Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China, at the southern end of the Grand Canal near the mouth of the Qiantang River. Its West Lake, framed by hills, causeways and temples, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.

The Grand Canal reached the city in the early 7th century, linking it with the north of China. Su Dongpo, the poet who served as governor in the 11th century, built a causeway across the lake from the mud he dredged out of it, and the braised pork dish named after him is still served in the city. In 1138 the Southern Song dynasty made Hangzhou its capital under the name Lin'an, and it grew into a city of silk workshops, markets and teahouses. Marco Polo described it as Quinsai and praised its canals and bridges.

Alibaba, the online shopping and cloud computing company, was founded in Hangzhou by Jack Ma and keeps its head office in the city. Geely, also based in Hangzhou, makes cars under its own name and owns Volvo Cars. Wahaha, a drinks company of the city, makes bottled water and a sweet milk drink sold across China. Longjing, or Dragon Well, a green tea grown on the hills west of the lake, is roasted by hand in iron woks.

Lingyin Temple, founded in the 4th century, has Buddhist figures carved into the limestone cliffs of the peak facing it. Leifeng Pagoda, rebuilt in the early 2000s on its old site, appears in the legend of the White Snake. The Liuhe Pagoda, an octagonal tower of the Song dynasty, stands above the river where crowds gather in autumn to watch the tidal bore.