Hangzhou, Hotel and University
We took the train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Hangzhou--the station is vast, modern, and built very much like the ones in other cities in China of the same vintage. The train took around an hour--it was sleek and comfortable. 
HANGZHOU
Our hotel in Hangzhou--with the delightful name Sunday Sunny Resort--was not as lavish as the others, but it was built around a lovely garden with a waterfall. We were lucky in our timing of our visit, the sweet osmanthus (the city flower of Hangzhou) was in bloom, and the smell was intoxicating. It was also the weekend of the city's annual fireworks display, which we were able to see from the hotel roof. The fireworks were spectacular but well beyond my photographic skills!
We met with faculty and gave talks at Zhejiang Gongshang University. It has built a new campus in a development area east of the main part of the city. The University is monumental and the seminar room was luxurious. The students were attentive and eager to talk.
(no I don't know what the pyramid is for) 
There is a housing boom going on in the district adjoining the university, as this picture shows: 
