General Idea

Hangzhou is one of China's big tourist attractions. It has many historical relics and scenic spots, including West Lake, and the scenic area near the Fuchun River and the Xinan River. The special local-made products are silk, Xihu silk umbrellas, color-glazed porcelain, Longjing tea, and white chrysanthemum.

Hangzhou is one of China's major textile industry centers, and the largest producer of gunnysacks in China. Furthermore it is noted for its silk, paper, wireless communication equipment, food processing, and handcraft, steel, chemical products, machinery, rubber, construction materials, and electronic equipment are also produced here. Now the Hangzhou High-Technical Development Zone and the Qiantang River Investment Zone are being established. The chief farm products include rice, wheat, cotton, silkworm cocoons, tea, and freshwater fish.

With good rail water, air, and road transportation facilities, Hangzhou is a junction of inter-country links.

The Hangzhou Airport has more than 100 flights to Hongkong, Guangzhou, Beijing, Xian and Guilin. The highway adds railway networks of Hangzhou radiate in all directions. The railway department has offered six pairs of special tourist trains, and two pairs of tourist trains stop in Hangzhou. Expressways hare been constructed from Hangzhou to Shanghai and from Hangzhou to Ningbo. In addition, canal passenger transport docks have been built and pleasure-beats have been operated to Suzhou and Wuxi.

Hangzhou City ViewHangzhou is a holy and beautiful paradise on earth” which has been circulated for l, 000 years on the Chinese land. It has inherited the historical heritage of mare than 5,000 years. The city has a history of 2.200 years since it was first established as Qiantang County during the Qin Dynasty. During the Five Dynasties period it was the capital of Wu and Yue and later became the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. Altogether 13 emperors of two dynasties took the throne for 234 years in Hangzhou. Later, Hangzhou has always been the administrative, cultural and economic city (capital city) of Zhejiang Province and is one of the seven ancient capitals in China.Located on the south bank of the Haogzhou Bay of the East China Sea. Hangzhou is 180 km from Shanghai and is an important central city of the Yangtze River delta. Hangzhou has enjoyed the reputation of being the "first prefecture in southeast'. During the Yuan Dynasty Italian traveller Marco Polo lauded.

Geography and Climate

Geography:
Hangzhou is located on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River in southeast China, a superior position in the Yangtze Delta and only 180 kilometers from Shanghai.

population

According to the 5‰ population sampling survey in 2008, the population of long-term residents reached 7.966 million, up by 1.32 percent over the previous; of which 5.5236 million in urban district, accounting for 69.34 percent of long-term residents. The population continues to extend life expectancy. In year 2008, the average life expectancy was 79.74 years old of residents in Hangzhou (77.44 years of men and 82.25 years of women), which was equivalent to the level of developed countries.

Administrative Division:
Hangzhou Region or prefecture-level city contains the Hangzhou metropolitan area (eight districts), 3 metropolitan counties, and 2 ordinary counties. The central six urban districts occupy 682 km2 (263.4 mi2) and have 1,910,000 people. The two suburban districts occupy 2,642 km2 (1020 mi2) and have 1,950,000 people.

Climate & Weather Briefing

Climate Data Table for Hangzhou

History

While much of the ancient city that had been the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in the mid-nineteenth century, today's Hangzhou is a modern and vibrant economical center. As such it provides a base for many talented and skilled people. Never the less, thanks to its unique setting by the West Lake it continues to enjoy the many benefits of the natural surroundings that have delighted visitors for centuries. Not only was it much vaunted in his writings by the 13  century explorer, Marco Polo but the Lake and its environs have inspired poets of great renown such as Bai Juyi and Su Dongpo down the ages. There can be no doubt that visit here is certain to be a memorable one.

Places of Interest

West Lake

Lingyin Temple

Six Harmonies Pagoda

China Silk Museum Hangzhou

Yue Fei Mausoleum

Grand Canal Hangzhou

Leifeng Pagoda

Thousand-islet Lake

Peak Flown from Afar

Wuzhen Water Town

Xitang Water Town

Xixi National Wetland Park

Nanxun Water Town

Zheiiang Yunhe Rice Terrace

West Lake