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Anniboodk
Fire-eater
Joined: Feb 27, 2004
Posts: 2787
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Aug 19, 2004 - 11:39 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Trip to Hangzhou, interested? |
Planning to make a weekend trip to Hangzhou some time in September. For all you that have been there, I have a few questions:
Do you recommend hiring a guide?
What hotel do you recommend? I'm not looking for a Four Seasons, but not a motel 8 either.
Best way to get there, by train, hire a driver?
I don't know if anyone else is interested, but if so maybe we could plan a trip together, I'm thinking the weekend (Sep 11-12).
I remember once reading on this sight that a group of people went to Hangzhou together for the weekend and had a blast! |
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benyu2004
Barker
Joined: June 29, 2004
Posts: 169
Status: Offline
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Aug 19, 2004 - 03:12 PM |
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Train shall be best option, T701 次 上海 11:58 杭州 14:04
i don't think you need guide if you just visit sights around Xi Lake...just get a map in hotel and taking tour bus or walk around by urself. There are many pretty good 3-5 star hotel located in the northeast of Xi Lake. |
_________________
What I ask for the negro is not benevolence, not pity, not sympathy, but simply justice---Frederick Douglass |
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Anniboodk
Fire-eater
Joined: Feb 27, 2004
Posts: 2787
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Aug 19, 2004 - 03:23 PM |
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Thanks a lot for the info Ben. I've been doing a little research and I really do think that the train is the best option as well. |
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Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken over there? I'm going to eat the next thing that comes out of its butt." |
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shan_trekker
Barker
Joined: Aug 15, 2004
Posts: 158
Location: where the streets have no name....
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Aug 19, 2004 - 10:23 PM |
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Friends who took the guided bus tours remarked that they were always in a hurry. Thus, not enough time to truly savor the sights.
Train will let you avoid traffic. But if you'll be going as a group of 3 or 4, you could consider hiring a car for the weekend. Preferably with safe, honest and English-speaking driver.
Because apart from the West Lake sights, there are other sites around you might wanna see.
Examples are Wan Song Academy (need to climb a number of steps on a hill though) and that cool cave with the quaint little houses in front. |
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feelshanghaiclub
Lurker
Joined: May 04, 2004
Posts: 35
Status: Offline
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Aug 24, 2004 - 11:15 PM |
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Don't think you need a guide in Hangzhou (unless you wanna go to Mogan Mountain, which also belong to Hangzhou but one hour's drive away). Almost all the sighseeing places are around the lake.
Shangri-la, Sofitel are good choice to stay cause they are just one footstep away from the lake but for cheaper but nice place: We recommend Ramada Hangzhou and Lake view hotel, which are nice 4 star hotels near the hotel.
Train from Shanghai to Hangzhou is very confortable is you choose the soft seat ones. Xin Tian Di Hangzhou project is almost finished now (the same developer as Xin Tian Di in Shanghai) and you can have dinner or coffee there since now you have a real lake by your side.
If you want try real Hangzhou Dish, the one near Shangri-la Hotel called Lou Wai Lou will be a recommendation. (well known restaurant for many many years). Another two choice will be Zhi Wei Guan (pls go to second floor for sit down dinner, the first floor is only snacks ) and Yu Qi Lin.
A walk along Nan Shan Rd (the southern coast of West Lake) will be very relaxed.
If you take the train to go to Hangzhou on Weekend, make sure you buy the return tickets in Shanghai railway station or when you arrive at hangzhou railway station. It will very difficult to get return train tickets on Sunday when you r coming back!
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Hans
Reacher
Joined: Feb 01, 2004
Posts: 225
Status: Offline
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Aug 24, 2004 - 11:30 PM |
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put your annoying advertising in other sections....like the pit!!!!!!
happy trails! Hans |
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MIexpat
Reacher
Joined: July 30, 2004
Posts: 324
Location: dongbei
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Aug 24, 2004 - 11:41 PM |
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| Hans wrote: |
put your annoying advertising in other sections....like the pit!!!!!!
happy trails! Hans |
YAY Hans! my thoughts exactly! |
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Victorian
Reacher
Joined: May 03, 2004
Posts: 367
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Aug 25, 2004 - 03:46 AM |
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I recommend you to take a private boat (old Chinese style) to go around the lake right outside Lou Wai Lou after lunch there (very nice restaurant with a nice park next to it), RMB80/hr if you row it yourself (don't try it!!!) or 160/hr rowed by the owner, these are flat rate. The boat can seat 6 pax. You can get off at the pier at Nan Shan Road on the other side of the lake.
The road works on Bi Shan Road (the road leading to Lou Wai Lou) is still going on, they will close the slip road to Lou Wai Lou at non-meals hours, so go at say noon-14:00 and take the boat to the other side.
I stayed at the Sofitel last time, they're doing a promotion at something like RMB800 + 15% tax incl. breakfast. It's on Nan Shan Road (where all the bars are) and across the road from Xintiandi (the lake side walk is nice at night). The drawback is no lake view unless you're in a suite.
I stayed at Shangri-la the time before last, the traffic jam was really bad because of the road work at Bi Shan Road, not recommended for weekend stay. Very nice hotel with very nice view, garden, etc, but very expensive too.
The freeway from Shanghai to Hangzhou is a busy road and it will be jammed up for hours if any accident happens, you're better off to go by train. There're two railway stations in Shanghai where you can catch trains to Hangzhou, the ones from Shanghai Railway Station takes 2.5hr and the ones from Mei Long Station takes just under 2hr. You can reserve the tickets by phone and add RMB30 for delivery (half day delivery). It's RBM40 for the soft seats. The only drawback about that Mei Long Station is that it's just like a temporary station with no air-con, taxi stands, drop-off areas, etc and you'll have to walk quite a bit to get to it.
Have a nice trip!! |
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xay6pack
Raver
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 420
Status: Offline
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Aug 25, 2004 - 08:44 AM |
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When I went there last year I hired a tour guide but like the other poster said, they rush you too much. I would rather go with a friend who know a little bit about the area. Although tour guide can give you the history and story of the areas. |
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vespertilia
Reacher
Joined: July 02, 2004
Posts: 233
Location: London,UK
Status: Offline
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Aug 30, 2004 - 11:26 PM |
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i'd love to go to hangzhou and i am looking for a travel mate..when do u wanna go?i am always available for an adventure travel (don't like big hotels and too comfortable journeys..i am a backpacker).. so let me know |
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rsaracho
Seeker
Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 50
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Aug 31, 2004 - 01:12 PM |
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I just went to Hangzhou this weekend with my husband! It's absolutely beautiful! Take the train and don't bother with a Tour! The lake and the atmosphere is so relaxing that you are just going to want to relax and walk around the parks on the lake shore! We stayed at the Merchant Marco Hotel (4 star). We paid 478RMB and it was an excellent choice for the price. If you have a chance, take a taxi to "Jyinglin Temple" or "Temple of the Soul's Retreat". It is (in my opinion) the best sight of Hangzhou! |
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NickAdams
Newbie
Joined: Aug 17, 2004
Posts: 9
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 01, 2004 - 11:21 AM |
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| Post subject: Shanghai-Hangzhou Train Schedules? |
I am going to Hangzhou next week but cannot seem to find English-language train schedules on the Internet. I understand that trains run frequently out of two stations with some trains running without stops in between. How can I find out what the different departure times are? Also, can one only buy train tickets at the station?
Many thanks in advance for any advice. |
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cooler
Newbie
Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 01, 2004 - 09:46 PM |
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Train NO From Departure To Arrive Duration
K821 Shanghai South 8:18AM Hangzhou 10:06AM 1hour48min.
K822 Hangzhou 7:15 AM Shanghai South 9:03 AM 1hour48min.
K823 Shanghai South 9:46 AM Hangzhou 12:06 2hour20min.
K824 Hangzhou 10:56 AM Shanghai South 12:44 1hour48min.
K825 Shanghai South 14:12 Hangzhou 16:00 1hour48min.
K826 Hangzhou 13:30 Shanghai South 15:54 2hour24min.
K827 Shanghai South 17:27 Hangzhou 19:15 1hour48min.
K828 Hangzhou 18:21 Shanghai South 20:09 1hour48min. |
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NickAdams
Newbie
Joined: Aug 17, 2004
Posts: 9
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 02, 2004 - 01:41 PM |
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Thanks so much, cooler. Do you know if they also have trains out of the other train stations? |
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Victorian
Reacher
Joined: May 03, 2004
Posts: 367
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 02, 2004 - 11:03 PM |
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NickAdams,
What cooler has posted are the fastest train to Hangzhou, they're actually departing from Mei Long Station (the other side of the track from Shanghai South Station). You can reach Shanghai South Station by metro (Jin Jiang Theme Park on line 1) or taxi easily. There's still a 15 mins. walk from there, do ask for direction if you can't find the sign.
You can also go from Shanghai Station at the end of Metro Line 1 but the travel time is 2.5hr. |
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sinned69
SuperStar
Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 1511
Location: China, Middle East, Asia Pacific
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Sep 02, 2004 - 11:41 PM |
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| Post subject: tirp to hangzhou |
hi there, both myself and chinese g/f are intersted in joining you for a weekend trip to hangzhou. can go on the weekedn you mentioned in your first post. my g/f has been tere before whereas i haven't. anyway just PM me back once you have all the info and are close to deciding on how you want to play it  we live very close to baoshan lu metro (pearl line) station so we'd be happier leaving from the central train stn. whihc is only one stop away for us. and yes train is by far the easiest. softseats the best, u can order tickets in advance and have them delivered to your home/workplace for a little extra, and also you can book returns too.
well when you're clearer on your travel plans we'd be happy to enter the discussion with you at that time.
Dennis |
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rakusung
Newbie
Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 2
Status: Offline
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Sep 04, 2004 - 01:37 AM |
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 Hey you guys,
who is going to Hangzhou on next weekend. Just let me know. I m going there .. it s my first time alone in china also. ( i m thai.. )
would be great if some one want to join!!.. ( guide me , actually)
rakusung |
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