Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the beautiful capital of Zhejiang province and its political, economic and cultural center. Founded over 2000 years ago, Hangzhou was the capital of the Southern Song dynasty from 1127-1276, and is estimated to have been the world’s largest city at the time. Scholars, philosophers, politicians and artists flocked to this cosmopolitan center, endowing Hangzhou with a rich cultural heritage. To this day, Hangzhou remains one of China’s most celebrated historical cities and tourist destinations.

The city, the southern terminus of the Grand Canal, is located on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River in southeast China, a superior position in the Yangtze Delta and only 180 kilometers from Shanghai. Hangzhou’s climate is comfortable year-round. The average annual temperature is 17 °C (62 °F), with monthly averages ranging from 4 °C (40 °F) in January to 28 °C (83 °F) in July.

Living in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is an extremely comfortable and pleasant place for foreigners to live. As the local economy relies heavily on tourism, the city is easy to get around, home comforts are widely available and there’s always something to do and see. 

Transport

Hangzhou is well served by an extensive public bus and trolleybus network and an excellent citywide bike rental system. A brand new subway system is due to open at the end of the year. Hangzhou is also ideally located to make excursions to other parts of China. Shanghai is less than an hour away by high-speed train and the surrounding area is home to some of China’s most beautiful scenery. 

Shopping

Hangzhou is a shopper’s paradise having everything from high-end brand name stores to lively markets selling at bargain prices. Qing He Fang Street is a good place to pick up souvenirs such as silk, fans or tea. It is one of the most famous and historic streets in the city and reflects many of the features of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). A number of international supermarket chains including Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Metro, Auchan and Tesco stock imported products. 

Food

As with any major city in China, restaurants serving all kinds of food, both Chinese and international, are plentiful in Hangzhou. However, because Hangzhou is a popular tourist destination, it is a particularly good place to sample regional cuisines from across China and the quality of international restaurants is higher than in cities of comparable size. The local cuisine is noted for its elaborate preparation, sophisticated cooking and refreshing flavors. Local specialties include Beggar's Chicken (a chicken baked in clay), West Lake Fish in Sweet and Sour Sauce (vinegar coated fish fresh caught from the lake), Dongpo Pork (braised pork) and Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea. 

Recreation 

Hangzhou is known as one of China’s most beautiful and culturally rich cities. The most celebrated attraction is undoubtedly the West Lake, which has inspired China’s finest poets for centuries. Surrounded by mountains, the serene 6km2 lake is noted for its scenic beauty which blends naturally with famous historical and cultural sites like temples and pagodas. 

A number of national museums can be found in Hangzhou which are representative of Chinese culture. Fine examples are the National Silk Museum and Tea Museum. Along with the other museums in Hangzhou, they provide a fascinating insight into the history of Chinese traditional products.

At night Hangzhou has much to offer, from traditional teahouses to hip bars. Choosing one overlooking the West Lake for a pleasant chat over a cup of tea is sure to make you feel relaxed and refreshed. 

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