The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
May 5 - Hangzhou

Hangzhou is located about 110 miles south of Shanghai. For much of the last 1,000 years it has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China. Hangzhou is also well-known for its beautiful natural scenery, with the West Lake being the most noteworthy location. There are many beautiful and historic sites around the area but today we thought we should start with #1 on most people's list -- West Lake.

Talking about the lake area will not even begin to give you an accurate feeling for what it offers, so just let the photos tell the tale.

By the end of the day we were all whipped! Our experience with the hotel's Western restaurant las night was quite forgettable, but we were all too tired to search out a neighborhood alternative. So it was down to the second floor to give their Chinese restaurant a chance to show what it could do ... and it did quite well, thank you.

Each region of China has its own unique culinary characteristics. We were told that the dishes of Hangzhou are noted for their "elaborate preparation, sophisticated cooking and refreshing taste" ... and they were all that. There are still a few more items on the list of local favorites to try. Research reports to follow.

Around West Lake


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