Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
The essential guide to Hangzhou
By Xu Wenwen |
November 18, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WITH so much to do and see, deciding where to go in Hangzhou can be a headache - even for in-the-know locals. However, Xu Wenwen finds help is now at hand.
Though being a local tour guide for years, Zhao Jing always finds it difficult to give an answer when her friends ask her for a suggested tour plan of Hangzhou, because "there are too many options."
"There are so many wonderful restaurants and so many places deserving a visit, I just don't know what to recommend first," said Zhao. "It would be much easier for me and travelers if there was a guide telling visitors where to go and where was best to have a meal at different times of the day."
Her wish came true recently - a list of leisure suggestions encompassing 24 hours in and around the city was released at a Hangzhou leisure and tourism exhibition held last weekend.
The examples are the epitome of "one day in Hangzhou" as voted for by locals, in which 24 hours are divided into six periods, and in every period there are 10 suggestions for what to do, see and where to eat.
From 6am to 9am, the most popular suggestion is to appreciate the scenery of the Grand Canal and the morning life of local citizens by ferries.
It is advised to take a boat at the Xixi Wetland to experience a delight that is different from touring on the West Lake between 9am and 12pm.
From 12am to 2pm, visiting the Xiangji Temple, the nearby Shenglihe Food Street and the shopping zone Hushu Road is recommended.
The guide suggests touring and shopping at Hefang Street and Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), which boast the historic architecture and folk culture of Hangzhou, between 2pm and 6pm.
From 6pm to 9pm, it is highly advised to watch the "Impression of West Lake," an outdoor performance on the natural stage setting of the West Lake.
After 9pm, the best places to go are noted KTV bars in the city.
Organized by the Hangzhou Tourism Committee and Hangzhou Daily, the guide collated suggestions recommended by local experts and scholars, and then thousands of local citizens voted for the Top 10.
The chosen suggestions will be printed in a brochure next year, which will also include photos, further details and transportation information.
"The guide is very useful for people who need to arrange travelers' tour plans, just like me," says Xie Minmin, a translator. "It's like a schedule for travelers so that they can plan their route in advance and organize their travel plan specifically. For example, they can avoid rush hour and congested roads, book restaurants near the scenic spots rather than grab something whenever they are hungry, and choose a boat ride at a time that suits them."
Travelers are not suggested to fulfill the whole schedule, because travel also means relaxing.
"I suggest an eight-plus-four-hour schedule. The eight-hour schedule covering the morning and afternoon should be used for sightseeing, and the four hours in the evening should be for relaxing, having a foot massage, visiting the night market or watching shows," says Zhou Zhen, a taxi driver and English tour guide.
Consumers are getting smarter and their leisure choices are increasingly diversified. Hangzhou aims to build itself as a "Leisure Capital."
"In modern society, increasing pressures from work, life and study are weakening relationships among friends and relatives," says Guo Luofang, professor of the Tourism College of Zhejiang Gongshang University.
"Leisure venues, as the third location after the home and working place, offer the platform for people to release stress, to relax and to satisfy the demand for association. Leisure venues are locations that continue the social relationships, and are preferable places for party and business communication," says Guo. "Therefore, to create and provide consumers the opportunities and resources for social intercourse, and enrich their consuming experiences will help increase their satisfaction and cultivate loyal customers."
"Cities with great leisure facilities are always the gathering place for creative economies. Leisure and creative economies are highly complementary, thus forming the harmonious development of the leisure sector and creative economy," says Han Zhenhua, associate professor of the City College of Zhejiang University.
Though being a local tour guide for years, Zhao Jing always finds it difficult to give an answer when her friends ask her for a suggested tour plan of Hangzhou, because "there are too many options."
"There are so many wonderful restaurants and so many places deserving a visit, I just don't know what to recommend first," said Zhao. "It would be much easier for me and travelers if there was a guide telling visitors where to go and where was best to have a meal at different times of the day."
Her wish came true recently - a list of leisure suggestions encompassing 24 hours in and around the city was released at a Hangzhou leisure and tourism exhibition held last weekend.
The examples are the epitome of "one day in Hangzhou" as voted for by locals, in which 24 hours are divided into six periods, and in every period there are 10 suggestions for what to do, see and where to eat.
From 6am to 9am, the most popular suggestion is to appreciate the scenery of the Grand Canal and the morning life of local citizens by ferries.
It is advised to take a boat at the Xixi Wetland to experience a delight that is different from touring on the West Lake between 9am and 12pm.
From 12am to 2pm, visiting the Xiangji Temple, the nearby Shenglihe Food Street and the shopping zone Hushu Road is recommended.
The guide suggests touring and shopping at Hefang Street and Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), which boast the historic architecture and folk culture of Hangzhou, between 2pm and 6pm.
From 6pm to 9pm, it is highly advised to watch the "Impression of West Lake," an outdoor performance on the natural stage setting of the West Lake.
After 9pm, the best places to go are noted KTV bars in the city.
Organized by the Hangzhou Tourism Committee and Hangzhou Daily, the guide collated suggestions recommended by local experts and scholars, and then thousands of local citizens voted for the Top 10.
The chosen suggestions will be printed in a brochure next year, which will also include photos, further details and transportation information.
"The guide is very useful for people who need to arrange travelers' tour plans, just like me," says Xie Minmin, a translator. "It's like a schedule for travelers so that they can plan their route in advance and organize their travel plan specifically. For example, they can avoid rush hour and congested roads, book restaurants near the scenic spots rather than grab something whenever they are hungry, and choose a boat ride at a time that suits them."
Travelers are not suggested to fulfill the whole schedule, because travel also means relaxing.
"I suggest an eight-plus-four-hour schedule. The eight-hour schedule covering the morning and afternoon should be used for sightseeing, and the four hours in the evening should be for relaxing, having a foot massage, visiting the night market or watching shows," says Zhou Zhen, a taxi driver and English tour guide.
Consumers are getting smarter and their leisure choices are increasingly diversified. Hangzhou aims to build itself as a "Leisure Capital."
"In modern society, increasing pressures from work, life and study are weakening relationships among friends and relatives," says Guo Luofang, professor of the Tourism College of Zhejiang Gongshang University.
"Leisure venues, as the third location after the home and working place, offer the platform for people to release stress, to relax and to satisfy the demand for association. Leisure venues are locations that continue the social relationships, and are preferable places for party and business communication," says Guo. "Therefore, to create and provide consumers the opportunities and resources for social intercourse, and enrich their consuming experiences will help increase their satisfaction and cultivate loyal customers."
"Cities with great leisure facilities are always the gathering place for creative economies. Leisure and creative economies are highly complementary, thus forming the harmonious development of the leisure sector and creative economy," says Han Zhenhua, associate professor of the City College of Zhejiang University.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
