Hangzhou: a true heaven on earth

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Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, is one of China’s most famous and most prosperous cities. It is a place that has cleverly combined its natural advantages with modern industry, in order to establish itself at the forefront of the leisure economy; it’s also a place where the people appreciate peace and happiness and have managed to incorporate them into their everyday lives.

Celebrated for its natural scenery and historic relics, Hangzhou has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities in China for over 1,000 years.

Historically Hangzhou, one of "China's seven ancient capitals", was the capital of the Southern Song Period, with many historical relics, including the sites of the Imperial City, Royal Ancestral Temple and Imperial Kiln.

These years saw Hangzhou's golden age of prosperity as it became the capital city of the Southern Song Dynasty. Local industry flourished and worship of Taoism and Buddhism peaked.