Nine Considerate Tips for Traveling to Hangzhou During the May Day Holiday – Save this list!

1️⃣ During the May Day holiday, avoid visiting the West Lake area during the day as it's extremely crowded. It's recommended to go early in the morning when there are fewer people and the morning light is soft, which is great for photography. During the day, you can visit the areas around West Lake, such as Nine Creeks in Misty Forest, Yunqi Bamboo Pathway, and Longjing Tea Village. The scenery deeper in West Lake is more beautiful, the paths are quiet, it's not crowded, and you can listen to the sound of springs and the chirping of birds and cicadas, gaze at the vast tea plantations, savor the fragrance of Longjing tea, and enjoy a lovely time walking or cycling. 2️⃣ You can take a bus directly to Nine Creeks in Misty Forest and start hiking up the mountain. Take the bus down from Longjing Village, or you can walk all the way up, which takes about four to five hours round trip. We once rode bikes from Leifeng Pagoda all the way up, and halfway, we had to push our bikes for a bit. Going downhill was like lightning with continuous braking, and it only took 20 minutes to get back to Leifeng Pagoda, haha. 3️⃣ If it's a sunny day, don't miss the sunset over West Lake; it's incredibly beautiful. The tourist boats and painted boats on the lake are dyed red by the sunset, resembling an oil painting. You can bargain for the price of a manually rowed boat, and in the evening, you can cut the price in half, which is much cheaper than in the morning. 4️⃣ For internet-famous streets like Hefang Street, it's best to casually stroll around in the evening or early morning. It's not a big deal if you don't go, as it's commercialized and crowded, making it less comfortable to visit. Instead, I recommend visiting old streets like Wuliu Lane, Chengtou Lane, Dama Lane, and Shiwuku Lane to see Hangzhou's old buildings, full of local life and authentic local snacks, which are especially wonderful. 5️⃣ The scallion pancakes in Dama Lane cost five yuan each, which is much more authentic than the internet-famous ones that cost ten or twenty yuan. The Bao Mei pastries in Chengtou Lane, Pian Er Chuan, water-fried buns, wontons, and tofu pudding from time-honored brands cost only a few yuan and are delicious. Su Qin's home-cooked dishes like white-cut chicken and braised bamboo shoots are authentic Hangzhou cuisine, and you can get several dishes for just a few dozen yuan, which is tasty and a great value. The green dumplings, osmanthus cakes, and zongzi in Shiwuku Lane are so good that they make my mouth water just thinking about them. 6️⃣ As for accommodation, it depends on your budget. If you're looking for something nicer, you can stay near West Lake at places like Dahua or Xinxin. If you want to visit Lingyin Temple, you can stay nearby. In the city center, I recommend Zancheng Hotel, an old brand, which is convenient for eating, playing, and taking public transport. Additionally, Hupao is a great location for a holiday, quiet and elegant, with an excellent surrounding environment, suitable for friends who like peace and quiet. 7️⃣ When visiting Hangzhou during the holiday, especially if it's your first time, don't go to the internet-famous shops. You won't get the essence of Hangzhou's cuisine, which is all in the residential areas. Just wander around the residential areas, and you can't go wrong with inconspicuous shops with many locals sitting inside. There are no price traps, so go ahead and eat boldly. For a big meal, you can choose famous time-honored brands like Ziyi Hall, Jinsha Hall of Four Seasons, Xin Rong Ji, or more ordinary places like Xin Bailu and Grandma's Home. 8️⃣ Hangzhou's pastries are also very good, suitable for personal enjoyment or as gifts for friends and family. Zhi Wei Guan, Cai Zhi Zhai, and Nan Song Hu Ji are all good choices, with a wide variety, and quality assurance. I've bought from them many times and have rarely been disappointed. 9️⃣ A special reminder for those coming to Hangzhou during May Day: do not drive to the scenic spots. Do not drive, do not drive, as parking is very hard to find. By the time you find a parking spot, it might be two hours later. It's recommended to take a taxi or the subway. You can drive in the suburbs, but it's highly discouraged to drive to urban scenic spots.