of the other side and of the boats sailing along. The Pearl also stands out as it changes colour soaring above the buildings next to it. If you have time, visit the base of the Pearl, there is a fried dumpling diner called Mr Wangs. You will thank me later.
But the best reason for the our family visit was my daughter getting engaged at Disneyland. It was a magical moment. We arrived and the two love birds went off by themselves. Then just before lunch time met up with the rest of us and we ate lunch at the Disneyland Restaurant. You have to book in advance and you have 90 minutes to finish you meal. While eating the Disney characters come around and allow you to take photos with them. It was at the time when Donald Duck came round, as the photo was taken, then Kyle was on one knee proposing to Kerry. A magical moment indeed. I must say that we weren't the only ones taking pictures of them. They got "paparazzied".
And after a busy but good holiday, good times have to end. We had to leave Shanghai very early and get a fast train back to Hangzhou and then straight to the airport. My mum left first on an early flight. We then went back to our home in Yuhang and rested. Kyle and his mum left in the afternoon after a yummy curry that Paul made for lunch. Kerry stayed with us for the week and then left on Monday (should have been Sunday but she missed her train) to go back to Hefei. I must say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. She will finish her two year contract before she gets married. And then we were alone again and I was back to school. How time flies. Live every moment as it was your last and laugh, laugh always.
LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH
Sweet goodbyes.
Please keep reading and I will keep posting.
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