Hangzhou is a sub-provincial city located in the Yangtze River Delta in the People’s Republic of China, and the capital of Zhejiang province. Located 180 kilometres (112 mi) southwest of Shanghai, as of 2004 the entire Hangzhou Region or Prefecture-level city had a registered population of 6.5 million people.
The urban agglomeration of the Hangzhou metropolitan area has a resident population of 3,931,900 as of 2003, of which 2,636,700 are legal residents. There are 1,910,000 residents in the six urban core districts.
As one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years, Hangzhou is also well-known for its beautiful natural scenery, with the West Lake as the most noteworthy location.
Hangzhou Region or prefecture-level city contains the Hangzhou metropolitan area (eight districts), 3 metropolitan counties, and 2 ordinary counties. The central six urban districts occupy 682 km² (263.4 mi²) and have 1,910,000 people. The two suburban districts occupy 2,642 km² (1020 mi²) and have 1,950,000 people.
Hangzhou’s climate is Humid Subtropical with four distinctive seasons. The average annual temperature in Hangzhou is 16.2°C (61.2°F). The summers are hot and humid, while winters are relatively cool and dry. In July, the hottest month, the average temperature is approximately 33.8°C (92.8°F); in January the average temperature is about 3.6°C (38.5°F). Hangzhou receives an average annual rainfall of 1450 mm. In mid-summer, Hangzhou, along with other cities in Zhejiang province, suffer typhoon storms, but typhoons seldom strike it directly. Generally they make land along the southern coast of Zhejiang, and affect Hangzhou with strong winds and stormy rains.
History
The city of Hangzhou was founded by the Qin dynasty, more than 2,200 years back and recognized as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China.
During the 10th century, Hangzhou became the capital of the Wuyue kingdom. Named Xifu at that time, it became a major cultural center, boasting fascinating Buddhist temple architecture. It also had diplomatic connections with neighboring countries.
The Sui dynasty built the Grand Canal which became a major transport link between South and North China. As the southern terminus of this waterway (the northern terminus became Beijing), Huangzhou’s importance increased manifold.
The creation of the West Lake on the western edge of Hangzhou during the Tang period added to Huangzhou’s importance.
From the early 12th century onwards, Hangzhou, then called Lin’an, reached the peak of its prosperity as the capital of the Southern Song dynasty. The seat of the Chinese government, it drew famous intellectuals from all over China. When the Venetian explorer Marco Polo visited Hangzhou, he called the city “the finest and the noblest in the world.” With a population of more than one million by then, Hangzhou was considered the world’s largest city for quite some time.
The Southern Song dynasty fell with the Mongol invasion but Huangzhou continued to flourish due to its naval trade and commerce.
Hangzhou was a major port in China for several years.But during the middle Ming dynasty, its fame as a port area declined as its harbor silted up, gradually.
In 1895 under the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Huangzhou was opened to foreigners.
For about two decades since 1928 Huangzhou was ruled by The Republic of China government led by Kuomintang.
When the People’s Liberation Army entered Huangzhou on May 3, 1949, the city of Huangzhou came under the control of the Communists. Huangzhou with its famous West Lake is now a major tourist attraction of the People’s Republic of China.
Gongshu District ,Shangcheng District ,Xiacheng District ,Jianggan District ,Xihu District ,
Binjiang District ,Yuhang District ,Xiaoshan District ,Lin’an ,Fuyang ,Jiande ,Tonglu County and Chun’an County.
City Tree :Cinnamomum camphora
City Flower : Sweet Osmanthus
