Answer to One China Travel Question
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Q: Which is the best way to travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou, Hangzhou to Ningbo, and Nigbo to Shanghai (train, bus, boat)? Can you recommend some good hotels in Hangzhou & Ningbo? Places to see in H & N? Nightlife ? Thanks
| | A: There are many trains that run from Shanghai to Hangzhou, from Hangzhou to Ningbo, and from Ningbo to Shanghai. The ride from Shanghai to Hangzhou and from Hangzhou to Ningbo are a little over 2 hours respectively and the ride from NIngbo to Shanghai is a little over 4 hours (expectedly, as the route is the same). Get yourself "soft seats" (soft berth is probably not needed given the short lengths of the trips, but that's up to you). Trains with prefixes such as "T" or "K" are preferred; they stand for "Special (express)" and "Fast."
There are also many buses going between Shanghai and Hangzhou, between Hangzhou and Ningbo, and between Ningbo and Shanghai. Hourly departures. The distance covered between Shanghai and Hangzhou is about 180 kilometers and between Hangzhou and Ningbo 150 kilometers. Most of them use the express highways, which of course are preferred. In Shanghai, buses depart from a number of stations in Shanghai, including those at 258 Hengfeng Road; 1662 Zhongxing Road; and 211 Hongqiao Road. In Hangzhou you'll find buses to Ningbo at East Bus Station (71 Genshan West Road) and those to Shanghai at Northern Bus Station (357 Tianmushan Road). In Ningbo you'll find buses departing for Shanghai at Ningbo Southern Bus Station.
Generally the quality of service is more predicatable with trains than with buses. So choose your buses carefully if decide to go by bus.
Hangzhou is an important tourist city, so there are a few places to see, mostly scenic spots around the West Lake next to the city - Solitary Hill Island, Feilaifeng (Hill from Afar), Lingyin Temple, etc. The city is known silk and tea. There are a couple of a well-known silk and tea museums. The Gand Canal of China (not so grand nowadays) also origniates from here and goes north to Beijing (in the old days). A tourist may find some nightlife spots on Hubin (lakeside) road, such as Paradise Rock Bar next to the Overseas Chinese Hotel.
Ningbo is a lesser destination than Hangzhou in terms of sightseeing, but there are attractions such as Baoguo Temple.
Hotels in China nowadays are quite dependable. Avoid the really cheap ones. Very often you'll find names reconizable in the West.
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