Hangzhou (off off Tokyo): March 21-22, 2013

I came to Hangzhou, one of China’s best tourism cities, and enjoyed its nature and history.

I walked around West Lake in two different occasions – in the afternoon and in the early morning.

It was lightly cloudy in the afternoon of March 21. The willow leaves were fresh green and colorful spring flowers were open. People enjoyed walking around the lake.

There are many historical spots and monuments in and around the lake. Great poets Du Bu and Li Bai (in the Tang era) made poems here. Another great poet Su Shi (in the Song era) was here as a high rank government officer and was engaged in construction works of banks in the lake.

I walked one of the banks in the early morning of March 22. It was rainy. The willow in the rain was mpressive.

People gathered to play T’ai Chi. ch'uan and other excises.

I also visited Lingyin Temple. It is in the mountain and I could walk in the nature.

There were many people. They prayed with burning incense in traditional Chinese style.

Tourists in packed tour wore same caps. Many of them are farmers from other areas.
The temple was clean and people’s manner was not bad (no garbage were found in the ground). It was a big change from decades ago, according to my Chinese friend.