Morning at Green Lake starts with retirees playing music under the willows, and in winter with clouds of black-headed gulls swooping for bread. By lunch, steam curls from bowls of crossing-the-bridge noodles. In the afternoon, orchids and potted plants spill out of the Flower and Bird Market, and by evening people drift back to the lake for a stroll.
Beyond the center, paths cut into the cliffs of the Western Hills look straight down on Dian Lake. On the plateau the weather stays mild all year, with rain from May to October and dry, sunny winters. When your plans run out, a Local Friend can pick the next stop, from a noodle counter to a temple up the hill.
