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Hangzhou, one of the seven ancient Chinese capitals, and now the capital of Zhejiang province, is the political, economic and cultural center of the province. Hangzhou is known for its beautiful scenery and has been called "Heaven on Earth." The area is thriving in the fields of science and technology, education and culture. The main industries include machinery manufacturing, textiles, chemicals and electronics. Its light industry is tea and silk production.
Located in the south Yangtze River Delta, Hangzhou is at the southern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It is located in a semitropical area with a warm and humid climate through all four seasons. The annual precipitation is 1,435 mm and the annual mean temperature is 16.2C (65F). The city boasts two of China's most famous scenic attractions-- West Lake and Fuchun River.
The population of Hangzhou is 6.21 million. Most inhabitants are Han nationality. As is common nearly everywhere in China, the people speak their local dialect, and Mandarin. Buddhism is the largest religion in Hangzhou, followed by Taoism and Christianity.
Hangzhou has a long history of more than fifty thousand years, when the "Jiande people," one of the ancient Homo sapiens, lived in the area. When Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China in 221BC, this area was called Qiantang County. The name was changed to Hangzhou during the reign of Emperor Kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty (581-618A.D). With the construction of the 1054-mile Grand Canal in the Sui Dynasty, Hangzhou became a major cultural, economic and political center. The city reached its height of power and splendor when it served as the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279A.D) for 153 years. During the Yuan Dynasty, Hangzhou had a flourishing economy and was a town of strategic importance. Marco Polo called it the "finest and most magnificent city in the world."
