You are here: Home > guide > city > Hangzhou
 
Hangzhou
Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, is on the southeastern coastline of China, at the south end of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal with a distance of 151 km to Shanghai. It is the central city of the southern Yangtze River Detla, one of the important tourism cities in China, famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural heritages. When Marco Polo came to Hangzhou in the 13th century he acclaimed that "it is the most beautiful and elegant city in the world". There is also a popular saying: "Above there is heaven, below there are Hangzhou and Suzhou." Hangzhou had once been the capitals of Wu and Yue kingdoms of Five Dynasties during the 10th Century and capital of Southern Song Dynasty during the 12-13th Century. It is one of the seven ancient Chinese capitals. The city has a history of more than 2200 years since it was established as a county by the First Emperor Qing.
Tourist Highlights
 
West Lake
Hangzhou's fame rests mainly with the picturesque West Lake. West Lake covers an area of 6.78 square kilometers. Three sides of the lake are surrouned by verdant mountains and one side of it properous city. Centuries later, Marco Polo called Hangzhou the most enchanting city in all the world. This is most evident in the West Lake area--the effective, if not geographic, center of Hangzhou. Hills embrace the lake on three sides; the city proper lies to the east. Ancient Chinese people praised the West Lake area as a land of intoxicating beauty. Su Shi, a poet from the Song Dynasty, likened the lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra, for its allure.
The charming lake is a pearl that lay by the city. There are two brocade-ribbon-like causeways inside the lake, namely Bai Causeway and Su causeway, and they divide the lake into five parts. Three man-make islands named Three Pools Mirroring the moon, Mid-lake Pavilion and Mr. Ruan TYuan’s Mount stand elegantly in the outer lake.

Ling Yin Temple
You will find Ling Yin Temple in a long, narrow valley between Fei Lai Feng (Peak flown from Afar) and North Peak to the northwest of the West Lake. The Lingyin (Souls Retreat) Temple is Hangzhou's most famous site aside from the West Lake and one of the best known Buddhist monasteries in China. In 1961 the temple was listed for protection as a key provincial historical and cultural site and is considered a leading centre for research relative to Chinese Buddhist culture.
It was built in 326A. D. by an Indian monk named Huili. With a history of more than 1,600 years. The temple has the Front Hall, the magnificent Hall and the Hall of Herb Masters. China’s largest wood-carving of sitting Buddha Sakyamuni sits in the Magnificent Hall.

Six Harmonies Pagoda

Six Harmonies Pagoda
Founded in Northern Song dynasty (960-1127A.D.), the Six Harmonies Pagoda is a pavillion-style pogada with 8 eaves located in the beautiful banks of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou. Besides the unique architecture style, you can have magnificent view of the Qiantang River Bridge and the wide river from the top of the pagoda. Moreover, the nearby “China Ancient Pagoda Expo Garden” collecting the miniatures of famous towers all around China is a short-way for you to know something about ancient Chinese architectural achievement.


Wuzhen
Wuzhen is a historic scenic town, part of Tongxiang, located in northern Zhejiang Province. It lies within the triangle formed by Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai. With its long history, late 19th century original buildings, rich folk customs, various bridges and peaceful rivers, Wuzhen is growing to be the paradise for the tourists all over the world.
It is divided into six districts: the traditional workshops district, the traditional local-styled dwelling houses district, the traditional culture district, the traditional food and beverage district, the traditional shops and stores district, and the water township customs and life district. Following an east-west-east circuit created by these six districts, visitors can witness reenactment of traditional practices and cultures.
 
Other City
  Beijing   Chengdu
  Chongqing   Dali
  Datong   Dunhuang
  Guangzhou   Guilin
  Hangzhou   Jiayuguan
  Kashgar   Kunming
  Lanzhou   Lhasa
  Lijiang   Luoyang
  Hongkong   Shanghai
  Suzhou   Turpan
  Urumqi   Wuhan
  Yangtze   Xi'an
  Shangri-la   the Silk Road
  Yunnan   PingYao
 
China Small Group Tours 2014
   China Hightlights Tour
   Classic China Sightseeing Tour
   China Brilliant Tour
   China Panda Tour
 
Private China Tours
   Best China Tours
   Classic China Sightseeing Tours
   Yangze River Cruises
   Mystical Tibet Tours
   Silk Road Exploration Tours
   Yunnan Discovery Tours
   Special interest
   New South China Tours
   North Korea and China Tours
   Discount China Tours
   Super China Winter Tours
 
Beijing Tour
    Beijing Private Tour Packages
    Beijing Bus Tour Packages
    Beijing Private Day Tours
    Beijing Join-in Bus Day Tours