Train in the White Pagoda Park

We spent our first sunny day in Hangzhou visiting the White Pagoda Park. Construction is underway around the pagoda itself, which complicates our access to the park and leads us initially to the adjacent area. There stands an old steam locomotive, and the old depot serves as an administrative building. This is already an indication of the park we soon reach. The area was previously a railway site that has now been converted into a park. Old cranes and tracks have been integrated into the park ensemble, and a piece of platform is filled with sculptures of travelers. Further back, there is another old steam locomotive, in which a restaurant is housed behind it. Various other buildings, which used to be railway workshops, now contain museums and restaurants. On an old railway track, a park train runs back and forth for children; see my video through this link: Park Train. The Jiangshu Railway began operations in 1907 and was 135 kilometers long with its five stations. This was followed by the construction of the railway to Shanghai (Huhang Railway) and to the Jiangxi region (Zhegan Railway). The park is located near the Liuhe Pagoda, which we visit first (own later blog post), while on the way back we look for the namesake of the park. The White Pagoda is finally at the other end of the park and has eight sides and nine stories. The stone tower is 14.4 meters high, and the cast iron tip is over 3 meters tall, making the pagoda reach a total height of almost 18 meters. Even though the pagoda, built in the 10th century, has weathered the ravages of time, it is fortunately well preserved enough to still convey its entire form. Due to construction work, we can't get too close, but we visit a small exhibition about the pagoda at its base and learn about the relief of the seven Buddhas. To conclude the day, we visit a bend in the Imperial Canal, where the waterway makes a 90° turn. To reach this modern ensemble, we pass through the Hangzhou Tower with its luxury shops and then cross a bridge to the West Lake Cultural Square. In the shopping center there, we discover a food center with delicious and inexpensive meals (2.30 euros per meal) and then want to check out the night lighting. As we stand outside in the encroaching darkness, I am disappointed by the lighting. Hardly any lights are on, and the façades of the skyscrapers and the round science museum are dark. Wandering along the canal, we visit a market, and suddenly, precisely at 6 PM, a light show erupts on the left and right, and the night light show begins. Glowing fish and jellyfish swim up the façades, a gigantic smiley grins at us, and the globe of the museum alternates in different colors. Yes, just like I envisioned it.