Today was Day 2, we leave Hangzhou! Before that, we had a nice buffet breakfast at the Holiday Inn, and the video is below.
Today we would be using the same driver from yesterday, who met us punctually at the agreed time. It helped that we had WeChat and could communicate with him. The ride to Wu Zhen took more than an hour, but time flew by as we were playing mobile games on our phones.
Wu Zhen 乌镇
Wuzhen is one of the six famous ancient water towns south of the Yangtze River. It’s within the triangle formed by three top tourist cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. It has charmingly restored architecture and canals. Though some people complain about its commercial atmosphere, restored buildings, and the crowds, the charm and the elegance of this ancient water town is undeniable. We first toured Wu Zhen East. It was crowded! Check out the scenes in the video below.
There were many tour groups, of local (Mainland China) tourists. I found the signage below to be funny. This was called an Ancient Tree of Wu Zhen East District. But the age is merely 45 years? Maybe that is ancient by Chinese tree standards. Anyway....
From East to West 乌镇
From the East, we headed to the West. The drive took about 15 minutes. The Western part was much bigger, with boutique hotels. People stayed for 1 or 2 nights here. Before you entered the Water Town proper, you had to go through these gates. We had bought a combined ticket earlier (when we visited the Wu Zhen East). A combination of modern and ancient, made this place feel a bit like a theme park. We used the toilets before we entered. They were large and clean. Very good.
Wu Zhen Video
Video of our exploratory walk of 乌镇 Wu Zhen West. When we entered, I didn't realise that there was a free ferry (human powered) to bring us across to the otherside. We followed the footpath, but that turned out to be a good thing because we got to see the impressive Wu Zhen theatre. Check that out in the video below. The video also shows us taking the free ferry on our way out. It was a purely human powered boat. Two men using long bamboo sticks to punt. One more using some type of rudder cum paddle at the rear.
Lunch at KFC
We walked around a bit, but as it was lunch time, and we couldn't find any place to eat that we liked, we decided to cut short our walk (after seeing enough of the place) and get back to the entrance. Kids wanted lunch, and the safest place to bring them for lunch was KFC. So we headed back to 乌镇
East and settled our lunch at a KFC there.
Transfer to Courtyard Marriott Shanghai
The full name was Courtyard Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone. It is located at the outskirts of Shanghai, about 20 minutes from Pudong International Airport. The reason for us staying here was Disneyland! We would be here for 2 nights. The transfer from Wu Zhen to Courtyard Marriott took about 2 hours. This time round, all of us took a nap, while our good driver drove us safely to our destination. The roads were very smooth, and most of the time we were on the highway. No speeding. I figured that my driver would get a speeding ticket if he went too fast. Cameras were everywhere! Elegant sign. Our check in was very smooth and easy. The hotel didn't seem full.
Peppa Pig Room
We had a very good laugh when we walked into our "Camping Room". Here is why. It was hilarious! We tried fitting into the tent. Didn't work very well (legs sticking out), but they, it was fun.
Some more pictures of the room. A nice touch was that the Mini-Bar in the hotel room was complimentary. Granted, there wasn't much in there, but still, a nice touch.
What was in the Mini-Bar? Pepsi, Seven-Up, some nuts and Coconut Juice. Coke, Seven-Up. The Coconut Juice wasn't the clear type we had in Singapore. It was milky. I would call it Coconut milk.
What to eat?
Now we had an issue. It was close to dinner time. What to eat? The immediate vicinity of the hotel did not have anything. It was pretty much in the middle of nowhere, no shops, no restaurants, no malls. The hotel itself had a restaurant (or two) but we were sure that the prices would be quite steep, so we didn't even check them out. The hotel website said that this place was 900M to Shanghai Disneyland, but that is as the bird flies. Going by vehicle, it was quite far (you had to go up a bridge), and the distance was probably more than 2km. So we decided to take a taxi. My wife used her DiDi app to call for a taxi. Yeah, she's quite amazing, she has all these Chinese apps loaded.
Shanghai DisneyTown
From the taxi stand, it took about 5 minutes to walk to DisneyTown. Good atmosphere. Decided to walk around to check out the various eateries. Found out that they had a BreadTalk which was co-located with ToastBox. Food Republic, a Singapore Food Court operator, also had a sizable presence there. Check out the video below.
Dinner at DonDonYa
After a brief walk, we settled with DonDonYa, an eatery selling Japanese inspired food. They had sets for 65RMB, which looked to be of decent value. So we had 3 sets and then went over to Food Republic to buy some Shanghai Dumplings (takeaway). We took a taxi (from the official line) back to Courtyard, cost was 20RMB.
This ends Day 2 of our tour. We would have a good rest this evening, and head out to Shanghai Disneyland tomorrow! Thanks for following along!
We were in Hangzhou, China! We arrived the night before, via Scoot Airlines (Singapore to Hangzhou. Today, we would hire a driver to bring us around to see the sights of Hangzhou. But before that, let me show you the narrow beds in our hotel room. Our room came with two twin beds, but when we booked on the Holiday Inn IHG website, it room clearly stated two double beds. Oh well. For the fun of it, I got two models to show you the breadth of the twin bed, for laughs!
Breakfast
The day started with a good breakfast at the Holiday Inn Buffet. Our room rate came with breakfast for two adults. The buffet supervisor allowed my two kids to eat for free. Video below shows the good food we had. Breakfast area wasn't too crowded, which was nice.
Below, a picture of the stylish buffet area. A mixture of Western and Chinese food. I liked the porridge and fried dough sticks. Also had eggs from the egg station. Breakfast was good and we felt happy.
Journey to West Lake (Xi Hu)
Our driver picked us up from the lobby, as per the arranged time. Our ride was in a very comfortable MPV. There were many skyscrapers in Hangzhou. It looked to be a developed city. There was construction outside our hotel - driver told us that they were building new metro/underground lines.
Driver's 7 Year Old Kid Studies All Day
Glad that we could speak some Mandarin, and that allowed us to have interesting conversations with our driver. We did not book a guide, only driver. But as you can see and hear from the video below, our driver was more than happy to tell us about China, and his family and other interesting nuggets of life in China!
West Lake, Hangzhou
First stop, the famous West Lake 西湖! West Lake (Chinese: 西湖; pinyin: Xī Hú) is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou, China. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands within the lake.
Map of the West Lake in Hangzhou, China
Leifeng Pagoda
West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history for its natural beauty and historic relics, and it has also been among the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, described as having "influenced garden design in the rest of China as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries"and reflecting "an idealized fusion between humans and nature". (Source wiki)
Below is the video of our very calm boat ride. Again, glad that we could understand some Mandarin. The boatman was most enthusiastic in telling us about Chinese culture and history. Made for some good story-telling. The scenic boat (or human powered sampan) ride took 40 minutes and cost 150 RMB. The boat can take a max of 6 pax, but I think 4 is ideal. Any more may be a bit of a squeeze.
A picture of another boat going past. See that the boat is very low and we are very close to the water. You could play with the water, if you wished. Don't fall in! (Not sure if there were life jackets, maybe under the seat).
There were these larger boats too, but we didn't take them today. The ticketing booth was near these boats and they cost 70 RMB per person. I think the ride is a longer one, and it brings you to the other side? Not sure.
After an calming boat ride, we took a walk around the waterfront. Even though we only paid for a driver, his service was excellent. He took pains to bring us around the waterfront. He brought us to see some squirrels, and then a slow walk back to the vehicle. I noticed all the electric buses and carts. Saving the environment!
Even the Police Car was an electric one. Looks like the Chinese authorities were very serious in ensuring clean and fresh air around their famous Lake.
Next stop, Ling Yin Temple (灵隐寺).
Lingyin Temple (simplified Chinese: 灵隐寺; traditional Chinese: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The temple's name is commonly literally translated as Temple of the Soul's Retreat. It is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.
The monastery is the largest of several temples in the Wulin Mountains (武林山; Wǔlínshān), which also features a large number of grottos and religious rock carvings, the most famous of which is the Feilai Feng (飞来峰; literally: "the peak that flew hither"). [Source: Wikipedia]
We decided not to enter the temple, so we only bought a ticket to view the external areas, which had the famous Buddha carvings into the rock. Check them out in the video above. Here is a photo of the main entrance to the temple scenic area.
And this is the famous Buddha (was he laughing?) carved into the rocks. One of many, but this particular one is the most famous (I think). There were some paths for us to walk up to the peak, but we didn't get very far. In the video, you will see how steep the steps were. We got up to a pavilion and the adults took a rest. I sent the kids higher for a look and they reported back that there was nothing to see. This was also confirmed when I asked some passers-by whether it was worth the climb all the way up. They said 'no'.
KFC 肯德基 in China
After our climb, it was time for lunch! We decided to settle with KFC, which was located just opposite the ticket booths. Got some Rice box as well as KFC Asian-style wrap. All very good. Video is below.
Tea Planation
After lunch, we took a leisurely drive by the waterfront and found our way to a tea plantation. Stopped by the roadside, and got out to take some photos. Hangzhou is famous for tea. There was some saying that the poor drink alcohol, but the rich enjoy tea. Plantation was set against rolling hills. Neat stuff. Didn't spend too long here, just for a photo opportunity.
Red Carp Pond
Next stop? A garden that contained the famous Red Carp Pond! This attraction was called View Fish at Flower Harbour, Red Carp Pond of Hangzhou, China. As one of top ten attractions at West Lake, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor features the flower harbor plus red carps, peony flowers, a big lawn and dense woods. With a total area of 20 hectares (49 acres), it is located on a peninsula between West Inner Lake and South Lake in the southwest part of West Lake, and is sandwiched in between the Yang Causeway and Su Causeway.
The history of Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor can be dated to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Back then, the government official Lu Yunsheng built a private garden at the foot of Flower Hill (Huajia Hill). He dug a pond, and raised various fish in it. The garden was first called Lu Garden, and then became known as Flower Harbor. Later, Ma Yuan, a great painter of the Southern Song Dynasty, depicted the scene when he created the Ten Paintings of West Lake. From then on, the beautiful scene has been known as 'Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor'. This attraction was free of charge.
True to its name, there were plenty of gorgeous carp. No natural predators here. Many people feeding the carp. No wonder some of them are so big and fat.
Here is a picture showing the description of the Red Carp Pond - a few thousand red carps. The Chinese loved to watch the fat carp. It helps them write better poems and profound sayings.
There is a Chinese proverb 鲤鱼跳龙门 that translates to "The carp has leaped through the dragon's gate." On first read, you would be, "DUH?". But it is rather profound.
鲤鱼跳龙门
"According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon’s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain. Many carp swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall. If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon. A Chinese dragon’s large, conspicuous scales indicate its origin from a carp. The Chinese dragon has long been an auspicious symbol of great and benevolent, magical power. The image of a carp jumping over Dragon’s Gate is an old and enduring Chinese cultural symbol for courage, perseverance, and accomplishment. Historically, the dragon was the exclusive symbol of the emperor of China and the five-character expression, Liyu Tiao Long Men, was originally used as a metaphor for a person’s success in passing very difficult imperial examinations, required for entry into imperial administrative service. To this day, when a student from a remote country village passes the rigorous national university examination in China, friends and family proudly refer to the “Liyu Tiao Long Men.” More generally, the expression is used to communicate that if a person works hard and diligently, success will one day be achieved."
After the garden of the red carp, we would head to the famous pedestrian street. But before that, we did a quick stop at a Silk Shop. Video below. Not cheap! We didn't stay long.
Qinghefang清河坊古街Ancient Street
Our last stop of the day (before dinner) would be Qinghefang Ancient Street 清河坊古街, which is a section of Hefang Street which is located at the northern foot of Wu Shan Hill in Hangzhou. It is just several hundreds meters away from the beautiful West Lake. With an area of 13 hectares (32 acres), the street is the only well-preserved part of the ancient city.
As a miniature of the city's long history, it is the best place to embody the historical and cultural character of Hangzhou.
Qinghefang Ancient Street 清河坊古街 has been the most flourished street in the city since the ancient time. During the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279 AD), Qinghefang with lots of shops, restaurants and teahouses was the center of politics, culture and commerce in the city. After so many years, it is still a prosperous business area. Many famous century-old shops are located in this ancient street, such as Wangxingji Fan Store, Zhangxiaoquan Scissors, Wanlong Ham Stack, Huqingyutang Pharmacy, Baohetang Pharmacy, Zhuangyuan House, Wangruixing, Yiyuanjindian, Jingyangguan and Sheep Soup Restaurant among others. It was fun to walk around and take in the sights and sounds!
Dinner at 录茶餐厅
Finally, it was time for dinner. The driver brought us to a shopping center (which was rather empty) but the restaurants were fairly crowded. We had dinner at the Green Tea restaurant, or 录茶餐厅. This was a rather popular place (you can find it reviewed on the internet). We didn't really know what to order, so we got pretty random stuff.
Heading back to Hotel
It wasn't that late when we finished dinner, but it was time to head back to the hotel to get some rest. It was a pretty short ride back, and along the way, I asked the driver about all the overhead cameras that were flashing at us everytime his vehicle went past. He told me matter of factly that those cameras can capture our faces as we drove past, even at night. Welcome to 21st Century China!
Well, that's the end of our day in Hangzhou. Good fun, and we saw a lot! Thanks for following along. Tomorrow, we check out of the Holiday Inn, and stop by Wu Zhen watertown before heading to the Courtyard by Marriott near Shanghai Disneyland. Stay tuned!
We would fly from Singapore to Hangzhou, and we were trying out ScootBiz in Scoot Airlines for the first time. Scoot is a wholly own subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, and it is their low-cost arm. When Scoot was first launched, we flew with them to Sydney! That was way back in 2012. Since then, we have flown on Scoot a few times, but this is our first time in ScootBiz.
ScootBiz is Scoot Business Class?
What is ScootBiz? Well, it is NOT the typical Business Class of a full service airline. It is more akin to Premium Economy. What attracted us were the seats - full learther with at least 38" of legroom, 22" of width and 6" of recline, with adjustable headrests and legrests. You also get complimentary meal and drink, but that was less important.
Scoot flies from Terminal 2. Check-Lines moved quickly. You had to do self-service check in first, before dropping off your bags. That's the new trend, self-service. I didn't see any special check-in line for ScootBiz passengers, so we joined the same queue.
Win A Jaguar E Space!
There was some lucky draw going on, as part of the Changi Millionaire program. Check out the car on display!
SATS Premier Lounge Terminal 2
After clearing immigration, we headed to the SATS Premier Lounge to chill out for a while and get some food. Note that ScootBiz does not provide lounge access with the normal ticket. We used our Priority Pass cards to gain entry. Here is the entrance of the SATS Premier Lounge, which was opposite the SilverKris lounge at T2.
A video of our lounge experience. This lounge was voted Asia-Pac lounge of the year, for Priority Pass. For a Priority Pass lounge, it is decent. In fact, a good number of airlines use this contract lounge for their Business Class passengers too. Here are YouTube video links so lounge reviews of SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 1 and SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 3. Below is the video of SATS Premier Terminal 2.
Lounge of the Year Awards 2017 - Priority Pass
The Lounge in Terminal 2 won the Asia Pacific Lounge of the Year Awards 2017 for Priority Pass. Our credit cards provided us with Priority Pass access to Lounges, which is very nice. We could bring the entire family in, using my card and my wife's card.
Drinks anybody?
Drink selection was decent free-flow of alcohol, if that is what you like. The chilled white wine wasn't too bad. Don't drink too much before you fly!
Signature Laksa, which is pretty good. Had a bowl, together with some red and white wine. They also had some Nasi Lemak, yellow curry chicken, pandan chicken and other hot food, plus a soup. See my video above for what I ate.
Beautiful Orchid Display.
Lounge Buffet Area. We stayed for over an hour, and soon it was time to head to the gate!
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
SCOOTBIZ - FlyScoot Singapore to Hangzhou
Flight Number TR 188
Dep: 1635hrs, Arr: 21:35 Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport
No time zone changes
We had wanted to visit Hangzhou and Shanghai. So it was great that Scoot has a direct flight. Scoot currently operates the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. This was our plane at the gate, its nickname was 'Bo Jio'.
BOARDING - A useful perk is that ScootBiz gets to board first. They had just started boarding for the main cabin when we got there. We boarded immediately as the video would show.
FlyScoot BizScoot Flight Review Video.
The 7:30 minute video below details our experience on board ScootBiz, showing you the seats and the meals. Enjoy!
Some photos to whet your appetite. The ScootBiz cabin was in a 2-3-2 configuration. We were at the aisle, and I was in a window seat. We were in Row 1 & Row 2. The seat was comfortable, no doubt about that!
Food wise, ScootBiz ticket comes with food and drink. For the food package, you have to order in advance (online, when you book). I didn't realise that there were different types of meals. The most 'value-for-money' would be the Premium Meal selection, sample below. This meal comes with 2 deluxe sides and a drink. But there was no Nasi Lemak here. I selected Nasi Lemak and that was packaged with a lower value meal (no ice-cream). So, hot tip, if you want a full meal with Ice-Cream, pick from the Premium Selections!
Waiting for Luggage - Scoot Crew luggage came out first
Landing into Hangzhou was smooth and we got to the gates quickly. The immigration clearance was fast. What took some time was the baggage. See the video below, for pretty much the entire aircraft passengers waiting at the luggage carousel. Funny thing - the cabin crew luggage came out first! After we collected our bags, the Customs officials made all passengers put every bag through an X-ray machine, i.e. 100% check. That caused a line to form, but the overall process was orderly and didn't take too long. The video also shows snippets of the taxi ride, and the room service we had. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Hangzhou City Center, and we ordered room service for supper, as we were tired and hungry.
Room Service - All the Food in the Photo for 177RMB plus 3 drinks (including beer)
Take-off Video
If you like take-off videos, here is the video I took from my window seat of the Scoot Boeing 787. Check out the huge piece of land being developed for Changi Airport Terminal 5.
