China Hangzhou Westlake, buildings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

China Hangzhou Westlake, gate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: West Lake, Hangzhou, China (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

China Hangzhou Westlake, buildings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: West Lake in Hangzhou, China. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Leifeng Pagoda as seen from West Lake in Hangzhou, China. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 310 Km per hour, bullet-train,  silently came to a halt at Hangzhou. We disembarked wearing our rucksacks and trailing our “wheelie” cases. Getting down three flights of steps was a challenge but there was a flat surface at the edge of the steps which we assumed was designed for “wheelies”. As we arrived at the ticket barrier, a commuter train discharged all its passengers, and were suddenly surrounded by many thousands of people – the wheelies kept people from pushing in front. We then had the fun of finding our guide.

Our guide Carl, (not his real name)…