Yes, Sultan is great, though like their main location better - it's 1.3km away southwest of the trade center.
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sultan+Restaurant/@29.31629,120.092077,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x30833fe3bb6cb2db?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111
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If you want something off the beaten path, take a day trip to Yiwu from Hangzhou (30 min by HS Train). You can visit a 1:1 copy of the Forbidden city in Dongyang Film City (Hengdian) and go see the Yiwu International Trade Market (where you can buy tourist magnets from any destination in the world in bulk - this is where they all come from - along with other day-to-day stuff you probably use at home). HS Train from Hangzhou west to Hengdian (45 min). Then you can take the subway to the international trade market. From there take a taxi back to the train station.
Lots of good middle eastern food around the trade market.
To give some feedback, I will keep my original itinerary of Shanghai - Hangzhou - Nanjing - Shanghai, with a side trip to Yiwu. Looking at Hangzhou it seems a good place to stay a bit more than 2 days to relax, spend a nice time rather than rush from sight to sight. Originally Posted by Palal
Shanghai > Hangzhou > Nanjing > Suzhou > Shanghai seems ok. All easily doable by HS train.If you want something off the beaten path, take a day trip to Yiwu from Hangzhou (30 min by HS Train). You can visit a 1:1 copy of the Forbidden city in Dongyang Film City (Hengdian) and go see the Yiwu International Trade Market (where you can buy tourist magnets from any destination in the world in bulk - this is where they all come from - along with other day-to-day stuff you probably use at home). HS Train from Hangzhou west to Hengdian (45 min). Then you can take the subway to the international trade market. From there take a taxi back to the train station.
Lots of good middle eastern food around the trade market.
Does anybody has good recommendations for hotels which are close or on the shore of West Lake with easy access to restaurants in a more urban area ? The Sofitel looks quite good location wise but reviews show that a good stay is not guaranteed.
So to come back : I did Shanghai (3 nights) - Hangzhoun(4 nights) - Nanjing (2 nights) - Shanghai (2 nights). No side trip really on top of that. I had a blast, everything went really smoothly (apps, payment, Didi, trains, public transport), people were helpful when a mini App needed a local phone number and always proactively found solutions so I could order food/drinks/get a ticket. Only place where payment did not work at first trial was a tea shop in Hangzhou.
Highlights were some out off the beaten track water town in Pudong, walking in the tea fields of Longjing and a sunset on the walls at Nanjing. On the other hand the West Lake was overrated in my opinion. It was great early morning but after 8:30 AM the place is a zoo.
China has changed a lot , specially when i compared to my visit of Xi’an in 2016. Quite amazing to see the speed of construction. I hope the free visa get extended one more year.
Highlights were some out off the beaten track water town in Pudong, walking in the tea fields of Longjing and a sunset on the walls at Nanjing. On the other hand the West Lake was overrated in my opinion. It was great early morning but after 8:30 AM the place is a zoo.
China has changed a lot , specially when i compared to my visit of Xi’an in 2016. Quite amazing to see the speed of construction. I hope the free visa get extended one more year.
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I also find 西湖 to be overrated, but you can avoid 90% of the crowds if you hire a small boat (that can access less heavily trafficked areas).Originally Posted by fransknorge
On the other hand the West Lake was overrated in my opinion. It was great early morning but after 8:30 AM the place is a zoo.
Tentatively mapping out a China trip in 2026. Roughly 13 nights.
Thinking of 8 nights in Beijing then 5 nights in Xi’an.
We really enjoy museums, cultural sites, or even (short) half-day trips — doing 1 day of activities then 1 day of “rest.”
Would everyone recommend throwing in a third city? Maybe there is one between the two city pairs.
Thinking of 8 nights in Beijing then 5 nights in Xi’an.
We really enjoy museums, cultural sites, or even (short) half-day trips — doing 1 day of activities then 1 day of “rest.”
Would everyone recommend throwing in a third city? Maybe there is one between the two city pairs.