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A large, one million inhabitants city that grew around the shores of the West Lake, had much more appeal than the impersonal and hyper-commercialised Shanghai. It was cleaner, quieter, better organised and even the ladies appeared prettier.
The lake receives a reputation of a perfect one, but this is so exaggerated! There is not much to see around the lake and the islands on it, apart from a few moderately attractive temples and residences of former dignitaries. The boatsmen hunting for tourists asked standard prices ranging from ¥80 to ¥120 for one hour ride on the lake. So if you were a group of four, then it might made sense. Otherwise, the larger state-owned vessels charged ¥45 for the transfer to one of the islands and back. The price also included the alleged fee to the sights of the Idland, but I have not seen anyone checking any tickets.
However overadvertised Hangzhou was with regard to its sights, etc, the lake definitely had a cooling effect and light breeze was a bliss. So much better than the sticky hot Shanghai.
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