Hangzhou

General Information

Where is it?

Hangzhou is the capital of the Zhejiang province in China.

For Hangzhou's map, please go to http://hangzhou.chinese.com/sh/hzsqt.htm

How to get there?

From Hong Kong, you can go to Hangzhou either

- by taking plane, from HK international airport to Hangzhou Xiaoshan airport, usually take 2 hours

- by taking Kowloon - Shanghai train, and get off at Hangzhou (East) station, usually take 20 hours or more.

Weather Information

Spring: From March to May

Summer : From June to August

Autumn: From September to November

Winter: From December to February

Minimum temperature is around 4 degree celcius (in January) and Maximum temperature is around 29 degree celcius (in July)

Rainy season is from March to June

Recommended time of visit: March/April + September/October

Language

Putonghua

Why worths visiting?

Hangzhou is famous for its scenery. Besides, there are many historical buidings and pagodas in Hangzhou where you can learn much about the history of China. Some of the travel spots are listed below:

Lingyin Temple

West Lake (Xi Hu) - home of Song Dynasty emperors, with scenic splendour of pagodas, pavilions and terraces

Six Harmonies Pagoda (Liuhe Temple) - unique and striking 196-foot octagonal pagoda

Tomb of Yue Fei - 800-year-old edifice commemorates a patriotic Song Dynasty General who defended China against Tartar invaders, but fell afoul of politics. The tomb is built on the spot where he was executed and contains the actual pine stump where he was beheaded.

For more details, please visit:

http://www.travel.com.hk/china/hangzhou.htm or

http://www.madeinwx.com.cn/wxqy/wxqy08/travel/zhejiang/hangzhou/ (chinese site)

Ningbo

General Information

Where is it?

Ningbo is situated in Zhejiang province, at the Eastern coast of China

How to get there?

From Hong Kong, you can either

- take plane from HK international airport to Lishe Airport, usually takes 1 hr 50 mins, or

- first go to Hangzhou, then take train or taxi to Ningbo, usually take an additional 2 hours.

Weather Information

similar to Hangzhou

Language

Putonghua. Local people may speak their own Ningbo dialect.

Why worths visiting?

Ningbo also has a number of famous spots which attract a number of people to visit there. The most famous one is the Putuoshan island, one of Buddhism's most sacred sites, featuring an array of temples and scenic spots. There is also the Zhaobaoshan, where the Chinese fighted against the French in the past. For more information on travel spots, please visit http://www.travel.com.hk/china/ningbo.htm or http://www.zjtt.net.cn/land/zhejiang/nb/1.htm (Chinese site)

Putuoshan	Zhaobaoshan

My Memories of Hangzhou + Ningbo

I spent my 2002 Christmas at Ningbo and Hangzhou with my family and my boyfriend. For the first time, we took 23 hours train to Hangzhou and it was not really comfortable. Of course the train cost (HK$785.00) is much less expensive than taking aeroplane. Arrived at Hangzhou East train station, we have some friends to pick up us by a small van, which brought us to Ningbo in 2 hours. We spent 2.5 days there and we spent most of the time traveling, so we were only able to visit Putuoshan island which is far away from where we live, and the Zhaobaoshan on our way back to Ningbo centre. Since the Putuoshan island is remote from the mainland, the weather there is freezing cold (I wonder wether the temperature was below 0 degree celcius when I go up the mountain to see the great statue of Guanyin!!!).

We left Ningbo on the 3rd day's evening and started our 'tour' in Hangzhou on the 4th day. We passed by the West Lake. We went to Lingyin Temple where my parents pray. Then we went to Yuefei's tomb where I learnt a lot about this historical hero. In the afternoon, we went to the Liuhe Temple and went up its 13 storeys to see the great view of Hangzhou. It was bad that my father, boyfriend and me myself started to fall sick in the evening, so we did not visit other places the next morning.

In order to save money, my father suggested to take plane back to Guangzhou and then take direct bus back to HK there. We were unlucky that the plane (China Eastern Airlines) which we were supposed to take was not able to fly due to mechanical problems. Due to non-scheduled delay, my father went to buy tickets for another place (China Southern Airlines). To be frank, if you are to take plane to China, never buy the China Eastern Airlines. It was not the first time we experienced delay from this airlines. In an occasion when my father need to go to Ningbo by China Eastern Airlines from HK, the plane was delayed for 10 hours. China Southern Airlines is much more trustworthy.

One thing which makes me happy about the trip... is that it snowed at Hangzhou when we were at the airport. But imagine the cold weather in places which have snow... I always come back to HK sick after having gone to such cold places, and this time is no exception!!!

The photos of this trip is still being processed. I will add more photos to this page when the photos are ready.