First days in Hangzhou in 2024, during Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, it’s tradition to decorate everything in red—lanterns, banners, and lights fill the streets. It’s a magical time, and my favorite since moving to China. Hangzhou feels different from Shanghai: more traditional, far less international, yet truly beautiful.
In these first photos of 2024, Hangzhou is still a city I’m just starting to explore, beginning with the more touristy streets and the unmissable, stunning West Lake. On sunny days it shows all its beauty, especially at sunset. Crowds gather to catch the last rays of light, and I’ve never seen so many photographers lining up in key spots. But sunset is special for everyone, not just photographers.
Even on cloudy days the lake is just as captivating—more melancholic and poetic. West Lake is truly a gem and, so far, one of my favorite places in the city. It’s about 15 km around, with beautiful viewpoints all along the way, many of which I’ve photographed and will share here on the blog.
