While in Hangzhou, China I took a boat tour with @slickwilly across the stunning West Lake. The lake is surrounded with temples, pagodas, and gardens which have influenced Chinese artists for centuries.

It was a cloudy day when we visited and a low mist hung around the lake. It felt like we were in a classic Chinese painting!

https://steemitimages.com/DQmPMRT1VzD4Z2qXuJmtTLkovhVUt35U2z8UEg8hH7A2GB8/20170527_112647.jpg

https://steemitimages.com/DQmRSF7b3ppY1VDv1mDwRnXDyfYjGtFdbCh4rvYqH5HfDak/20170527_111347.jpg

https://steemitimages.com/DQmb1QceA8wALfabF1Net47U1vmXWFcCdmnYCcFia2vxpnP/20170527_112105.jpg

We saw a multitude of different boats traveling along with us in the lake, clearly this is a popular destination for foreign and local tourists alike.

The boats were completely aimless, each one taking in different views of the lake. Despite the variety of vessels, they were not afraid to get close!

https://steemitimages.com/DQmSnRszHN53hiz2oxUG4SeXaHzsFFLDMSFjp16DKsdU57a/20170527_112629.jpg

https://steemitimages.com/DQmT98CRxqiG6dZTCmM6tVE4Wf3DS1ZLtakFNkxmtjmntou/20170527_110740.jpg

While traveling, I couldn't help but think this lake looked familiar. I had just about convinced myself I was crazy when the boat tour guide finally switched to English. He then started to explain that the back of the One Yuan Bill depicts this very lake!

https://steemitimages.com/DQmWo2eFanA5igiMamo1i2B6r8oESFvAraRKB9EaRnczsBa/Yuan%20West%20Lake.jpg

The picture of "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon" was printed on the backs of both the foreign exchange certificate one yuan bill issued by the government in 1979 and the fifth version of RMB one yuan bill issued in 2004. - Wikipedia

The West Lake also contained a number of vibrant artificial islands.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmXPLb1vs8SPuJjdmjpDzthcgvYZF5GbPk5RXJsAr2VSnm/20170527_113221.jpg

https://steemitimages.com/DQmeguF7c1J5hJWs1yARxVbDeYzaqciYsfE85XirKaeqUGJ/20170527_113257.jpg

Will and I really enjoyed our tour, it is a must do if you plan to visit Hangzhou!

https://steemitimages.com/DQmYZ4cK861nvnYo8MFR94n6dRLNSLDqEmny6TERas3hiyd/20170527_110945.jpg

https://steemitimages.com/DQmWt3bNC2LC7ycujkCqefQdqmdSkx5nzHf94nFxdbwbSYq/20170527_113914.jpg

Thanks for reading! stay tuned for more in my Highlights of China series.

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