Hangzhou

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, is called a paradise on Earth. It has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years. Seven centuries ago, Marco Polo described this place as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world" when he made a trip to the city. Hangzhou's claim to paradise has always been centered on its famous West Lake, surrounded on three sides by hills. The islets, temples, gardens and arched bridges of this small lake have constituted a supreme example of lakeside beauty in China.