Hangzhou,the capital of Zhejiang province is a bay city on the Qiantang River estuary of southeast China, It covers an area of 1.66 km2 with a population of 6.21 million. Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang Province and one of seven ancient Chinese capitals, with a history dating back to 221 BC.

West Lake is the legendary attraction of Hangzhou. As the capital (1132-1276) of the Southern Sung dynasty, Hangzhou was a famous cosmopolitan center of commerce and culture. Cultural relics can be found all over the city and suburb Adding to its historical and cultural wonders, Hangzhou is also a renowned maker of fine silk, teas and traditional Chinese medicine.

The famous scenery spots includes West Lake,Ling Yin Temple,Qian Dao Lake,Tea plantation,Hupao Spring,Fei Lai Peak,Yue Fei Moausoleum, Grand Canal and Qiantang River Bore.

West Lake

The West Lake is like a shining pearl inlaid on the vast land of China, reputed for beautiful scenery, a multitude of historical sites, brilliant cultural relics, and a profusion of native products. Legend has it that the West Lake was a heavenly jewel fallen to earth. Pragmatists insist that it is a mere lagoon on Hangzhou's western fringe. In any case, West Lake has inspired painters for centuries. .

In ancient times, this place had been an shallow sea gulf before it evolved into a residual lake. The Baidi and Sudi causeways provide access to many parts of the lake. Most of the best known tourist sites lie around and within the lake. With a circumference of 15 kilometers , the lake area itself is easy for the visitor to negotiate.

The famous spots includes Spring Dawn at Sudi Causeway ,Melting Snow at Broken Bridge,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 and Lotus Ponds at Flower Harbor ,Evening Bell at Nanping Hill,Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds.

Lingyin Temple

The Lingyin (Souls Retreat) Temple is one of the best known Buddhist monasteries in China. It was built in 326 at the foot of Lingyin Mountain. The main hall, 33.6 meters high, is one of China's tallest one-story buildings, further distinguished by double eaves. A statue of Sakyamuni, carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood, stands 19.6 meters high in the main hall. The foremost temple houses a laughing Buddha carved in camphor wood and covered in gold; there is a carved gilt figure standing behind as a guard. Both figures are set under a double-eave wooden canopy decorated in red and gold. Ornate lamps hang on either side. In front of the hall are two stone pagodas built during 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). These elegant carvings are of high artistic value. With magnificent mountains and high trees surrounding the monastery, the Lingyin Temple is a beautiful scenic spot with numerous cultural relics to see.

Qian Dao Lake

Qian Dao Lake , also called Thousand Islets Lake, situated in Chun'an county 160 km west of Hangzhou, is one of forty-four state-level scenic spots and presently China's biggest national park. Every year, millions of visitors both home and abroad will come here to appreciate the unique scenery. With further development in transportation, Qian Dao Lake is about to become one of the best tourist attractions in the world.Qian Dao Lake(Thousand Islets Lake) is a young lake. She is an artificial lake formed as the result of being a reservoir for constructing Xin'an River Waterpower Plant in 1959.Qian Dao Lake (Thousand Islets Lake) is a crystal pure lake.
Covering an area of (143, 321 acres), it has a storage capacity of 17.8 billion cubic meters. The average depth of water is 34 meters (112 feet) and the visibility in the water can be reached to 7-9 meters (23-30 feet). According to the national water evaluation standard, the water, which can be drunk directly from the lake, is top ranking.

Qian Dao Lake is a beautiful lake. It has a total of 1,078 islets, each with its own formation. That is why the lake is named Qian Dao Hu (Thousand Islets Lake). Qian Dao Lake is not only grand like Taihu Lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, but also exquisite like West Lake in Hangzhou. Qian Dao Lake is beautifully featured with verdant hills, elegant water, queer caves, and odd stones.

Tea Plantation

A nice break from the lake is the Longjing tea plantation area. Hidden away in the southwest corner of the lake are some secluded walks and the village of Longjing itself.
Longjing actually means, "Dragon Well" and according to legend, the Dragon Well was discovered in about 230AD!! This fresh spring water encouraged the people of Hangzhou to develop their own quality tea, and thus Longjing tea was born.
Liuhe Pagoda
The Six Harmonies Pagoda stands south of the lake in an amazing situation which affords great views over the nearby Qiantang River. The Pagoda was built by a Wu King during the Song Dynasty who intended that the temple would illustrate his power to the evil spirits and scare away any floods or tidal waves from the nearby Qiandang River!
The Six Harmonies Pagoda is situated on the top of the Yuerun Mountain, is 59.89 meters tall and has eight floors. The views from the top are spectacular and ironically, many people now come here to watch the waterfalls nearby in the heavy rain period.

Liuhe Pagoda

The Six Harmonies Pagoda stands south of the lake in an amazing situation which affords great views over the nearby Qiantang River. The Pagoda was built by a Wu King during the Song Dynasty who intended that the temple would illustrate his power to the evil spirits and scare away any floods or tidal waves from the nearby Qiandang River!
The Six Harmonies Pagoda is situated on the top of the Yuerun Mountain, is 59.89 meters tall and has eight floors. The views from the top are spectacular and ironically, many people now come here to watch the waterfalls nearby in the heavy rain period.

Yue Fei Mausoleum

General Yue Fei (1103-1141) was a commander of the Song armies, who succeed against the invaders but was deceived by Qin Hui, a treacherous court official. More than 20 years after his death, his corpse was reburied tat the present site.

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal of China is the world's oldest and longest canal, far surpassing the next two grand canals of the world: Suez and Panama Canal.
The building of the canal began in 486 B.C. during the Wu Dynasty. It was extended during the Qi Dynasty, and later by Emperor Yangdi of Sui Dynasty during six years of furious construction from 605-610 AD
The canal is 1,795 Km (1,114 miles) long with 24 locks and some 60 bridges.
Qiantang River Bore
There are only a few river bores throughout the world and the biggest is here, south of Shanghai in east China, caused partly by the peculiar bottleneck shape of the Hangzhou Bay.

Bore is the rather curious name given to a unique tidal phenomenon. An exceptionally high tide, triggered by the pull of the moon, produces a wave so large that it travels upstream within the banks of the nearest river, sometimes for many miles. For more than 2000 years people have gathered to watch this extraordinary spectacle.

Qiantang River Bore

There are only a few river bores throughout the world and the biggest is here, south of Shanghai in east China, caused partly by the peculiar bottleneck shape of the Hangzhou Bay.

Bore is the rather curious name given to a unique tidal phenomenon. An exceptionally high tide, triggered by the pull of the moon, produces a wave so large that it travels upstream within the banks of the nearest river, sometimes for many miles. For more than 2000 years people have gathered to watch this extraordinary spectacle.