INTRODUCTION

Capital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou is a tourist city well known at home and abroad. It lies on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River and is the southern end of the  l,794-kllometre-long Grand Canal (Beijing- Hangzhou Canal). With an area of 16,596 square kilometers inhabited by a population of 6.08 million, it embraces six urban districts and seven suburban counties, namely, Yuhang, Xiaoshan, Fuyang, Tonglu, Lin'an, Jiande and Chun'an.    

It has a mild climate with distinct seasons. Its average annual temperature is 16.2 degree Centigrade, January being the coldest month (average temperature 3.6 degree Centigrade.) and July the hottest (average temperature 33.8 degree Centigrade.). Annual precipitation averages 1,452 mm. First built as Qiantang County in 221 B.C., during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.), Hangzhou did not take its present name until 589, during the Sui Dynasty (589-618), This  ancient city began to thrive after the south section of the Grand Canal was excavated, also in the Sui period, and thenceforth served as a north-south communication and trade center. For 237 years since the beginning of the ninth century, it was alternately capital of the reign of 14 emperors of different dynasties. The Italian traveler, Marco Polo, who visited Hangzhou about 128O, described it as the most beautiful and magnificent city paradise in the world.

Situated south of the Yangtze River, in a place crisscrossed by rivers and streams, Hangzhou is richly endowed with natural resources. It is renowned for scenic beauty, so much so that there is a Chinese saying, “As there is paradise in Heaven, so there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth.” Since the birth of the People's Republic in 1949, Hangzhou has made fairly quick progress in all fields of endeavor. Traditionally known as “Home of Silk and Satin”, it has recorded particular results in developing its silk industry. The output of silk goods and brocades in 1979 was 1O.5 times that of the early post-liberation days. With varieties and patterns having increased from a few scores to nearly l,000 during the same period, they enjoy a ready market at home and sell well in some 140 foreign countries and regions. The scenic city is also supplier of the celebrated Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea, sandalwood fans, silk parasols, scissors and a number of other art-craft products, all of which have undergone new developments in recent years.

Hangzhou earned its fame because of Xihu Lake (West Lake), so called for its lying on the western edge of the city proper. The lake is 5.6 square kilometers in area and has a circumference of about 12 kilometers. It has an average depth of l.8 meters, and its water . surface measures 3.5 kilometers from north to south and 2.9 kilometers from east to west. The north-south Sudi Causeway and the east-west Baidi Causeway divide the lake into five sections: the Outer Lake, the Beili (North Inner) Lake, the Xili (West Inner) Lake, the Yuehu Lake and the Xiaonan (Mini South) Lake. Ten points of interest surround West Lake or a part of it: Melting Snow on Broken Bridge, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Twin Cloud-Piercing Peaks, Breeze-Caressed Lotus in Yeast Courtyard, Sudi Causeway in Spring Dawn, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, Thunder Peak Pagoda in Sunset Glow, and Orioles Singing in willows.

The traditional local industry has been silk production, and Hangzhou's silk products have found their way to many parts of the world ever since the Tang Dynasty. So did the elegantly fragrant high quality Long Jing tea. Traditional Chinese medicaments and chrysanthemum flower tea are among the noteworthy local products. Also crafted locally and known for the quality of material and high level of skill in their manufacture are Zhang Xiaoquan scissors, Wang Singji Fans, West Lake silk umbrellas, Du Jinshen brocade, Shao Zhiyan writing brushes, and Xiaoshan decorative lace and dancing shoes.                                           

West Lake                                                                                   

Lying on the west edge of Hangzhou city, West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou as well as one of the most beautiful sights in China. Early in the Song dynasty, the famous poet Su Shi compared the lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra: "Ripping water shimmering on sunny day; Misty mountains wonder in the rain; Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi; the West Lake is always alluring". So the Lake is also known as Xizi Lake. With an area of 6 sq. km. and a circumference of 15km (9 miles), West Lake, surround in three sides by rolling wooded hills, has captivated countless visitors for centuries.

Legend has it that West Lake was originally a jewel fallen from heaven. Actually it is a lagoon formed as a result of natural changes and human efforts. Ten thousand years ago, the lake was much larger than its present surface of 5.6 square kilometers. Later, as silt accumulated and weeds overgrew, the lake shrank in size. The present West Lake consists of 5 sections, namely the Outer Lake, North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake.

The beauty of the West Lake lies in a lingering charm that survives the change of seasons in a year, of hours in a day, and of different weathers. The best beautiful parts include Melting Snow at Broken Bridge, Spring Dawn at Sudi Causeway, Sunset Glow over Leifeng Hill, Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake, Listening to Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish at Flowers Harbor, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds. Among these sights, Spring Dawn at Sudi Causeway tops the list. Built with silt in 1089 when Su Dongpo supervised the dredging of the lake, Su Causeway extends 2.8 kilometers with grass and peach and willow trees planted along its entire length. The bell rings at dawn as the moon is sinking in the west, weeping willows along the embankment sway in the morning haze, the lake blends in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape like a roll of ink-and-water painting. Viewing Fish at Flowers Harbor is to the west of the 5th and 6th bridges on the Su Causeway. Buildings erected in Song times surround a pond in which golden carp are raised.  

Liuhe Pagoda

Liuhe Pagoda is located to the south of Hangzhou. This famous octagonal pagoda, first built in 970AD, stands high on Yuelun Mountain by the Qiantang River. The 60 meter (197ft) brick and wood structure is considered a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture. Visitors can climb up the stone staircase to the top of the 7 story pagoda and enjoy the views of the Qiantang River. The nearby Liuhe cultural park has miniature replicas of other famous pagodas in China.

Lingyin Temple

Located at the foot of the Lingyin Hill northwest of the city, Temple of Inspired Seclusion (Lingyin Temple) was built in the Eastern Jin dynasty (317-420). The 33.6-metre-high main hall (Sakyamuni Hall) is a masterpiece of ancient buildings with one story and doubled eaves. The two nine-storied octagonal pagodas in front of the main hall and the two stone towers containing the Buddhist sutras in front of the Lokapala Hall were all built in the Five dynasties (907-960). In the caves on the Feilai Hill, there are some 300 Buddhist stone carvings dating back to the Five dynasties, the Song dynasty (960-1279) and the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). The elegant stone carvings are of high artistic value.

The temple itslef is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the whole China. The Indian Monk Huili thought Hangzhou was so beautiful that it must be a place that gods had lived. Hence he founded this temple in honor of the beauty and spiritual richness of the place, and named it "the place where gods rest in seclusion", or Lingjin. 

This is a huge place so it's best to just choose a few of of the most interesting areas. On entering the temple, there is a huge stone statues on your left that are reproduction of famous Buddhist statues located all over China, such as the Buddha at Leshan. Slightly behind the temple is a group of lovely stone-caved Buddha, who sit in the niches of the cliffs. The most impressive of the these is a huge, fat "laughing Buddha". In the temple there are various gold statutes of Buddha, posing in different ways and adopting a warrior stance. The temple is filled with incredible statues and monuments to Buddha-laughing, standing and sitting!       

Longjing Tea (China Tea Museum)

The China Tea Museum occupies an area of 3,100 sq meters in Longjing (Dragon Well) Village, which is a tea growing area south of the West Lake. The museum comprises 4 groups of buildings with displays outlining the traditions of growing tea south of the Yangtzi River. Here you can learn about the history of tea, the best varieties and the etiquette of tea drinking in China. The tea plantations are very picturesque and there are opportunities to pick tea and taste a fresh brew.