China
is a huge country, with a seemingly infinite diversity of places and
cultures. With that in mind, we at Chinatour.com have prepared this
travel guide to help you learn more about the places of China.
Hangzhou, the capital
of Zhejiang province
in east China, lies close to the mouth of the Qiantang River at
the western end
of the Gulf of Hangzhou.
Hangzhou
was a small fishing village
until late in the sixth
century, when the extension of the Grand Canal southward from the Yangzi
led to the development of a busy commercial center in the town. It
prospered, especially during the peaceful
early period of the Tang Dynasty.
Its growth was assisted by the development of the lower Yangzi
area into the nation's most important agricultural region.
Hangzhou underwent
dramatic development when the Song Dynasty,
pushed south by the conquering Jin, established its
capital there. In a
short space of 100 years, the population grew
to almost a million and the town flourished as a major trading center. Although
the
city was
partly destroyed by
the invading Mongols in the late 13th-century,
it
appeared impressive to Marco Polo when
the famous Italian traveler visited the city shortly afterwards.
According to Marco Polo, Hangzhou was “without doubt the finest
and most splendid city the world... there are said to be 13,000 bridges,
mostly of stone... vast are the numbers of those accustomed to dainty
living, to the point of eating fish and meat at one meal.”

Six-Harmonious Pagoda
As for the
West Lake, Marco Pole wrote: “On
one side it skirts the city... and commands a distant view of all its
grandeur and loveliness, its temples, monasteries, and gardens with
their towering trees, running down to the water's edge. On the lake
itself is the endless procession of barges thronged with
pleasure-seekers... their minds and thoughts are intent upon nothing but
bodily pleasures and the delights of society.”
Today, the city remains
renowned for its beauty, which some claim is unsurpassed in China; and
although some of the historic buildings have been destroyed, the
archaeological attractions that remain are still impressive. Many
sections of the town have not changed for centuries, while the famous
West Lake region retains its reputation as one of the most
beautiful spots in China, with landscaped gardens on its banks,
tree-shaded walks, and in the nearby hills, temples, pagodas, and
monasteries.

West Lake, Hangzhou
WEST LAKE
Hangzhou's fame rests mainly with the picturesque West Lake,
so named because it is located in its western fringe. Covering about
four square miles,
West Lake is surrounded on three sides by rolling wood hills. At the
center are three isles--Lesser Yingzhou, Mid-lake Pavilion and Ruangong
Isle. Solitary Hill stands by itself on the northern lakeshore. It can
be reached from the city by Bai Causeway, with Su Causeway bisects the
lake from north to south. The blue, often rippling, water is dotted with
elegant stone bridges
and charming pavilions.
QIANTANG TIDAL BORE
If you are visiting in September during the autumn equinox, you
may be able to see one of the most unusual sights
in the world. A tidal bore gathers momentum in the Gulf of Hangzhou,
surges into the mouth of the Qiangtang River, and races up the river, at
a height of up to 30 ft. and a speed of more than 15m.p.h. In ancient
times, governors of Hangzhou used to have arrows fired at the waves in
an attempt to quell their destructive forces.
Nowadays more effective methods are used.
LINGYIN TEMPLE
It is believed that the temple was first established in 336 A.D.
by a monk known as Hui Li. It was destroyed on a number of occasions,
the last time during the Taiping Rebellion, and the latest rebuilding
was in the early part of the
20th century. It
was then restored
in 1956.
The temple sits
at the foot of the Northern Peak in a wooded area, with
a stream running in
front of it. Some of the trees in front are believed to be more
than 1,000 years old.
The foremost temple
houses a laughing Buddha carved in camphor wood and covered in gold with
a carved gilt figure standing behind as a guard. Both figures are set
under a two-eaves wooden canopy decorated in red and gold. Ornate lamps
hang on either side.
More
about
Hangzhou: