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).
West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou as well as one of the most beautiful sights in China. 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. It has captivated countless visitors from all the world for centuries.
With a history of over 2,200 years, Hangzhou is one of the seven ancient captical in Wuyue State of the Five Dynasties and the Southern Song Dynasty. In the 13th century, Italian traveler Macro Polo admired Hangzhou as
“the most beautiful and splendid city in the world.”
Covering an area of 16,596 square kilometers, the city embraces 8 urban districts namely Shangcheng, Xiacheng, Jianggan, Gongshu, Xihu, Xiaoshan and Yuhang, and 5 suburban counties. By the end of 2003, the registered population in
Hangzhou is 6.42 million, including the urban registered population of 3.93 million.
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