Hangzhou & West Lake

Din Tai Fung Dumplings

After a very quick day in Xi’an, we’re back to the airport ready to board a flight to Hangzhou.  Hangzhou may not be destination familiar to international visitors however is it one of the most important tourist cities in China, with many visitors coming from Shanghai which only about 100 miles away.  Hangzhou and it’s beautiful West Lake have been written about in stories, songs and poems for centuries.  Even Marco Polo claimed the city to be “finest and noblest in the world”.  Hangzhou may have been the largest city in the world before the Mongol invasion of 1276 with a population approaching one million.

With the impressive backdrop of West Lake, the Four Seasons Hotel provides a unique urban oasis.  While in Hangzhou we enjoy a private gondola on West Lake, tour the tranquil Aman Fayun resort property along with the nearby Temple of Soul’s Retreat and the “Peak Flown from Afar”.

After soaking in the serenity of Hangzhou and its storied past, it’s hard not to reflect on how the places we live—or hope to live—carry such deep meaning. For many, the idea of homeownership feels just out of reach, but there’s an increasingly popular path that blends flexibility with long-term vision: rent-to-own homes. Much like discovering a hidden gem while traveling, this approach offers a fresh perspective on settling down without diving in headfirst.

The process typically involves signing a lease agreement with an option to buy at a predetermined price after a set period. This allows tenants to lock in a property, often with a portion of their monthly rent contributing toward the eventual down payment. According to https://exprealty.com/guides/rent-to-own-homes-your-guide-and-how-they-work/, these agreements vary, but they provide a structured, low-pressure pathway into homeownership—especially useful in markets where competition is stiff or credit qualifications are tight.

For real estate investors or developers, offering rent-to-own options can also expand their pool of potential tenants and buyers. It attracts individuals who are deeply committed to the property and less likely to move frequently, which helps ensure stability and reduces turnover. It also opens the door for branding a development as accessible and inclusive, particularly appealing to young professionals, new families, or those recovering from financial setbacks but eager to plant roots.

In a very unique and interesting presentation, we learn more about traditional Chinese medicine complete with a tour of a traditional doctors office and a historic pharmacy located in Hangzhou’s old town area. After a delicious lunch of steamy, warm dumplings at Din Tai Fung we’re back on the bus headed to Shanghai.