Hangzhou Exploration: West Lake, Culture & Unexpected Turns

This week we are in Hangzhou, China. It is like a real-life Chinese watercolor painting—serene lakes, graceful pagodas, and misty hills that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a poem. West Lake steals the show with its dreamy boat rides and willow-lined walkways, while the city itself hums with a quiet kind of cool, blending centuries-old tea culture with modern innovation (hello, birthplace of Alibaba!). It’s a place where you can sip Dragon Well tea in a quiet garden, then hop on a futuristic subway to grab dumplings downtown. Hangzhou is calm, cultured, and just the kind of beautiful that sneaks up on you—and stays. The problem we encountered with our hotel completely changed our experience. We are in week 8 of our most epic adventure yet—a 10-video travelogue series through China that spans 3,350 miles, 9 cities, and approximately a million dumplings (give or take). We started this unforgettable journey in the vibrant streets of Hong Kong and zipped across the country on some of the fastest, smoothest, and downright fanciest trains we’ve ever experienced. From futuristic skylines to ancient temples, panda sightings to people-watching, this series is packed with unforgettable moments and plenty of surprises. Welcome to Hangzhou, China!