Hangzhou (háng zhōu 杭州) has a long history, and extensive cultural heritages. As early as in the New Stone Age, 4000to 5000years ago, its first inhabitants created the splendid Liangzhu Culture (liáng zhǔ wén huà 良渚文化), reputedly called the twilight of civilization. Hangzhou was called Qiantang (qián táng 钱塘) in ancient times. Over 2200 years has passed since it was designated as the seat of Qiantang County in the Qin Dynasty (qín cháo 秦朝). In 1129, Hangzhou was renamed Lin’an (lín 'ān 临安). In 1138, the Southern Song Dynasty (nán sòng 南宋) made Lin’an its capital, and since then it served as the capital in the following 140 years.
Hangzhou is a important city in China’s coastal areas which are developed and wealthy in the country. Machinery, electronics, chemical, engineering, light industry and textiles are the backbone of Hangzhou’s industry. Hangzhou is also a famous tourist city with its beautiful scenery. It shares with Suzhou the reputation of “the paradise of the world”.
 

The West Lake

Surrounded by graceful mountains on three sides, the West Lake (xī hú 西湖) has charming scenery and many cultural relics and historic sites. There are three stone pagodas in the middle of the lake. The main body of the pagoda is the shape of a ball and hollow inside. At night, candles are lit in the pagodas, and their reflections on the lake look like many small moons, hence the name “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon” (sān tán yìng yuè 三潭映月).
 

The Six-Harmony Pagoda
                   

Built in 970 AD, the Six-Harmony Pagoda (liù hé tǎ 六和塔), 59.89 m tall, stands by the Qiantang River (qián táng jiāng 钱塘江). Viewed form outside, it has 13 floors, however, inside the pagoda, it only has seven flooes.

The Temple of General Yue Fei

The Temple of General Yue Fei (yuè wáng miào 岳王庙) is dedicated to Yue Fei (yuè fēi 岳飞, 1127-1279AD). He led the Song troops and defeated the enemies many times, until he was betrayed by a treacherous official named Qin Hui (qín guì 秦桧). People of a later generation built the temple to commemorate Yue Fei. The four iron statues kneeling before the tomb of General Yue stand for Qin Hui and other there treacherous officials.

The Bore of the Qiantang River
The Bore of the Qiantang River (qián táng jiāng dà cháo 钱塘江大潮) is the most powerful river bore in the world. It occurs in Haiyan County (hǎi yán xiàn 海盐县) to the northeast of Hangzhou City (háng zhōu shì 杭州市). Every year from August 15 to 18 in the Lunar Calendar, the spectacular high tidal waves rush to the narrow estuary where the Qiantang River flows into the sea.
 

中国古都之杭州

      杭州历史悠久，文化遗产丰富。早在四五千年前的新石器时代，先民就创造了璀璨的被称为文明曙光的良渚文化。杭州古称钱唐。自秦时设钱唐县治以来，已有2200多年历史。南宋建炎三年（1129年），杭州升为临安府。绍兴八年（1138年），南宋正式定都临安，历时140余年。
杭州是中国沿海经济发达地区的重要城市之一，工业以机械、电子、化工、轻工、纺织为支柱。杭州也是著名的旅游城市，风景秀丽，与苏州共享“上有天堂，下有苏杭”的美誉。

西湖
      西湖三面环山，山水秀丽，景色迷人，文物古迹非常多。湖中有三座石塔，称为“三潭”，塔身为球形，中间是空心，夜晚塔中点上点蜡烛，烛光倒映在湖面上像一个个小月亮，人称“三潭印月”。

六和塔
      该塔建于970年，塔高59.89米，外观14层，塔内为7层，屹立为钱唐江边。

岳王庙
      岳王庙里供奉的是南宋英雄岳飞。他带领岳家军屡次打败敌人，但是因为奸臣秦桧却将他以莫须有的罪名害死。后人为了纪念他，修建了岳王庙。跪在岳王墓前的四个铁人像就是秦桧等几个奸臣。

钱唐江大潮
      钱唐江大潮是世界上最大的江海潮。它发生在杭州市东北的海盐县境内，每年农历八月十五至八月十八，在钱唐江入海口处形成特大潮水，非常壮观。