West Lake in Háng​zhōu​

While Háng​zhōu​  itself is nothing special, West Lake (Xī​hú​) is very beautiful with a rich history.

Háng​zhōu​ is located a couple of hours southwest of Shàng​hǎi​ by train or bus. We took a bus from Sū​zhōu​.

Some images...

Háng​zhōu is also a mecca for green tea (lǜ​chá​).  We visited the National Tea Museum located a short bus ride from West Lake. 

Xī​hú​

Tongli Water Town

While in Suzhou, we took a day trip to the ancient water town of Tongli.  It is full of canels that wind through the old town.

There are also many back alleyways on which you can walk.

Retreat and Reflection (Tuisi) Garden

Village water-ways

Suzhuo

Suzhou is a city on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. The city is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its status as a great tourist destination. 

We stayed in an old part of town on an historic street called Pingjiang which sits adjacent to a water canal.

Our hotel was an old Ming Dynasty Mansion converted to a hotel. This is the entrance. 

Here's a view of one of the many water canals.  This one was right next to our hotel.

A stroll along the water canal.

A meeting of the umbrellas...

As always in China, street food is abundant...here Rae gets a treat!

Shanghai

We took a trip south to Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou in the late fall.  After flying into Pudong, we rode the Maglev (high speed magnetic levitation train) from the airport into the city.  We clocked out at 400 km/h or about 250 mph though the train can go much faster.  All in all, 20 minutes into Shanghai city where we could get on the subway to take us to within walking distance of our hotel.

Later that evening, we walked along Nanjing road.  Nanjing Road was the first commercial road in Shanghai. In the early 20th century, there were only four department stores along this stretch. Today, it has become the number one place for shopping in the city.

Here are some pictures of the area.

At the end of Nanjing Lu, you come to the river and the area known as the Bund (officially known as Zhongshan Lu).  Unfortunately, at the time most of Shanghai is under construction in preperation for the 2010 World Expo and no area more so than along the Bund.  On the other side of the river lies the financial district with all it's modern skyscrapers.

This is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

Some random pictures as we walked around the city to Yuyuan Garden.

 Buttons...

Outside of Yuyuan Garden.

Shanghai food market at night.

The Shanghai World Finanical Center (SWFC) and Jinmao Tower: 

The SWFC is in the background and the Jinmao Tower is in the foreground.

At the time the Shanghai World Financial Center was completed, it reached 492 meters (1,614.2 ft) and was the second-tallest building in the world; as well as the tallest structure in China, Currently it is the third-tallest building in the world.

Of course Rae forced us to climb to the top (actually a high speed elevator).  This is the view of Shanghai from the top.

Waiting for the train to Suzhou...who's that girl?