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Guide (English) >Hangzhou (English) |
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Hangzhou
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| Hangzhou |
| Hangzhou
is the capital of Zhejiang Province. It was first established as Qiantang
County during the Qin Dynasty in the 3rd century B.C. By the Five
Dynasties Period (10th century) it was the capital of Wu and Yue and
later became the temporary capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127
- 1279). As a world famous city of tourism, its chief attraction is
the West Lake and some 40 scenic spots scattered around this mountain
and lake area of 49 square kilometers. Among the most important ones
are the Monastery of Soul's Retreat, Yue Fei's Temple and the Pagoda
of Six harmonies. |
| The
West Lake |
The
West Lake is like a brilliant pearl embedded in the beautiful and
fertile shores of the East China Sea near the mouth of the Hangzhou
Bay.
Its name, the West Lake, originated during the Tang Dynasty from its
lying to the west of Qiantang Country. The lake is also named after
Xi Shi, a famous ancient beauty, because of the apt comparison made
between the two by the poet Su Dongpo. |
| The
Hupao Spring (Tiger - running Spring) |
| The
legend goes that two tigers ran there and made a hole where a spring
gushed out. The Longjing Tea and the Hupao Spring water are always
reputed as the "Two wonders of the West Lake". |
| The
Lingyin Monastery |
| The
Lingyin Monastery, or the Monastery of Soul's Retreat, is a famous
historical site of the West Lake. Here exists the Lingyin Monastery,
a famous ancient temple in China, in front of which there are Feilai
Peak, Cold Spring, Longhong Cave and precious rock cave arts and queer
and varied natural caves and gullies. |
| The
Moon Reflected in Three Pools |
| "There
are islands in the lake and there are lakes on the islands. "
The three stone towers were first built in Yuanyou 4th year (1089)
of the Song Dynasty, With the wonderful scenery of "one moon
in the sky having three reflections in the lake", it is one of
the wonderful scenes of the West Lake. |
| The
Qiantang River |
| The
Qiantang River is 410 kilometers in length and therefore the longest
river of Zhejiang Province. The Qiantang River spring tide is a marvelous
spectacle under heaven and only the Amazon River surging tide can
rival it in the world. |
| The
Tomb of Yue Fei |
| General
Yue Fei (1103 - 1142) was a national hero of the Southern Song Dynasty
who distinguished himself in battles against northern invaders. He
was sentenced to death on framed - up charges brought against him
by the capitulation holding power at court. On the left of the tomb
which was built in 1162 is a temple where the statue of the general
is enshrined. This is very place where many people often come and
pay respect to the heroic martyr. |
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Copyright©
Beijing Great Wall International Travel Agency,2005
All Rights Reserved
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