Hangzhou is famous historical and cultural city in China, reputed as one of the 7 major ancient capitals in the Chinese history.

Hangzhou has a long history and it has been found that fifty thousand years ago the "Jiande people", one of the ancient homo sapiens, lived in this area. In the late Neolithic Period more than five thousand years ago, ancestors of Hangzhou people inhabited the area around the Liangzhu, the northern suburb of the city, and were engaged in primitive agriculture, livestock raising, fishing and hunting. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, the area was occupied as the territory of Wu, Yue and Chu successively. When Emperor Qin Shihuang defeated all the princes and unified China, this area was established as Qiantang County. The name was changed to Hangzhou during the reign of Emperor Sui Kaihuang and lasted to this day. Established as capital in the periods of the Five Dynasties and the Southern Song Dynasty, and lasting for more than 200 years, Hangzhou saw its height of power and splendor in its history, and was called the "first city in the Southeast China". During the period of Yuan Dynasty, Hangzhou was established as a town of strategic importance, with flourishing economy and beautiful scenery, being, in the words of the Italian traveler Marco Polo, the "most beautiful and luxurious city in the world". In the period of Ming and Qing Dynasties, Hangzhou was still leading the way in economic, social and cultural development in China.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hangzhou became the capital of Zhejiang Province, functioning as the political, economic and cultural center, as well as a transportation hub in the province. With the renowned sight-seeing spot, West Lake, being trimmed and harnessed on an unprecedented scale, Hangzhou has become a famous city for scenery tourism in the world.

 

 

Hangzhou 3 days 2 nights $199 /person

 

Day 01  Airport/Railway Station pickup.  Accommodation: Red Star hotel

Day 02  Accommodation: Red Star hotel

Day 03  Airport/Railway Station drop

 

Scenic spots: (Tickets and transportation provided)

::Scenic West Lake

 

 

West Lake, called so because it lies in the west of the city, is what the beauty of Hangzhou is all about. Skirted by mountains on three sides, and with the fourth side bordering the urban district, West Lake covers a water surface of 6 square km, yet it forms the centre of a garden resort that sprawls on a land of 49 square km, where the mountains, caves and vales are knitted together by a maze of winding brooks and streams, studded with well sequestered ponds, and graced with kiosks, chambers and pavilions. All told, there are 50 major scenic spots and 30 or so sites of key historical and cultural interest

::Scenic Soul’s Retreat Temple

 

 

Towering over the foot of the statuesque mountain of the same name, Lingyin (Soul's Retreat) Temple is a major ancient Buddhist sanctuary in the possession of a rich trove of cultural treasures. Construction of it began in 326, or the founding year of the Xianhe reign of the Eastern Jin. Enshrined with 330 stone sculptures wrought during the Five Dynasties and the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Feilai Peak (Peak that Appears out of Nowhere) in front of the temple figures prominently in classical Chinese history of plastic art.

::Scenic Tomb of General Yue Fei

 

 

The Tomb of General Yue Fei (1103-1142), a celebrated national hero who performed meritorious deeds in countering the invading Jin army during the Southern Song, lies at the northern side of the Qixialing Hill and on the northern shore of West Lake. A sitting statue of the general is found in the temple by the tomb.

::Scenic Six-Harmony Pagoda

 

 

Built in 970, and at 59.89 meters a vantage point for viewing the scenic Qiantang River, the brick-and-wood Liuhe (Six Harmonies) Pagoda is a masterpiece of classical Chinese architecture.