Recently, the Hangzhou Tourism Commission received an informal mail from the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to congratulate Hangzhou in being chosen as one of the world’s top-performing sample cities for tourism. The reason why Hangzhou has been chosen is the positive and prominent social and cultural influence its tourism has exerted on the city.
Other cities included are China’s Beijing and Tianjin as well as international metropolises such as Berlin, Copenhagen, Tokyo and Seoul.In the meantime, this December Hangzhou has been invited to the annual meeting of UNWTO in Kuala Lumpurto share the great practice of a ‘sample city for tourism’.
This is the first time that Hangzhou has tried to enter the appraisal of an international first-class tourism award and, in doing so, it has proudly earned its internationalization process another golden name card.
Attractions You must Visit in Hangzhou:
Since ancient times, for its great importance and in-depth beauty, so many words, poems and articles have been contributed to the West Lake. Its beauty is really beyond words and once you get there, you will see why.
Qiandao Lake is known for its 1078 islets scattered around the lake and “the purest water in the world.” Located inside Chun’an county, Hangzhou city, the lake is suitable for all kind of activities. Here, you can enjoy the beauty of Qiandao Lake on a low-altitude aircraft, cruise the lake in a quaint leisure ship, or cycle along its most beautiful greenway.
Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (Hangzhou Section) flows from Tangqi Ancient Town in Yuhang in the north to Qiantang River in the south. With a length of 39 kilometers, it is a UNESCO World Heritage. Along the river, there are a lot of attractions themed on Grand Canal culture and history of ancient streets. It’s recommended to take the water bus to tour the Grand Canal, enjoy Grand Canal delicacies and visit riverside museums.
As the sister lake of the West Lake, Xianghu Lake is more about natural beauty, but there are many cultural and historical treasures hidden in places like Xiasun Cultural Village andKuahuqiao Historic Relic Museum. Whilst boating on the lake, it is also a good opportunity to have a cup of the local tea.
Qiantang River, also known as Zhijang River, is the longest and largest river in Zhejiang Province. There are many things to see such as the Qiantang River tidal bore, Qiantang River Bridge and light shows on the banks of the river.
Xixi National Wetland Park is located on the west side of the city. With serene environment and crisscrossing waterways, the place is a natural wetland rarely seen in urban areas and is thus named “the kidney of Hangzhou.”
Lingyin Temple, also known as “Yunlin Temple (Temple of Clouds and Forests)”, lies at the foot of Lingyin Mountain in the west side of the West Lake. Featuring a serene environment, it is the oldest temple in Hangzhou and preserved inside are manyexquisite historical relics from different dynasties.
The popularity of Leifeng Pagoda mostly stems from the famous folklore “Legend of the White Snake”. Standing at the bank of the West Lake for a thousand years, the pagoda is the observer of the beautiful story of the White Snake and Xu Xian, but also the witness of the history of West Lake and Hangzhou.
Hefang Street is one of the most popular commercial streets in Hangzhou. The stores flanking the street are adapted from old buildings and house local specialties, old brands and tea houses. It is connected to Gaoyin Street and Southern Song Imperial Street and is the epitome of Hangzhou’s features.