Welcome to Hangzhou
Hangzhou is located along the southeast coast of China, in the north of Zhejiang Province, on the north bank of the lower reaches of the Qiantang River and the south tip of the Jing-Hang Grand Canal. It is the capital of Zhejiang Province and the political, economical, scientific education and cultural center of the whole province as well. Hangzhou is not only a key scenic tourism city and famous historic and cultural city, but also one of the six famous ancient capitals in our country (namely, Beijing, Xi'an, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou).
Hangzhou is always well-known in the world for its graceful sceneries. It has graceful landscapes and magical sights with a good reputation of "a paradise under the heaven". Su Dongpo, a great eminent writer in the Song Dynasty, once wrote: "there are thirty six west lakes in the world, among which the best one is in Hangzhou". The well-known West Lake has been a focus for learners writing poems. She has feelings related with all flesh in the world with her natural landscapes which are "always charming with either light or heavy make-up. The popular saying that "In heaven there is Paradise while on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou"expresses people's sincere compliment to this beautiful city through the ages.
Hangzhou has a long history with a heavy cultural baggage. "It is the landscape in the southeast and the capital of three Wu states. Therefore, Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times."Liu Yong, a Ci poet in the Song Dynasty, had outlined the commercial city image of Hangzhou as "precious and rare articles assembled and multitudes of merchants converged". During the period of Wu-Yue in the Five Dynasties and the South Song Dynasty, Hangzhou had been the capital of two dynasties, which lasted more than 200 years. During that period, Hangzhou was at its height of grandeur in the history of development and endowed with the title of "the first canton in the southeast". No wonder even Marco Polo, an Italian, complimented Hangzhou as "the most beautiful and magnificent celestial city in the world".
Hangzhou has not only picturesque sceneries, being endeared by the Buddha, Shenxiu, but also rich and colorful human landscapes. Courtyards, gardens, towers, pavilions, temples, springs, gullies, rock caves, and cliff inscriptions of the ancient times are found everywhere. Some look like pearl shades or jade belts while others are misty willow or painted bridges. Some are of all variable shapes while others make an extraordinary sight. There are green mountains and beautiful water with wonderful flavor. They are all valuable cultural and artistic treasure. Therefore, you may experience the pleasure of the ancient people leisurely in Hangzhou where "tourists were drunk in the warm breeze", and savor the tea and lie drunken on the bank of the West Lake together with people from all parts of the world during the alteration of four seasons. "Recalling the Yangtze River Delta, of which Hangzhou is the most frequently recollected."More...
