Hang Zhou is about a two hour trip by bus or train from Shanghai. It has been ranked as one of the ten most scenic cities in China. When I was in China for one month in 2006, due to my inability to communicate and read Mandarin, I had difficulty finding a way to go hiking. Something I do at least a couple of times a week on the hills near my home back in Los Angeles. Luckily, I met some foreign students, who have been studying there for a while, who introduced me to an adventurous group of locals and foreigners that go up to the mountains on certain weekends to hike. They charged about $15 to take you up there and back by mini bus. You may camp for free, or stay in a youth hostel type place for about $6 a night. Contact WeiWei at: Escape Outdoors, 365-1 Fengqi Road, Hang Zhou (one block from the foreign bookstore) email - cnhz@mail.hz.zj.cn
