Hangzhou is a sub-provincial city in China and the capital of Zhejiang province. As one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years, Hangzhou is also well-known for its beautiful natural scenery, with the West Lake  as the most noteworthy location. The city of Hangzhou was founded about 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty, it is listed as one of the Seven Ancient capitals of China, but the city wall was not constructed until the Sui Dynasty.

Tourism, attractions

Hangzhou is renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. It has been ranked as one of the ten most scenic cities in China. Although Hangzhou has been through many recent urban developments, it still retains its historical and cultural heritage. Today, tourism remains an important factor for Hangzhou's economy.
 One of Hangzhou's most popular sights is West Lake. The lake covers an area of 60 square kilometres and includes some of Hangzhou's most famous historic and scenic places. The area includes historical pagodas, cultural sites, as well as the natural beauty of the lake and hills.

• The oldest Buddhist temple in the city is believed to be Lingyin Si ("Soul's Retreat"), which, like most of the other landmarks in this city, has gone through numerous destruction and reconstruction cycles. The contemporary building was finished in 1910.
• Jingci Temple
• Liuhe Pagoda
• Baochu Pagoda
• Yue-Wang Miao near the West Lake was originally constructed in 1221 in memory of general Yue Fei, who lost his life due to political persecution.
• Xixi National Wetland Park
• Hangzhou Botanical Gardens
• Dreaming of the Tiger Spring
• Hangzhou Zoo
• Leifeng Pagoda