West Lake is still the same West Lake, yet the people and things around it have changed. It hasn’t changed — what has changed is everything surrounding it. It’s becoming harder and harder to find a truly quiet corner at West Lake where you can simply sit and appreciate the view. No matter which way you look, there are always people. The number of tourists now is several times what it used to be — even on weekdays, it’s the same.
To me, it feels both familiar and a little strange. I’ve seen West Lake countless times, yet somehow, it no longer feels like the West Lake I once knew. For Hangzhou, West Lake’s importance goes without saying — the entire city seems to have grown and evolved around it. But now, the surroundings have turned into rows of shopping malls and department stores, lacking the simplicity and authenticity of the past. It’s all business and commerce — a coexistence that I personally don’t enjoy.
As long as I don’t turn around, as long as I face the lake and shut out the noise and chaos behind me, the scenery across the water still brings a moment of peace — like a kind of ambient white noise for the soul.
I don’t know how many more chances I’ll have to see West Lake again. After all, I once thought I’d never return to Hangzhou, nor did I want to. But life has a way of surprising you when you least expect it. What I truly miss is not the Hangzhou or West Lake of today, but the one from the past — perhaps it’s nostalgia, or perhaps the memories are simply too vivid. It’s not this Hangzhou, not this West Lake.
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