Hangzhou: Living Poetry

An ancient city known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage, Hangzhou, the capital of China's Zhejiang province, has added a new distinction -- that of a vibrant cosmopolitan center. It is the home of Alibaba, an e-commerce company with nine major subsidiaries doing international trade whose recent IPO was the largest ever in the US. It has captured the world stage like no other Chinese company before and is bringing new world-wide interest to Hangzhou, a city long noted for its magical landscapes with gorgeous pagodas, pavilions, lush gardens and historic temples.

Business travelers heading to Alibaba for work will find that in Hangzhou they will have the opportunity to learn many facets of traditional Chinese culture as well as experience modern China. Leisure travelers in Hangzhou may also visit Alibaba to get a glimpse of how this giant establishment works.

Only 45 minutes from Shanghai on the Bullet Train, Hangzhou is in a pure natural landscape on the mystical and beautiful West Lake, where legends abound. It has inspired famous poets, scholars and artists since the 9th century. The lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is surrounded on three sides by undulating hills and boasts three islands and two causeways. Ten mystical sites highlighting the beauty of the lake have been named to provide visitors outstanding views.

Every night, from mid-March until the following January, a dazzling show called Impression West Lake, featuring light, music, dance and theater, is staged on the lake itself on a stage that is built just below the surface of the lake. The innovative performance, based on a beautiful love story and legend, is imaginatively produced by Zhang Yimou, who produced the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

And now West Lake is adding another legend to its mystique. It is said that Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, frequently visited West Lake to practice his English on tourists there and that the idea of Alibaba was born in the tea house on West Lake.
The Grand Canal, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world's oldest and longest canal. It begins at Hangzhou and ends at Beijing. There are eleven heritage sites on the Grand Canal in Hangzhou.

Fine porcelain, silk, and tea all have rich histories in Hangzhou with museums dedicated to how each has impacted civilization. The city has other unusual museums with workshops for visitors such as the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum; China Umbrella Museum and China Knife, Scissor and Swords Museum, and more.

The Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou is one of the world's most important temples with over 400 carvings cut into limestone. A number of internationally acclaimed festivals occur in Hangzhou including the Dragon Festival, an annual boat race said to be lucky for those who watch it. The nearby XiXi Wetland National Park features a network of crisscrossing streams and multiple waterways with ancient Persimmon trees and over 150 species of birds.

Hangzhou is one of the six oldest capitals in China. Offering 5000 years of rich culture, it became the city of Chinese civilization in 221 BC. When Marco Polo visited 800 years ago, he declared it the finest and most splendid city in the world. It is still considered by many to be that today.

And now Hangzhou is entering a new era, taking its place on the world stage as a unique entity, a place always known for its beauty and is home to the new commerce in China. It is the Top Destination for leisure and business in 2015.

To book a bespoke trip to Hangzhou, visit Ritz Tours at www.ritztours.com or Alexander + Roberts at www.alexanderroberts.com