Annette's first trip to the PRC

During Thanksgiving this year, Deloitte held its annual National Tax Conference in the People's Republic of China. The conference itself was about as much fun as can be expected. The most exciting part was my first view of mainland China.


View from Hotel Room

View from Hotel Room

The conference was held in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province which is about 2 hours southwest of Shanghai. Hangzhou is a popular Chinese tourist destination and is particularly famous for the West Lake. The Hyatt Regency where we stayed was located just across the street from the lake and had a very good view. We did not have much opportunity to explore the city, but I did have a chance to walk by the lake during one of the breaks.



Soldier on Path

Boats ready to take tourists around the lake.

One of the most surprising things about Hangzhou were the large number of upscale western shops in the district around the lake. I passed at least 2 Starbuck's, an Armani Casa, a Ferrari store, and a store for almost every major designer that you would see on 5th Avenue in New York.




Boat on Lake





Statues and a few local people


Another boat



Shops