West Lake Summer Fun Journal: I've figured out the recipe for happiness from dawn till dusk!

Babes! How can you stroll around West Lake in summer without getting wild? You have to splash in the water until you're drenched, eat ice cream until your teeth chatter, and chase the sunset like a little lunatic~ This tested route hides cool surprises even locals keep secret. Grab your buddy and go for it! 🌿 6:55 Quyuan Fenghe Embracing the Morning Light Who would know! The lotus pond in the early morning looks like it's sprinkled with gold dust~ Dewdrops roll on the lotus leaves, pink and white lotus flowers hide between the leaves. Squatting on the wooden boardwalk with friends, clapping hands, startling a dragonfly that flutters over the water✨ Suddenly, sunlight breaks through the clouds, illuminating the petals brightly. Quickly raise your phone to snap a silly "holding lotus flower" photo, and get asked in your circle, "What magical filter did you use?!" 🍜 11:00 Zhongshan Middle Road Carb Feast Dive into the old shops tucked in the alleys! You must try the grandma’s freshly made scallion pancake stew—spring roll wrappers pressed flat with fried dough sticks inside, a spoonful each of sweet and spicy sauce. One bite is crispy to the point of crumbling. Pair it with a bowl of salty soy milk, where fried dough bits soak inside sprinkled with dried shrimp. When fighting over the last bite with friends, even if the soup splashes on your clothes, you don’t care~ Buy a Ding Sheng cake from the roadside, the pink glutinous rice carries the scent of osmanthus. While nibbling, watch grandma peel lotus pods and casually buy two. The lotus seeds are so tender they drip water when pinched~ 💦 14:35 Yangmeiling Stream Frolic The stream water is as cold as if just taken out of the freezer! The moment you step in barefoot, goosebumps rise all over~ Pick up a stick as a "weapon" and splash water on your friend's dripping hair, laughter so loud it scares the cicadas in the trees~ Find a big rock as a "rest stop," soak lychees in the stream water, chill them, then peel them open. Sweet juice splashes on your face. Take a "making funny faces with lychee" group photo. Your bestie says this is the "best emoji of the year"! 🍧 17:25 Beishan Street Ice Shop Chill Stroll to the old ice shop on the corner and order a "Longjing Milk Cap Smoothie"—the smoothie is as soft as clouds, the milk cap salty and fragrant mixed with tea aroma. One spoonful goes straight to your soul~ Sit on the bamboo chair at the door, watch tree shadows sway on the ground, count passing tour boats with friends. Suddenly spot a squirrel squatting on the wall peeking, quickly snap a "human and squirrel sharing food" photo. The comment section is full of "Where is this?!" 🌙 19:45 Hubin Night Market Food Crawl First, grab some grilled squid skewers, sticky with sauce, chewy with a bit of spice, you can’t stop munching~ Then buy some sugar-roasted chestnuts (yes, hot treats even in summer!). Peel them open to find soft, fragrant sweetness. While eating, watch street performers blow sugar figurines. The two of you pool money to buy a "little phoenix." Holding it up for photos, kids gather around with wide eyes~ 💡 Fun Tips: Wear light-colored clothes! They act like reflectors for photos~ Bring a pair of flip-flops to splash in water anytime~ Don’t buy too many ice treats, save room for night market snacks~ Summer at West Lake with friends means wet pant legs, sharing sweet ice treats, and blurry but bright smiles in photos~ This lively, bustling kind of day is exactly how summer should be~