Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the capital and biggest city of Zhejiang province in China. It is where the Grand Canal ends and Hangzhou Bay begins. The city is well-known for its long history and beautiful West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hangzhou has a very old history, going back to 221 BC when it became a small local center. Later, it was an important city for two different kingdoms: the Wuyue Kingdom from 923 to 997 and the Southern Song dynasty from 1138 to 1276. Today, Hangzhou is a busy city with many big businesses and science activities. It is home to companies like Alibaba Group, Ant Group, DeepSeek, Geely, and NetEase. In science research, Hangzhou is among the top cities in the world.

History

See also: Timeline of Hangzhou

Early history

The neolithic culture of Hemudu lived in Yuyao, 100 km southeast of Hangzhou, very long ago. During this time, rice was first grown in southeast China. Excavations show that the jade-carving Liangzhu culture lived around the present city a long time ago. The first of Hangzhou's neighborhoods to appear in written records was Yuhang.

In 222 BC, the First Emperor of the Qin established Qiantang as a county. Hangzhou became the seat of the prefecture of Hang under the Sui in AD 589, and it took on the name Hangzhou. The city was at the southern end of China's Grand Canal.

Tang dynasty

In the Tang dynasty, poet Bai Juyi was governor of Hangzhou. He noticed that the farmland needed water from West Lake, but the old dyke had fallen down, drying out the lake. He built a stronger dyke with a dam to control the water, helping the local people. Bai Juyi often visited West Lake and planted trees along the dyke.

Song dynasty

In 1089, poet governor Su Shi built a long causeway across West Lake. Hangzhou became the capital of the Southern Song dynasty in 1132 after northern China was taken by the Jurchens. The city grew with new buildings, walls, and bridges. It was known as Lin'an and was a center of trade, culture, and government.

Hangzhou was a very large and busy city. Big fires happened several times, and the city built special buildings and towers to help stop and fight fires.

Yuan dynasty

Hangzhou was captured by the Mongol armies of Kublai Khan in 1276. The city stayed important for trade and government. Foreign visitors like Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta described Hangzhou as one of the greatest cities in the world.

Modern history

The city stayed an important port until the middle of the Ming dynasty, when its harbor slowly filled up. After the Qing dynasty, control of Hangzhou was contested until the Kuomintang took control. The city was occupied by Japan from 1937 to 1945. After 1949, Hangzhou came under Chinese Communist Party control. After reforms in 1978, Hangzhou grew very prosperous. In 2022, Hangzhou hosted the Asian Games.

Geography

Hangzhou is located in the northwest part of Zhejiang province, China. It is at the end of the Grand Canal of China, which goes all the way to Beijing, in the middle of the Yangtze River Delta. The city stretches west into the mountains of Anhui and east near the coast of Hangzhou Bay. In the middle of the city is West Lake, close to the Qiantang River.

The Qiantang River is the largest river in Zhejiang. Each year from August 15 to August 18, a big wave called the Qiantang Tide rolls up the river. It is known as the biggest wave in the world, reaching up to 12 meters (39 feet) high.

Climate

Hangzhou has a humid subtropical climate, meaning it has four different seasons. Summers are long, very hot, and humid. Winters are chilly, cloudy, and drier, sometimes with snow. The average temperature is about 17°C (62.6°F), with temperatures ranging from 5°C (41°F) in January to nearly 30°C (85°F) in July. The city gets about 1,438 mm (56.6 inches) of rain each year. Late summer can bring typhoon storms, which usually affect the southern coast of Zhejiang and bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hangzhou.

Demographics

Hangzhou is a big city in China with lots of people. In 2023, about 12.5 million people lived there, and most of them lived in the city areas. The area around Hangzhou, called the metropolitan area, has even more people—some say over 21 million!

The city is also known for being a healthy place to live. People in Hangzhou live about 83 years on average, which is one of the longest lifespans in China.

Religion

Hangzhou has been a special place for different religions for many years. Long ago, during the Qing dynasty, it was an important city for Islam in China, with several mosques. There were also Jewish people in Hangzhou a long time ago, and some of the earliest Catholic churches in China were built there.

Today, Hangzhou still has many important places for different religions. Near West Lake, you can find beautiful temples like Lingyin Temple, which is over 1,700 years old, and Yuefei Temple, built to honor a famous general. Other special spots include the Liuhe Pagoda and the Hupao Temple. Every year, a big event called the Qiantang Tide happens on the Qiantang River, which is the largest river in the area.

Politics

Structure

In 2019, Hangzhou started a special court. This court uses computer programs to help solve problems about online shopping and ideas that belong to people. People can join the court meetings online, and the computer system helps decide what is fair based on the facts.

Administrative divisions

Hangzhou is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in East China. It has 10 districts, 1 county-level city, and 2 counties. The city is big and has many people.

Over time, Hangzhou has changed its areas to help manage the growing city. New districts were added in different years.

Economy

Hangzhou's economy has grown fast since 1992. The city has many kinds of jobs, such as making things, growing food, and working with cloth. It is an important place for making goods and helping other cities along the coast of China. The city is also good at selling things online and using technology. In 2001, Hangzhou's economy was worth about 156.8 billion RMB. By 2018, it had grown to 1.3509 trillion RMB.

Hangzhou is home to many technology companies, such as Alibaba Group, NetEase, Ant Group, DeepSeek, Geely, and HikVision. In May 2024, Alibaba opened a large new office for its workers. The city has many jobs in areas like medicine, computers, big machines, car parts, home appliances, electronics, and food.

Tourism is also important to Hangzhou. In 2013, the city began a contest to find a tourism ambassador from around the world. In 2014, Liam Bates was chosen and became the first person from another country to hold this job for China.

Hangzhou has special areas for growing businesses, such as the Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, which began in 1993. These areas help companies make things like computers, medicine, and food. There is also a high-technology area where many big companies have offices.

Cityscape

Hangzhou has grown a lot, but it still keeps its old history and beautiful nature. Many people visit Hangzhou, which helps the city's economy. The city has many tall buildings.

One of Hangzhou's most famous places is West Lake, a special area recognized by the world. West Lake has many old and beautiful spots. Around the lake, there are old towers, hills, and tea fields, including Phoenix Mountain. Two special paths cross the lake.

Near the lake is a place called Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, known for its natural water and nearby tea farms. Parts of the Grand Canal run through Hangzhou. You can visit these places using the city's metro.

The West Lake Cultural Square, in the Xiacheng District, holds important buildings like the Zhejiang Natural History Museum and the Zhejiang Museum of Science and Technology. The Xixi National Wetland Park helps protect nature and has many birds, a temple, and old houses.

Qiandao Lake, a big lake made by people, has many islands. The Hangzhou Botanical Garden and the Hangzhou Zoo are both located in the Xihu District.

Culture

Hangzhou has its own special way of speaking, called the Hangzhou dialect. This is different from Mandarin, the main language most people in China use. The city has many museums, like the China National Silk Museum and the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, where you can learn about the area's history and culture.

Hangzhou is famous for its beautiful landscapes and stories about important people. The city is also known for its tasty food, like West Lake Vinegar Fish and Longjing tea, one of China's most famous teas. The local food is often sweet and uses fresh ingredients from nearby rivers.

An old saying about Hangzhou says, "There is Heaven above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below," showing how special the city is thought to be.

Transportation

Hangzhou has many ways to get around. You can ride buses, including special fast bus lines. There are also taxis, and the city is working on using electric taxis.

The city has a big subway system called the Hangzhou Metro, with many lines to help people travel quickly. You can also rent bikes or electric scooters to explore the city, and there are special bike paths for safety.

Hangzhou has major train stations where you can take fast trains to big cities like Shanghai and Beijing. The city also has an international airport with flights to many places around the world.

Education and research

See also: List of universities in China and Double First-Class Construction

Hangzhou is an important city for learning and science in China and Asia. It is a top place for research, ranking 6th in Asia-Oceania and 10th in the world. The city has many universities, including Zhejiang University, which is one of the best public research universities and part of the C9 League.

Many students live in Hangzhou, in areas like Xiasha and Xiaoheshan. Other universities in the city include China Academy of Art, China Jiliang University, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou Normal University, Westlake University, Zhejiang A&F University, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Zhejiang International Studies University, Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, and Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University.

The city also has well-known public high schools such as Hangzhou No. 2 High School, Hangzhou Xuejun High School, Hangzhou High School, Hangzhou No. 14 High School, Hangzhou No. 4 High School, High School Attached to Zhejiang University, The Affiliated High School to Hangzhou Normal University, and Hangzhou Foreign Language School.

Private high schools in Hangzhou include Dingwen Academy Hangzhou, Hangzhou Green Town Yuhua School, Hangzhou Chinese International School, Hangzhou International School and Hangzhou Japanese School (杭州日本人学校) (nihonjin gakkō).

International relations

Hangzhou works with cities all over the world.

Notable people of Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the home of famous people like Colin Huang. He helped start the company Temu.