Hangzhou

Ok, So Hangzhou was cool, but I was ready to go home by the 4th hour of bike riding. Let me explain.

Look at all those options!

Getting to Hangzhou was extremely awesome cause we caught a bullet train there! They travel up to 400 km/hr and we arrived at Hangzhou from Shanghai in about 55 minutes. The decision was to do Hangzhou in the one day. Unfortunately the day we chose was a dreary, rain on rain off kind of day. But we didn't let that dampen our explorers spirit! See what I did there, with the rain and the dampen...

Anyways, Hangzhou is famous for its West Lake, and let me tell you, it's pretty beautiful. 

After some pictures in that area we decided to do what all tourists must do in Hangzhou, and that is to rent a bike and ride it around the lake and the city in general. And so we rode.

Our bikey gang

We took breaks amidst the riding to wander about the other tourist attractions of the city.

"Not all who wander are lost," J. R. R. Tolkien. But this time, we did indeed, get lost. And I'm not sure if I'm remembering this correctly, but I feel like the moment we realised we had no idea where we were on the map, was the moment the clouds decided to "turn on" the rain again. But you see, it wasn't too bad in the beginning, it started with a sprinkle, then whatever the word is for a little more than sprinkle but a little less than rain. Then it began to rain...then pour. 

Anyways, thanks to Jenny and her trusty map we were guided back to where we hired the bike. Afterwards, we made our way to the night markets in Hangzhou. The area was quite beautiful, and the lights livened the otherwise dark streets to reveal the cute little stores selling knickknacks and thingamabobs. 

Tired from all that biking

Casually melting glass into different shapes

Finally it was time to catch the bullet train home, and one of the girls in our group ended up telling the taxi driver the wrong station name which meant she may miss the 8pm train home. We had a Jumanji slash Home Alone moment as a group of us ran (Stampede!) to make it to the train. Luckily, all 10 of the us that came to Hangzhou together, returned to Shanghai together.

HUANGSHAN ( The Yellow Mountain)

Our trip to Huangshan was probably one of my most spectacular experiences in China (so far). It was breathtaking. Our hotel was right in the middle of the mountain ranges. Reaching that location, did however, require a 40 minute trek under the beating sun with my wheelie suitcase. BIG Mistake! Because, you see, this trek involved stairs, maaany stairs. But I learned my lesson and bought a bagpacking bagpack for our next adventure. 

The inappropriate luggage choice

Getting to Huangshan from Shanghai meant riding in a bus for 7 hours. Which was...interesting. So definitely research your travel options if you're not a long bus ride kind of person. Anyways, the air was clear and crisp. It was such a nice break from Shanghai's smog. And as we looked out onto the mountains, I couldn't believe that I was seeing it with my own eyes. It was like a desktop background, or a something you could only see in a David Attenborough documentary. I highly recommend anyone reading this to visit there! 

The beautiful sunrise

When the tourist became the tourist attraction

During my short time in Huangshan, I encountered many Chinese tourists. A lot of them would just look (stare) and talk about me and my other foreign friends. But there were two instances where local Chinese asked to take a picture with me and my friend. I found this so amusing since we were surrounded by such epic scenery, but the "foreigner" also needed to be photographed. Anyway, we decided to also take photos, since in we thought it unfair for them to have a photo of us, and us to have no photo of them. Here are our awkward shots.

This man came up to us as we were enjoying the view, and requested a photo of us. (In Mandarin of course)

All in all it was a beautiful place, and I would definitely love to go again one day! 

Food adventures, French concession and Huang Shan prep

Wah! Long time no post. 

Ima jump straight into it!

Food. Street food. Every night at 9pm the street food vendors come out at Shanghai University West Gate with there bikes; it is on their bikes where you will see the hot plates, pots and coal barbecues that they use to cook up a storm. And oh man, when I heard there was a street food vendor that had halal meat I was ecstatic! Seriously, when you come to China you have to do the street food experience, and with this Muslim street vendor and his existence I could ! Woot! So any night I couldn't be bothered to "cook" or eat out at a restaurant I would wait till 9pm to have an amazing skewer feast. Que pictures:

Our favourite skewer guy - look at all the options! :D

cake man - makes tiny yet amazing cakes for only 5 yuan a bag

As you can see, all his cooking gear is on his bike (Y)

We also have our fruit man who is out at West Gate every night. Very useful for my 11pm pineapple cravings!

11:30pm - never too late for pineapple!

A group of us went to the French concession at Dapuqiao, just like Xintiandi, this place had some cool alleyways and an amazing tea shop!! I need to return so I can buy everything!

^Cute tins at the tea store!^

One of Dapuqiao's many shopping alleys

All the Australian girls met up in order to organise our trip to HuangShan, the Yellow mountain, so we all got together at the girls apartment and had an amazing home cooked meal by Heidi and Tanya! Here is a group photo of the Shanghai family:

Up high in the sky - Jinmao tower and yuyuan garden outing

Shanghai university organised a day trip for the new international students to go around the city! This basically involved going to the observation deck of one of the tallest buildings in Shanghai and seeing the spectacular view of the industrial side of Shanghai as well as visiting the Yuyuan gardens, which is a bit of a contrast with its "vintage China" buildings.

Waiting to go up onto the Observation deck!

On level 88, that G-force in the elevator..wow!

The shadow being cast is the JinMao tower

Really quite high up there xD

Being a crazy tourist with Kristine

 Now the Yuyuan gardens, which really mostly had old buildings, not so much a garden. But still very pretty.

I thought this was funny because its an old building with a KFC sign on it! HAHA!

 Trying to haggle down some expensive coconuts at the Yuyuan markets!

Heidi has some epic bargaining skills

Cheongsam Galore!!

Mahjong at the markets

Mao's Red book

Also in this week we all managed to buy some Shanghai university sweaters! SHU represent! 

So great to roll out of bed and chuck on before class! Not that that is something I do...often. Anyways...Until next post! Keep it real! ^_^