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). With an area of 16,596 square kilometers inhabited by a population of 6.08 million, it embraces six urban districts and seven suburban counties, namely, Yuhang, Xiaoshan, Fuyang, Tonglu, Lin'an, Jiande and Chun'an.

        It has a mild climate with distinct seasons. Its average annual temperature is 16.2 degree Centigrade, January being the coldest month (average temperature 3.6 degree Centigrade.) and July the hottest (average temperature 33.8 degree Centigrade.). Annual precipitation averages 1,452 mm. First built as Qiantang County in 221 B.C., during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.), Hangzhou did not take its present name until 589, during the Sui Dynasty (589-618), This ancient city began to thrive after the south section of the Grand Canal was excavated, also in the Sui period, and thenceforth served as a north-south communication and trade center. For 237 years since the beginning of the ninth century, it was alternately capital of the reign of 14 emperors of different dynasties. The Italian traveler, Marco Polo, who visited Hangzhou about 1280, described it as the most beautiful and magnificent city paradise in the world.

        Situated south of the Yangtze River, in a place crisscrossed by rivers and streams, Hangzhou is richly endowed with natural resources. It is renowned for scenic beauty, so much so that there is a Chinese saying, "As there is paradise in Heaven, so there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." Since the birth of the People's Republic in 1949, Hangzhou has made fairly quick progress in all fields of endeavor. Traditionally known as "Home of Silk and Satin", it has recorded particular results in developing its silk industry. The output of silk goods and brocades in 1979 was 10.5 times that of the early post-liberation days. With varieties and patterns having increased from a few scores to nearly l, 000 during the same period, they enjoy a ready market at home and sell well in some 140 foreign countries and regions. The scenic city is also supplier of the celebrated Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea, sandalwood fans, silk parasols, scissors and a number of other art-craft products, all of which have undergone new developments in recent years.

        Hangzhou earned its fame because of Xihu Lake (West Lake), so called for its lying on the western edge of the city proper. The lake is 5.6 square kilometers in area and has a circumference of about 12 kilometers. It has an average depth of l.8 meters, and its water surface measures 3.5 kilometers from north to south and 2.9 kilometers from east to west. The north-south Sudi Causeway and the east-west Baidi Causeway divide the lake into five sections: the Outer Lake, the Beili (North Inner) Lake, the Xili (West Inner) Lake, the Yuehu Lake and the Xiaonan (Mini South) Lake. Ten points of interest surround West Lake or a part of it: Melting Snow on Broken Bridge, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Twin Cloud-Piercing Peaks, Breeze-Caressed Lotus in Yeast Courtyard, Sudi Causeway in Spring Dawn, Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, Thunder Peak Pagoda in Sunset Glow, and Orioles Singing in willows.

        The traditional local industry has been silk production, and Hangzhou's silk products have found their way to many parts of the world ever since the Tang Dynasty. So did the elegantly fragrant high quality Long Jing tea. Traditional Chinese medicaments and chrysanthemum flower tea are among the noteworthy local products. Also crafted locally and known for the quality of material and high level of skill in their manufacture are Zhang Xiaoquan scissors, Wang Singji Fans, West Lake silk umbrellas, Du Jinshen brocade, Shao Zhiyan writing brushes, and Xiaoshan decorative lace and dancing shoes.