Hangzhou was settled as early as 4,700 years ago, thus giving birth to the auroral Liangzhu Civilization. One of the seven ancient capitals and the key scenic tourism and historical culture cities in China, Hangzhou once was applauded as “the most splendid and luxurious city in the world" by Marco Polo, the Italian traveler in the 13th century.

Today, Hangzhou (the capital of Zhejiang province) has a population of 6.11 million. The "West Lake" provides the idyllic image of Hangzhou that most people leave with.

Most visitors to Hangzhou come from Shanghai, and the stark contrast between the two cities is incredible. Hangzhou can get very busy but the sheer size of the area around the West Lake means that it is always possible to find a bit of peace and quiet. The air and the water feel refreshingly clean too, and a day or two spent walking around the lake, the tea plantations and the surrounding hills should blow away any cobwebs, leaving you the feel of refreshed and recharged.