With its former name Qiantang, Hangzhou has a history of more than 2200 years.

In the 13th century, Hangzhou was described as one of the most splendid places in the world by the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo. Since then, Hangzhou has been drawing the eyes of different people all over the world.

With the out bound’s invasion, the capital of Jin moved to the south which further prospered the economic and culture in this area. In 326, a sincere Hindu Buddhist Huili built Linyin Temple, which’s the earliest temple in southern Yangtze area. Now it has become one of the hottest spots for travelers.

The name of “Hangzhou” first appeared in 589 AD. With the opening of Grand Canal as long as 400 kilometers in 610 AD, it brought prosperity to cities around. Hangzhou was one of them. When it went to 713 AD, the poet Bai Juyi came as an official contributing a lot to the development of agriculture and the construction of West Lake. To commemorate Bai Juyi, the causeway built by him was called Bai Causeway with willows swaying all along its way. Besides, there are Su Causeway and Yang Causeway respectively represent Su Dongpo, a renowned poet in Northern Song Dynasty and Yang Mengying, an official in Ming Dynasty.

Hangzhou had been called the kingdom of Buddha during the time of Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms. Emperors in that time believed firmly in Buddhism. Now the temples, towers and Buddhist columns around West Lake were all built in that time.

In Southern Song Dynasty, Hangzhou reached its peek and became the national cultural center. There were a series of schools specializing in martial arts, medical care, calculation and history. At that time, the foreign trade prospered as well.

Few survived from the devastation during the 100 years after Opium War. With the depression of its economics, industry and commerce withered. Until 1949 as the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Hangzhou began to come to its spring and came by its renewal.


Now Hangzhou has developed into one of the most attractive tourist cities and known as one of The Most Livable Cites in China. People come here not only to appreciate the astonishing landscape and old buildings, but also the countless fairy tales and love stories and above all, to feel the leisure of life floating in the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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