This little village-like road around the corner from the main gate of Zhejiang University’s Yuquan campus used to be known for its fantastic Sichuan hot pot. It still is, but now there is a new comer on the scene adding a new twist to the old setting. The aptly named Cornucopia offers you just that. One look at the menu is evidence enough as to the abundance of culinary options there are to choose from.: Burmese Curry, Naxi-style Pancetta, Italian Penne, and Spanish Paella are just a few of the choices. Then they’ve got pineapple beer, vanilla milkshakes, and espresso to name just of few of their thirst-quenching options. It’s all a bit strange but not in a bad way, and we have to admit that we are not the most qualified judges for some of their more exotic dishes, but we went twice and had more than a good share of their wares. The Fish Carpaccio with Spicy Dai Garlic Sauce listed on the appetizer page is a knock out. It’s served with four condiments, mustard, a brown sauce of unknown identity, a little dish...

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Is good Japanese food cheap anywhere in the world we ask? Well, there’s Abu Café, but like we said, it isn’t the most authentic. Here in Hangzhou, there are two places to get the good stuff: Nasubi and Imarigawa. Both are in hotels, but they have very different feels. Nasubi is ultra modern and classy. Imarigawa has this whole rustic thing going on: lots of wood and red paper lanterns, bottles of saki along the walls, very bright, open and noisy with the TV firmly turned on a Japanese station. Where these places don’t differ in is their quality and their price. On average, you’ll spend a good 600 kuai for two.

Imarigawa has been here for ten years, so they know their biz. And, don’t go thinking that they’ve changed anything up to suit the local crowd. The place is filled up with around 90% Japanese. You won’t find...

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There are around 36 West Lakes in this country, but ours is the original, and the best. It’s not real of course. Well, it’s real in the sense that it is a body of water located inland, but let’s just say it’s received numerous facelifts. It started to take form around 12,000 years ago at the mouth of the Qiantang River. Around 2,000 years back, then came a sandbar that created a lagoon, and 600 years after, a lake finally formed. Since then, there’ve been dredgings, silting, dredgings, silting... till it’s made it to its present size and shape. Through the years, it’s seen the creation of two causeways and formation of three islands (that’s right, they’re human-made too!). That’s a whole lotta work to draw tourists, but it’s worked.

The best island is Fairy Islet, which is a bit funky with its lakes within the island within the lake. There’s the Nine-Turn Bridge (a standard for any garden) and of course the infamous Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. They are a symbol of the city (you’ve seen them on the taxis) but are only properly viewed during the Moon Festival. You can only get to the islands by boat, and there are lots of spots to hop on all around the lake ...

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