The slogan “I’m in Hangzhou” seems to have become a standard feature in many cities and scenic spots nowadays. It’s one of those signs that people love to take pictures with—a symbol and reminder that they’ve been there. Whenever you see someone posing with an “I’m in Hangzhou” sign, you can almost be sure they’re tourists; locals wouldn’t bother taking such photos, and many probably don’t even notice the sign’s existence anymore.
Hangzhou is still Hangzhou,
West Lake is still West Lake.
But Hangzhou is no longer that Hangzhou,
and West Lake is no longer that West Lake.
When I took that photo myself, I couldn’t help but laugh—it really felt like I had become a tourist in Hangzhou. The feeling was strange: a mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity. After all, I once lived here for several years, and for various reasons, I didn’t think I’d have many chances to come back, even though I still have a few friends here.
That’s exactly how I felt when I visited again.
Back then, there was no “I’m in Hangzhou” sign, and the area didn’t look like this. Has it improved? In some ways, yes—but it’s also lost something. I’ve always felt that modernization and new buildings are good signs of progress, yet they inevitably come at the cost of the city’s original culture and atmosphere. Some things deserve to be preserved, because once they’re destroyed, they can never truly return—the essence built over time simply can’t be recreated by human hands.
To me, the “I’m in Hangzhou” sign I photographed today no longer carries that soul.
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