Our time in Hangzhou was short at two days - one of which
was taken for the eclipse. That
unfortunately, didn't give us too much time in Hangzhou itself
- but we left with a very positive impression of the city.
The area around the West Lake is the greenest we've seen in
a Chinese city and something to be encouraged.
The longest
total solar eclipse until 2132 was the primary
and overriding reason for us to be in Hangzhou at this
time. Sadly it was a total cloud out. With totality of
5 minutes 40 seconds at Hangzhou, this was a real disappointment.
And one we could do nothing about except hope and pray.
was a cloud-out at the Qiantang River Tidal Bore viewing
area.
A
hall and gardens in at Lingyin Buddhist Monastry
The Tidal Bore, 85 minutes after the end of the eclipse,
provided the only relief on eclipse day. And it's an impressive
sight. As the tide comes in, a one-meter wall of water spanning
over 2 kilometers at our location. A white line on the horizon,
some miles away, is followed by a wall of sound, at first and
low rumbling, is followed by a vast bulk of water running upstream.
Ships
moored along the leafy edges of the West Lake
The Buddhist Lingyin Monastry is the oldest monastry
in southern China and dates from
326. So far it's been rebuilt 16 times as a result of natural
disasters and wars and such likes. The entrance to the Lingyin
monastry, through the Ling Yin Fei Lai Feng scenic area, takes
you through some beautiful parkland with statues and pagodas
which have been left here by pilgrims over the centuries. Some
have been carved into or left in niches in cliff faces.
The West Lake is reputed to be the most beautiful
Lake in China. It's not difficult
to see why. So an afternoon cruise on the West Lake is
a fine, and hot, way to spend your afternoon. An assortment
of pagodas, skylines, distant mountains and park land await
for your eyes to feast upon. Of course, you could just have
been in Switzerland - but
hotter, humider and with Chinese buildings. Marvellous.
Hangzhou - including the 2009 Solar Eclipse
21st / 22nd July 2009
Our time in Hangzhou was short at two days - one of which was taken for the eclipse. That unfortunately, didn't give us too much time in Hangzhou itself - but we left with a very positive impression of the city. The area around the West Lake is the greenest we've seen in a Chinese city and something to be encouraged.
The longest total solar eclipse until 2132 was the primary and overriding reason for us to be in Hangzhou at this time. Sadly it was a total cloud out. With totality of 5 minutes 40 seconds at Hangzhou, this was a real disappointment. And one we could do nothing about except hope and pray. was a cloud-out at the Qiantang River Tidal Bore viewing area.
The Tidal Bore, 85 minutes after the end of the eclipse, provided the only relief on eclipse day. And it's an impressive sight. As the tide comes in, a one-meter wall of water spanning over 2 kilometers at our location. A white line on the horizon, some miles away, is followed by a wall of sound, at first and low rumbling, is followed by a vast bulk of water running upstream.
The Buddhist Lingyin Monastry is the oldest monastry in southern China and dates from 326. So far it's been rebuilt 16 times as a result of natural disasters and wars and such likes. The entrance to the Lingyin monastry, through the Ling Yin Fei Lai Feng scenic area, takes you through some beautiful parkland with statues and pagodas which have been left here by pilgrims over the centuries. Some have been carved into or left in niches in cliff faces.
The West Lake is reputed to be the most beautiful Lake in China. It's not difficult to see why. So an afternoon cruise on the West Lake is a fine, and hot, way to spend your afternoon. An assortment of pagodas, skylines, distant mountains and park land await for your eyes to feast upon. Of course, you could just have been in Switzerland - but hotter, humider and with Chinese buildings. Marvellous.
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