Back along the West Lake

I could spend a week around Hangzhou and the West Lake and still not be satisfied. There is so much to see - so much to do - so many places to eat and drink! It is alive with tourists and activity.

After our gallery visit we walked around the lake - well, not ALL around, but we followed various paths back and forth past places of interest. We found a little cafe for lunch and watched with interest as the guard on duty in the park nearby did his 'work'. One wonders what first timers in China might think about the heavy numbers of guards, but by and large their are friendly souls with seemingly little to do - unless something goes wrong.

"Our" guard stood quietly behind the building apparently trying to keep out of the cold winds, and then when he did wait on the pathway, he redirected people who had dared walk on the grass, and occasionally gave directions.

We had lunch and wandered back around the little shops and kiosks just taking in the scenery. There were many decorations in preparation for the Chinese New Year (January 26th), and people seemed to be in quite a holiday mood.

We had no agenda, and walked back to the afternoon for a power nap.

Preparing for Chinese New Year

The Chinese love festivals and one of their most popular festivals is Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year (the lunar new year).

This year the festival is in January - and it is the year of the Ox. I was surprised to see so much celebration for Christmas, and there was much decoration, but by Boxing Day, the decorations were being changed. In fact on Boxing Day in Hangzhou we saw the first of the red lanterns being put up in Hefang St.

In the last couple of ways stores have been transformed and in the supermarkets in particular great displays of food and gift items have appeared. These supermarkets are busy at any time, but as folk buy their stores for the Spring Festival it seems crazy.

Just near the checkouts were huge piles of cartons of items ready to be put on shelves - as soon as the shelves are cleared, they are filled up again.

I heard in the media that sales are up on last year, despite the economic downturn. I suggest the Chinese are going to have a great festival in 2009.