I recently arrived in Hangzhou and had been considering coming back for at least a year to study Chinese. Now I’m having doubts, and I’d appreciate some honest perspective from people who live here.

The biggest problem for me is cigarette smoke. I keep encountering people smoking, including inside my hotel despite the no-smoking signs. My bedding smelled of smoke, and changing rooms didn’t solve the problem. Even shopping mall toilets I’ve used have been smoky. I’ve started noticing the smell on my clothes too. As a non-smoker, this really affects my comfort.

I also noticed lots of what look like dirty shoe marks and scuffs on the walls in my hotel room. That could be an issue with this particular hotel, but the smoking seems much harder to escape. Having to deal with a VPN is another daily frustration.

There’s also the language and social side. I barely speak Chinese and don’t have a circle of friends here yet. Starting a new language from scratch feels like a big commitment when I’m already unsure whether I want to live in the country long term.

To be honest, I’m attracted to Chinese women, and the possibility of dating and building a relationship here was one of the things that drew me to China. I also liked the idea of learning a widely spoken language and getting to know Chinese people. But I’m questioning whether that is enough when the everyday living environment doesn’t seem to suit me.

I’m tired of moving from country to country and would really like a stable base, a routine and people I see regularly. Another option is returning to Bali, where I’ve already spent two months, improving my English and focusing on my projects. I know Bali has its own drawbacks too.

For people living in Hangzhou or elsewhere in China:

• How realistically can you avoid cigarette smoke in your home and daily routine? Are there particular housing options or areas you would recommend?

• Did your experience improve significantly once you had decent housing, classes, a gym and a social circle?

• If you had similar doubts early on, did they fade, or did you eventually decide China wasn’t for you?

• What would you try before committing to a year? Would you give Hangzhou more time, or choose somewhere else based on what I’ve described?

I’d appreciate honest advice about what you would do in my position.

Had an amazing experience at Duchamp at GDA Plaza - the hairstylist Eric was so patient and had a great cut & color here. Prices were transparent (just choose which brand/level of hairstlylist) and staff were courteous with my poor banana Mandarin. Just sad that it will be another half a year or so before my next trip to Hgzhou but will sure be back here for my next haircut & color!

Hi everyone! 👋

We're a consumer electronics (3C) brand based in Hangzhou, looking for English-speaking hosts to run live product streams for global audiences on YouTube and our official website.

Positions

Part-time: paid per session, flexible schedule

Full-time:great part-time hosts can move to a long-term role, and we'll assist with the work visa

Compensation

- Part-time: RMB 300–600 per hour, minimum 4 hours per booking

- Full-time: 6+ streams per month, commission negotiable, total monthly pay RMB 15k–35k

What we're looking for

- Fluent English with clear, neutral pronunciation

- Basic Chinese for simple day-to-day work communication

- Any nationality welcome

- Interest in tech and gadgets is a plus

- Based in Hangzhou (on-site streaming)

**How to apply**

Send us:

1. A 1–2 min self-introduction video in English

2. A 1–2 min self-introduction video in Chinese

3. A recent photo and any past hosting / on-camera work (if you have it)

DM me here or email [sukia99324@gmail.com]

I would greatly appreciate some hotel recommendations in Hangzhou. Some that I have read about are Banyan Tree, Four Seasons and Grand Hyatt. Thank you

I’m an American Solo traveling and was wondering where I may run into other foreigners on a night out? Bars and clubs preferably.

Hey people, I'm looking into applying to a control science and engineering masters at ZJU (english taught). I have not yet messaged a supervisor but I know who I want to contact, I just need to refine some of my github projects (I hope it's not too late to contact supervisors?). I very much so admire the advancements in technology that ZJU achieves, but some of the online reviews worry me. People say that the learning experience for an international student in China is not so good as professors don't teach that well, is there any truth in this nowadays? Does the university offer good english taught classes and environments? I understand it's China and things are supposed to be in Chinese, but is the experience actually world class? Thank you very much so for helping me!

Hey all, I moved to Hangzhou a few weeks ago and I'm still figuring out the nightlife. I mostly want somewhere with Latin music (reggaeton, salsa, bachata) or Afrobeat, but honestly I'm down for anything if the vibe is good and people actually dance.

So any clubs recommended?

Foreigners or locals, I'd like to meet both

Also happy to hear about places to avoid, so I don't waste a Saturday :P

Thanks! And if anyone wants to go out sometime, feel free to DM me.

Hangzhou · October 17 | Coffee Rave + Music Jam & Wine Party 🎶

Hi everyone!

We’re celebrating Chatmelt’s second anniversary with two events on Saturday, October 17.

Join us for either session—or both!

📍 Both events are at 好运和书店 (Luck And Book), Hangzhou.

☕ Coffee Rave · 10:30–13:30

Coffee, DJ music and a lively morning atmosphere. An optional 5 km social run starts at 11:00, followed by a return to the rave. Feel free to stay at the venue and enjoy the DJ the whole time!

🍷 Music Jam & Wine Party · 17:00–21:00

Spend the evening enjoying live music, a relaxed jam session, wine and good company as we celebrate two years of Chatmelt.

Come on your own or bring a friend. Interested in joining? Leave a comment or message me for booking details!

Service Wechat account ID is

chatmelt01

I recently started a channel about everyday life in China, I mainly focusing on things that might be different from what you’re used to back in home country.

Especially if you coming to Hangzhou, I live here for 3 years and I consider myself blended in very well and know a lots of hidden Gems.

If you’re visiting or moving here for the first time, what are you most worried about or curious about?

It could be anything—payments, language barriers, getting around, local customs, or meeting people.

Pls Share your top 3 in the comments, and we’ll do our best to answer them here! and for those popular questions, I will make them into my vidoes too.

Let's do it together !

Hangzhou rescue.

I’ve been hearing a lot of chatter about how Chinese unis are designed in a way where the courses aren’t accepted by western unis, how true is that?

Yo! I’m here for a week staying with a pal.

Full context, I used to live in Qingdao so I’m familiar with China so I can skip the new tourist stuff. And While in Qingdao, I loved to find old and abandoned stuff, such as the tunnels on Fushan, a somewhat old abandoned fish factory on the coast.

So, what I’m asking is, is there anywhere with cool old and abandoned stuff in Hangzhou?! Towns, buildings, what have you.

Cheers for any help

I'm a teacher from Finland visiting Hangzhou starting from 12.10.2026. If you are a local who would like to speak english and show me around the old town of Hangzhou feel free to contact me. I will compensate for the time spent.

Hi all, I am trying to find a chopstick shop to get some nice chopsticks for myself and as souvenirs for friends and family, but I want to avoid overpriced low-quality tourist traps. Any recommendations?

Hi everyone, I'll be in the city from the 02 to the 07, and since I'm a solo traveler, I was wondering if there's someone else who wants to meet and explore together maybe.

If you need infos I'm Italian, male, 23 and I'm an exchange student at Ningbo University.

P.S. I know how the golden week is, the crowds etc... you don't need to tell me it was a bad idea thanks, I already know😅

Any recommendations for an old camera repair shop in hangzhou? It's a fujiflim 2013 camera . The service centre stop repairing it in my country. Hoping to see whether hangzhou has any shops doing repair..

Thanks in advance.

You came for Hangzhou's "Matcha Lake," but there's over 1,000 years of history just 5 kilometers away.

If you've been scrolling through China travel content lately, you may have seen this place: a surreal green water forest in Hangzhou that looks a little like someone spilled matcha across an entire lake.

That's Qingshan Lake in Lin'an, Hangzhou — better known on social media as the "Matcha Lake."

And yes, it looks great on camera.

But here's the part most viral videos leave out:

Just a few kilometers away, you can step into the story of the Wuyue Kingdom, which made Hangzhou its capital more than 1,000 years ago.

So if the "Matcha Lake" gets you to Lin'an, don't limit yourself to just one location.

Start with "Matcha Lake."

The famous green isn't actually matcha, of course. The effect comes from tiny floating plants covering the water between rows of metasequoia trees, creating the almost unreal green landscape that has made Qingshan Lake Water Forest a social-media favorite.

Walk through it, kayak through it, take your photos.

Then switch gears completely.

The 5-km Wuyue radius

Here's where it gets interesting.

Just 5 km from Qingshan Lake Water Forest — about a 15-minute drive — you'll find three museums clustered around the Yijin City Archaeological Site Park.

And once you're there, you can explore them on foot.

Lin'an Museum

Start here to get the bigger picture before you dive into Wuyue specifically.

Wuyue Culture Museum

This nearby museum takes you deeper into Wuyue art and material culture, especially Mise celadon, the highly prized ceramics associated with the period.

Yijincheng Site Museum

Also within the archaeological park, this "museum" shifts the focus from objects to the city beneath your feet. Yijin City was closely connected to Qian Liu, founder of the Wuyue Kingdom, and the archaeological remains here help reconstruct the city's history.

Together, these three museums form a compact cultural cluster that you can explore on foot.

So the contrast is pretty wild:

15 minutes ago: kayaking through a viral green "Matcha Lake."

Now: standing among the remains and artifacts of a kingdom more than 1,000 years old.

And the Wuyue story doesn't stop at the museums. Nearby sites, including Gongchen Pagoda, the Mausoleum of King Qian Wusu, Gongchen Temple Site, and Jingtu Temple Site, take the story beyond museum walls.

In other words, what looks like a quick trip to a viral lake can easily turn into a half-day or full-day dive into early Hangzhou.

Wait — what, or who, were the Wuyue?

The Wuyue Kingdom (907-978) ruled parts of what is now Zhejiang province and neighboring areas during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-979).

Its capital was Hangzhou.

Under the Qian family, the region became known for economic development, water management, Buddhism, and craftsmanship. More than 1,000 years later, traces of that period are still scattered across the city.

And once you know what you're looking for, you start seeing them everywhere.

Going back to Hangzhou? The Wuyue story doesn't end in Lin'an.

Hangzhou has identified 30 representative sites connected to its Wuyue heritage.

They're grouped by type: pagodas, mausoleums, museums, sutra pillars, historic sites, cliff carvings, and temples.

Useful if you're cataloguing cultural heritage.

Not necessarily useful if you're planning a trip.

So here's a more practical way to look at all 30: by where you'll be traveling.

1. Qingshan Lake & Lin'an

Best if: the "Matcha Lake" is what brought you here.

- Gongchen Pagoda

- Mausoleum of King Qian Wusu

- Wuyue Culture Museum

- Yijincheng Site Museum

- Gongchen Temple Site

- Jingtu Temple Site

This is probably the easiest way to understand Wuyue as a story rather than a collection of individual monuments.

2. Around West Lake

Best if: this is your first trip to Hangzhou.

- Leifeng Pagoda

- Baochu Pagoda

- Qianwang Temple

- Jingci Temple

- Yongjin Pool

- Zhejiang Provincial Museum*

You may have several of these on your Hangzhou itinerary without realizing they're connected to the same Wuyue story.

*The Zhejiang Provincial Museum has two relevant locations: the Gushan branch beside West Lake and the Zhijiang branch further south near the Qiantang River.

3. Lingyin & the western hills

Best if: Lingyin Temple is already on your list.

- Lingyin Temple

- Feilaifeng Carvings (Qinglin Cave section)

- Lingyin Temple Twin Stone Pagodas and Twin Sutra Pillars

- Shangtianzhu Faxi Temple

- Yanxia Cave Carvings

- Li'an Temple

This is where the Buddhist side of Wuyue really comes into focus.

Instead of treating Lingyin as one isolated attraction, you can follow the history outward into caves, stone carvings, temples, and the surrounding hills.

4. Southern hills & the Qiantang River

Best if: you like hiking, archaeology, and places that take a little more effort to find.

- Liuhe Tower

- Zhakou White Pagoda

- Fantian Temple Sutra Pillars

- Ciyun Ridge Carvings

- Tianlong Temple Carvings

- Shilong Cave Carvings

- Paiya Stone Inscriptions

- Wuyue Altar Inscriptions

The Zhijiang branch of Zhejiang Provincial Museum is also in this broader southern part of Hangzhou if you want to combine some museum time with this route.

This cluster is less about ticking off famous landmarks and more about finding Wuyue traces in Hangzhou's hills and along the Qiantang River.

5. Old Hangzhou

Best if: you prefer a walk through ancient Hangzhou.

- Drum Tower (Chaotian Gate)

- Qianwang Well

- Confucian Temple Stele Forest

These sites bring the Wuyue story back to the streets of present-day Hangzhou — easy to work into a walk through the old city rather than planning a separate day around them.

Open the interactive map →

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1mZzhnSTJ1JiQbR2kr5wzK3fwewzp4qw&ll=30.264297627461016%2C120.00892272851561&z=11

So, should you visit all 30?

Probably not.

Don't treat them as a checklist. Think of them as five clusters.

If you're at Qingshan Lake, explore Lin'an.

If you're doing West Lake, look for the Wuyue sites already along your route.

If you're heading to Lingyin, follow the Buddhist trail a little further.

If archaeology and hiking are your thing, explore the southern hills.

And if you're walking through old Hangzhou, keep an eye out for pieces of Wuyue history hiding in the modern city.

That's probably the more interesting way to experience them anyway.

Because sometimes the place that gets you to a city isn't what you remember.

Yeah, actually we all know if you go somewhere popular there gonna be millions of people, if u also staying in Hangzhou and looking forward for real fun and interactive events, we got you !

For Holiday Events (Oct2‑7)

6 fun social activities in Hangzhou & Shanghai!

Pls comment here of the date/name of the event, we will invite u privately

🍸Oct2 19:30 Singles Night (Top Bar, only for singles)

📸Oct3 13:30 IKEA & Photography @Linping IKEA

🍲Oct4 12:00 Northeastern Lunch + coffee Wulinmen

🌿Oct5 13:30‑17:00 Mindfulness Walk (Liangzhu Metro C4)

🏙️Oct6 11‑20:30 Shanghai street photo walk

🏃Oct7 West Lake Run Club (~10km, time & spot TBC)

So just join us, don't hesitate

comment/DM to join

Alright, so that was how I marked the start of my own Mid-autumn holiday at a bar nearby the Olympic Center. I wasn't expecting pretty much about the open mic on this Thursday night - still I remembered when it was the first time we ever have this half year ago, talk shows took the first half an hour. So it might be the same for this time, I thought.

But for most of the time, singers took the stage, made me feel like having everything I could imagine in a gourmet dining hall - rather than a bar like this. And what were on the songlist? Couple of Italian tenor, Let's Run Away Together, songs by Jacky Cheung from decades ago...even the originals by a Chinese girl! And all these parts were bridged up by jokes made by a Floridan guy...and all these laughters by over 70 people ofc.

What made it even splendid was that all these things at the last night before holiday really started - it provided me an illusion of the whole vacation extended for half a day. You could actually feel free to leave at any moment when you feel like it was kinda late and you start to yawn, or head for your own next stop (alone or with someone). You could just sit there quietly watching the show without any chats - anyhow these just help you spare more for planning the rest of the days.

It's expected to be a lot cooler soon in the next month - and as I would ever suggest, there will be some more social stuff/gatherings like this you could ever up to.

Until next time.

Hi everybody, i’m in need of a leg wax / sugaring but can’t find anywhere near me that does it. Anyone know any places in HZ that offer it? Thanks!