Hangzhou City View

Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province and a city of immense natural beauty and profound historical significance. One of the seven ancient capitals of China, Hangzhou was founded approximately 2,200 years ago, although remnants of the Liangzhu culture date back nearly 5,000 years.

Hangzhou is thought to have been the largest city in the world in the 13th and 14th centuries. No longer large by global standards - and actually small in comparison to many Chinese cities - Hangzhou remains a cradle of Chinese civilization and culture.

The seat of provincial government, and a leading tourist and business destination, Hangzhou's rich heritage is one of its greatest draws. Learn more about places of interest in this spectacular city.

Hangzhou is located on the plains of the Yangtze River in northern Zhejiang province of eastern China. The city's climate is subtropical monsoon with four distinct seasons. Summers are long and hot with average temperatures between 25° and 32° C; winters are cool and dry with no significant accumulation of snow. Temperatures in the coldest months range from 2° and 8°C. In early summer, the city experiences the Plum Rains of the Asian monsoon. Typhoons occasionally affect the coastal areas of Zhejiang in August and September but, as Hangzhou is inland, it generally experiences only strong winds and rain during these months.

West Lake

One of Hangzhou's greatest draws is West Lake, which is just to the southeast of The Dragon on the other side of Baoshi Hill. The site of many tourist attractions - and crisscrossed by picturesque causeways - the West Lake scenic area covers more than 50 square kilometers. Visitors are encouraged to take in the Lesser Yingzhou Isle and Mid-Lake Pavillion, which date back 500 years.