When the national government said “expand employment with stimulus” Hangzhou didn’t screw around – they got Zhang Yimou to create a play – Impressions: Westlake (using the lake as a stage) that must employ about 50% of the local populace. 365 days a year.

Zhang Yimou, who directed the opening ceremony of the Olympics, seems to use the following formula for Great Artistic People’s Success: take bright colors. Mix with other bright colors. Insert [actor | object]. Multiply [actor | object] by n, where 150 < n < 500. Repeat several [hundred] times.

Regardless, this was pretty neat: the structure that rises out of the lake to simulate rain in our love story. At least I think it was a love story. About people. And swans. Maybe the people turned into the swans?

Hangzhou’s Westlake:

And an exercise area in Longjing, where the famed Longjing Green Tea comes from. These exercise machines are all over the place in residential areas, though usually not so nice. The village seemed very wealthy.