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Ulink Travel Center
Home> China City Guide>Hangzhou
Providing full travelling information on the Paradise on Earth -- Hangzhou, the West Lake, the Grand Canal, Liuhe Pagoda and more...
Introduction
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, lies at latitude 120
east and longitude 30
The West Lake of Hangzhou city, is like a shining pearl inlaid on the vast land of China, holding high reputation for its beautiful scenery, a multitude of historical sites, brilliant cultural relics and a profusion of native products.
Hangzhou's silk products have found their way to all over the world ever since Tang Dynasty. So did the elegantly fragrant high quality Dragon Well tea, the ultimate product of all kinds of tea. Silk umbrella, Hangzhou fan, scissors, Chinese traditional medicaments, Chrysanthemum flower tea etc. are all noteworthy local products.
The present day Hangzhou administers two municipalities of Xiaoshan and Jiande, and 5 counties of Fuyang, Lin'an, Tonglu, Deqing and Yuhang. Its tourism has been extended from the West Lake area to another national scenic area of Fuchun River-Xin'an River Scenic Area, and to Tianmu Mountain Nature Reserve, to Mogan Mountain, to the Grand Canal and to the Qiantang River. Tourists from home and abroad are now exposed to a more splendid and more diversified landscape and historical sites in the south of the Yangtze River.
Lying on the west edge of Hangzhou city, the beautiful West Lake covers a total area of 6 square kilometres with an average depth of 1.5 metres. It is divided into 5 sections, namely the Outer Lake, North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. In ancient times, this place had been a shallow sea gulf before it evolved into a "residual" lake, a term used in geography. Embraced by mountainous hills on three sides, the Lake contains glittering blue water with Baidi and Sudi Causeways lying calmly in it. Three islets of Lesser Yingzhou, Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ruangong Dun tripartitely stand at the centre of the lake which is girdled by a number of parks with myriad blossoming flowers and dense trees to hide in vain picturesque pavilions and towers. Here, one's poetic sentiments are inspired. The surrounding hills home miraculously shaped peaks and serene forests and springs, providing scenes to supplement those of the Lake. There hide amidst these hills China's national art treasures as ancient engraved stone tablets, architecture and stone figure carvings.
The beauty of the West Lake lies in a lingering charm that survives the change of seasons in a year, of hours in a day, and of different weathers. Ancient people praised the Lake as a "home of hundreds of tourist sites where you get intoxicated all the time". To demonstrate its beauty, the Lake offers 10 most famous scenes as 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 at Flowers Harbour, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds. No wonder the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi compared the Lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra: "Ripping water shimmering on sunny day; Misty mountains wonder in the rain; Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi; the West Lake is always alluring". So the Lake is also known as Xizi Lake.
Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Part of the outer West Lake, the site is well landscaped, creating an impression of "an islet in a lake and a lade on an islet." There are three pagodas built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) rising from the lake, each with five openings. On moonlit night, the pagodas release shafts of can release shafts of candlelight on the night of the moon cake festival in mid-autumn, when the moon is full.
The hill is called Gu Shan in Chinese. Isolated in the lake, the 38-metre-high hill is a secluded spot. The imperial abode for rulers of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) on the hill now serves as a park and a museum. The site of the famous Xiling Seal -engravers' Society is also on the hill.
Standing on the Baoshi Hill by the West Lake, the 45.3-metre-tall landmark towers over the scenic spots in the lake, adding beauty to the scenery.
Set in the southern foot of the Qixia Hill near the lake, the temple was built in memory of General Yue Fei, a great patriot of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) who did much in driving back Kin invaders from the north. In the main hall of the temple is a statue of Yue Fei and the words"return the mountains and rivers to us", a reference to his patriotism and resistance to the Jurchen.In the two side halls are 120 tablets, engraved with Yue Fei's poems and eulogies to him written by noted figures. On the right side of the temple is the tomb of Yue Fei, which is simple but solemn in a style typical of the Southern Song Dynasty architectures.
Lingyin Temple (Temple of Inspired Seclusion)
Located at the foot of the Lingyin Hill northwest of the City, Temple of Inspired Seclusion (Lingyin Temple) was built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). The 33.6-metre-high main hall (Sakyamuni Hall) is a masterpiece of ancient buildings with one story and doubled eaves. The two nine-storied octagonal pagodas in front of the main hall and the two stone towers containing the Buddhist sutras in front of the Lokapala Hall were all built in 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). The elegant stone carvings are of high artistic value.
Liuhe Pagoda (Six Harmonies Pagoda)
The famous pagoda is located on the Qiantang River and was originally built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The 59.89-metre-tall seven-story pagoda, having a 13-story appearance, is uniquely constructed of a combination of brick and wood, with eaves that become progressively narrower towards the top. The pagoda commands an excellent view of the Qiantang River.Six Harmonies Pagoda named after the six codes of Buddhism. The pagoda also served as a lighthouse,and was supposed to have magical power to halt the tidal bore which thundered up the Qiantang River in mid-September every year.
On the 18th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, visitors will witness the spectacular Qiantang River Bore when a huge wall of water rushes in with a thunderous roar. The best site for the view is at Yanguan Town of Haining County.
Hangzhou has other scenic attractions including the Geling Hill, the Huanglong Cave, the Ziyun Cave, the Yuquan Spring, the Longjing Well, the Hupao Spring, the path called Nine Brooks and Eighteen Dales, the Three Caves on the Yanxia Mountain, the Wuyun Mountain and the Yunqi Hill.
Near Hangzhou are also tourist attractions of Yaolin Fairy Cave, Fuchun River, Xin'an River and the Qiaodao Lake.
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