While traveling in China I was lucky enough to have a few days on the weekend to explore Hangzhou and Shanghai. In Hangzhou I read about the famous "West Lake" and decided to hire a tour guide through China Highlights to see some of its famous beauty. Mr. Tony Tong was my guide and he shared some interesting history on the city and took me to several great spots. We started in a few parks along the lake which was a nice "breather" after spending the previous week in congested Shanghai.

Tony shared a popular Chinese saying describing the beauty of the area; "Heaven Above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." The parks and causeways around the lake certainly provide many opportunities to picture heaven on earth. We made it back to the lake just in time to see the last of the sun as it set across the lake along with a dozen other Chinese photographers.

I was surprised by the many great night photography opportunities in China. It seems everywhere you go the buildings are lit in colorful and constantly changing displays. After the sunset Tony took me to another location on the lake to see the Leifeng Pagoda across the lake which we had climbed earlier that day to get a great view of the lake.

Back in Shanghai I made it out to the Bund on a Friday night to see the city skyline across the Huangpu river. The view was amazing and constantly changing with party boats cruising the river and a light show of different images on the buildings. I made this photo by combining four images together to get my favorite combination of the water, oriental pearl tower, and graphics on the buildings for Valentine's day.

My last morning in China I had a few hours to see the sunrise before heading to the airport to catch my flight home. Unfortunately the sunrise was obscured by clouds but I enjoyed photographing the friendly locals flying kites and practicing Tai Chi along the Bund.