Hangzhou
Capital of the Zhejiang Province
- Area: 16,596km2
- Location: Yangtze River Delta
- Climate: humid subtropical with four distinctive seasons
- Population: 6.72 million (as of 2007)
- People: Han Chinese
- Language: Mandarin Chinese, Wu dialect
- Currency and monetary unit: Renminbi (CNY)
- Administrative demarcations: 8 districts, 5 counties
Oriental Capital of Leisure, City of Quality Life — Hangzhou
Travel around the West Lake, remain in a teahouse, enjoy foot bath and taste delicious cuisine...What a fascinating holiday! Hangzhou has unique tourist attractions endowed by nature and culture. You can enjoy qualified infrastructure, considerable services, efficient security system and comprehensive tourist information service with international practices around Hangzhou. In February 2007, Hangzhou was entitled the “Best Tourist City in China” by CNTA (China National Tourism Administration) and WTO (World Tourism Organization) of UN. In November 2007, Hangzhou was rewarded as the “Most Well-being City”.
History
Hangzhou is one of the eight antient capitals in Chinese history, and the first group of National Famous Historical and Cultural City. Its culture can be dated back to 8,000 years ago, which began with the Kuahuqiao Culture of Xiaoshan in the Neolithic Age. It was originally named “Yu City” and has had such other names as Yuhang, Qiantang, Lin’an, etc. In 222B.C. (the 25th year of Qingwangzheng), Hangzhou was located at Qiantang county, having had 2225-year city history so far. In the period of Five Dynasties and Ten kindoms, Wuyue founded Hangzhou as the capital in A.D. 893 for 86 years. In the third year of Southern Song Jianyan (A.D. 1129), Song Imperial Households migrated to the
south and settled in Hangzhou, and then changed "Hangzhou' to "Linan Official Residence". In the 8th year of Shaoxing (1138), the Southern Song Dynasty had its capital formally founded in Lian’an and began to exist for 152 years. "Hangzhou City” was formally founded in 1927. Hangzhou people’s government was established in1949. Hangzhou now is the capital city of Zhejiang Province.
City of Tea and Silk
The tea culture in Hangzhou is profound, and West Lake Longjing Green Tea tops the Ten Renowned Teas in China. Hangzhou deserves the title of "the tea capital of China"for its excellence in tea products, tea farmers, tea planting areas, tea culture, tea education, tea technology, tea economy and tea tour. Due to the local products such as Dujinsheng brocade, West Lake umbrella and Hangzhou embroidery, Hangzhou has always enjoyed the reputation of being the “City of Silk”. The culture of silk has been over 5000 years so far. The combination of Hangzhou silk and Hangzhou women’s garments prefectly shows another deep connotation of the silk culture of Hangzhou.
Travelling in an earthly paradise Hangzhou
West Lake Scenic Area
The West Lake came from a shallow bay in ancient times where Qiantang River ran into the sea. It was formerly named Wulin Waters, Golden Buffalo Lake, Qiantang Lake and Xizi Lake. As it lies in the west of Hangzhou, it was later named the West Lake. Centered on the West Lake, the West Lake Scenic Area is a national scenic area with a total area of 60.04 square KM. There are over 60 cultural relic sites of state, provincial and municipal levels and over 100 attractions. Among them, the most classic is the Top Ten Scenes and the New Top Ten Scenes at the West Lake.
Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple was first built in the 1st year of Xianhe of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326). The gold-gilded Sakyamuni in the Hall of Mahavira, which is the main hall, is 24.8m high (including the seat). It is the largest woodcarving of sitting Buddha in China. In the center of Arhat Hall is the highest copper hall in the world with a height of 12.62 meters. On the cliff of the Peak Flying From Afar, there are over 340 fine and characteristic Buddhist statues in grottos from the Five Dynasties to the dynasties of Song and Yuan.
Small Yingzhou Isle
Built in 1607, the Small Yingzhou Islet is the largest in the West Lake. It is characterized by “the lake surrounding the islet and the islet holding the lake”.
At its southern end are three stone pagodas of 2m high which were built in 1621. Each pagoda has five round holes. When there is a bring full moon in the sky and a candle is placed into each of the pagoda, you may see the candle light mingling with the moonlight. Thus, it was named as “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon”.
Qiantang River Tidal Bore
A world wonder, the Qiantang River Tidal Bore is famous for its spectacle. The tide viewing, which originated in the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms, has had over 2000 years of history. The tide would be the greatest around August 18th according to the lunar calendar. Besides Qiantang River at Xiaoshan District, you can also view the tide at the Qiantang River Bridge in the downtown, the Pagoda of Six Harmonies and the Nine Creeks.
Song Dynasty Town
Song Dynast y Town has been the first theme park in Hangzhou that reflects the culture of two Song dynasties, which features the representation of the Clear and Bright Upper River Picture, the Nine Dragon Square Area, the Song Dynasty Town Square Area, the Fairy Mountain and Elegant Pavilion Area, and the Southern Song Scenic Garden, etc. Around 2 million tourists come here annually, who are attracted by the large-scale dance and song drama – Thousand Years' Feeling of Song Dynasty Town. The show was invested 60 million yuan and became the reputed program of the theme park and representative show in Hangzhou.
Food of the city of gourment food
Hangzhou has been reputed as the City of Gourmet Food with a long
history of cuisine culture. Hangzhou cuisine features fresh materials, elaborate processing and natural flavor and attends to the color, smell, taste and shape. The name of the traditional Hangzhou cuisine is usually came from beautiful stories and legends and is reputable in China and abroad. There are over 9,700 restaurants in Hangzhou, among which the old and famous ones include Louwailou and Zhiweiguan, while restaurants with the new-style Hangzhou dishes include Zhangshengji and Huazhongcheng.
Amusement in the city of leisure
Everywhere in Hangzhou you can find classic tea houses, fashionable coffee shops, westernstyle bars, exciting amusement parks, night clubs and disco squares, and the emerging golf, tennis, hot spring and foot bath. You can have a full relaxation in this city of leisure.
Foreign Direct Investment
Information on qualified Industrial Zones for foreign direct investment in Hangzhou
China Travels
Business Trips, Language Trips, Students Trips
