Hangzhou:Ancient yet Modern City

By staff reporter JIANG WANDI

SUMMER in Hangzhou， the capital of East Chinas Zhejiang Province， is exceptionally hot and humid， owing to its geographical location and many lakes and crisscrossing rivers. The city feels even hotter this year due to the comprehensive preparations for the G20 Summit held in early September. Roads were built， causing dust to swirl through some communities. Public facilities and tourist sights were also renovated and repainted， and security was inevitably tightened.

Following the 2015 G20 Summit in Antalya， a Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast， China was chosen to host this years summit in accordance with the rotation system. China has experience in organizing large-scale international events， including two APEC economic leaders meetings， the 2008 Summer Olympic Games， and the 2010 World Expo. But why was Hangzhou chosen instead of the more cosmopolitan Beijing or Shanghai？ Upon asking a random selection of locals， some attributed it to Hangzhous strong economic performance， good infrastructure， and abundant cultural resources. But a clear consensus emerged that the citys natural beauty is its ultimate charm.

Landscape of Nature and Culture

Traveling around Chinas different cities and countryside， you may find that Hangzhou is the best place to meet photographers， professional or ama-teur， busy snapping almost everything they encounter. A city of hills and lakes， this unique topographic feature endows Hangzhou with a picturesque landscape. Apart from various tourist options， many wetlands that lie near the city or in adjacent areas are ideal sites for a short escape from the hustle and bustle of larger cities.

Lovers of green tea will find Hangzhou particularly rewarding. West Lake Longjing is the No.1 brand of green tea in China， well known for its delicate fragrance and crystal green color. Thanks to its natural climate， Hangzhou boasts a number of tea-planting areas， the most famous of which used to send tea directly to the royal rulers of ancient China. These places are now tourist spots， where visitors may taste and purchase tea， and even pick tea leaves in the harvest season. Since West Lake Longjing is grown in a limited quantity every year and the demand is huge， prices are sky-high.

Hangzhou is a suitable place to learn more about Chinese history. The city was built over 2，200 years ago and was one of the seven ancient capitals of China， leaving behind a vast legacy of cultural heritage， both tangible and intangible. Over 100 museums sprawl across the city， including the large Zhejiang Provincial Museum and Hangzhou Museum. There are also numerous themed museums in small neighborhoods， discreetly tucked away from mainstream tourists. These gems can be unearthed by the more earnest travelers.

Since Hangzhou is known as the land of tea and silk， the tea and silk museums are big draws. Equally famous worldwide is the richly decorative Hangzhou brocade made from colored silks. The secrets of the Chinese technique eventually spread West via the ancient Silk Road. Even today， brocade is presented as a state gift. It was given to former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush by their Chinese counterparts.

Visiting the porcelain museum is also a must in Hangzhou. The Southern Song Dynasty （1127-1279） relocated the capital to Hangzhou after withdrawing from northern China. But the royal and noble families maintained an extravagant lifestyle. Consequently， elegant porcelain wares were in great demand. The history of ceramic production can be found in the Southern Song Royal Kiln Museum.

There are also museums dedicated to Hangzhous history as a manufacturing base for tools and weapons. The museum of knives， scissors and swords testifies to Hangzhous long history as a manufacturing base for these tools and weapons. In ancient times these locally-made swords were favorites of generals. Nowadays， the Zhang Xiaoquan brand of scissors is still chosen as a gift or souvenir by Chinese tourists. There is also a museum of Hangzhou cuisine reflecting its status as one of the eight Chinese cuisines according to traditional Chinese gastronomy.

Paying a visit to nearly every museum in Hangzhou is free of charge. They are closed every Monday.

Comfort and Convenience

China is a large country where there is still a prominent economic disparity between the more developed east and less developed west. Income diversity in different regions remains stark. Hangzhou and its province of Zhejiang are traditionally affluent， 2015 statistics showing a per capita GDP of RMB 112，268 （US $18，025）， much higher than the national average of RMB 49，351 （US $7，924）. This prosperous economy has given many locals a comfortable life. Statistics show that service sec- tors contributed 74.6 percent to Hangzhous GDP growth in 2015.

Hangzhou is a convenient travel destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. There is a multitude of international hotels and cozy boutique inns， with prices that cater to both budget and luxury travelers， and everything in between.

The chance to sample local delicacies also helps draw the crowds. While some luxurious restaurants provide formal and banquet feasts， some small streets flanked by eateries are ideal places for foodies. The wide range of food choices on offer and reasonable prices appeal to both locals and visitors.

Hangzhou is also a transport hub in China. The nearby Xiaoshan International Airport， about a 30-minute drive from downtown， has direct flights to several foreign cities including Amsterdam， Doha， and Seoul as well as a number of domestic flights to cities such as Beijing. Hangzhous two train stations also link the city to every region in China. Within the city itself one can take the metro， taxi， or bus for a reasonable price. Many places also offer bicycle rentals free for the first hour and at a minimal cost thereafter.

Open and Innovative

People in Hangzhou are proud of the citys spirit– open and creative. The Museum of the West Lake International Expo， about the event itself held from June 6 to October 10， 1929 that attracted over 20 million visitors from home and abroad， showcases the fledgling industry of the time and the international attention it garnered.

Nowadays， Hangzhou has become almost synonymous with mega-companies such as e-commerce giant Alibaba， leading Chinese carmaker Geely Auto that owns Volvo， and thousands of smaller， vibrant enterprises headquartered in the city. Recently， Hangzhou has developed into a regular venue for national and international conferences， exhibitions and fairs. The annual international animation fair is an industrial gala. Locals tend to know the citys past and present well. They often speak of the Italian businessman and traveler Marco Polo， who visited China in the 13th century， spending many years there. Upon returning home he wrote， “It is without doubt that the finest and most splendid city in the world is Hangzhou.”