Hangzhou

The Peak That Flew Here

The peak That Flew Here directly faces Souls' Retreat Temple. In about 326 in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), a Buddhist devotee came from India and insisted that this hill, 168 meters above sea level, resembled exactly one in his own country. He asked when it had flown to Hangzhou. To fortify his claim he said that the hill had a white monkey in a cave there. When recognized as The Peak That Flew Here. The hill is smaller and has more bizarre rocks and caves than those around it. It is also cut off from the other hills by a winding valley in which a stream flows. It is different too in having rocks of limestone rather than sand stone, as do the other hills.
One large cave in the hill can accommodate several hundred people. Continuing erosion has gradually produced cracks in the roof letting in daylight. On The Peak That Flew Here are over 280 ancient stone sculptures dating between the 10th and 14th centuries (Five Dynasties, Song and Yuan dynasties). These are important examples of ancient sculptural art south of the Yangtze River.

Pagoda of Six Harmonies

Pagoda of Six Harmonies is 60 meters high and was built of wood and bricks to subduing the bore in 1970. An octagon supported by 24 pillars, the pagoda has 13 upturned eaves, which become progressively narrower toward the top. Contributing to the pleasing contour of the structure, a spiral staircase leads to the top of the seven-storey pagoda, the ceiling of each storey carved and painted with figurines, flowers, birds and animals whose colors are fresh and refined. Viewed from a distance the pagoda appears to be layered, bright on the upper surface and dark underneath, a technique used in ancient Chinese architecture to alternate light and shade and clearly delineate the pagoda for an attractive long-distance view. A panoramic view of the Qiangtang River (totaling 410 kilometers and the drainage area being 42,000 square kilometers) and its bridge. If tourists are on any of the three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month), they will witness the spectacular Qiantang River Bore (one of the magnificent sights of Nature in China) when a huge wall of water rushes in with a thunderous roar. The roar of the high tides is answered by the beating of gongs and drums along the banks of the river, creating an occasion never to be forgotten.

Lingyin (Soul's Retreat) Temple

The name of Lingyin Temple or Soul's Retreat Temple comes naturally from its quiet surroundings. It is the largest and most resplendent temple in Hangzhou. Built during the Eastern Jin Dynasty some 1,600 years ago, the temple was ruined and rebuilt many times over the centuries. It has recently taken on a completely new look showing the original splendor. In the Hall of the Heavenly King seated in the center is a statue of Maitreya, the fat-bare-bellied Buddha with a smiling face. The walkway from this hall to the main hall, which contains the famous statue of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, is paved as though carpeted with green flagstones. The magnificent 19-meter-high statue is seated on a lotus flower amidst great red pillars and murals of a hundred cranes. Behind Sakyamuni is a colourful group-sculpture of 150 Buddhas representing an episode from the Buddhist scriptures. Tourists know Chinese appreciate browsing among the scrolls on which are copied poems and couplets. One narrated of the celebrated literates and calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty Su Dongpo (1073-1101)handling a case while he was Prefect of Hangzhou. The story tells about the owner of a fan shop who was charged with non-payment of a debt. The accused explained that he could not pay because he had not been able to sell his wares owing to continual rain and cold weather. Su Dongpo took up his brush and painted such attractive pictures on twenty of the shop-owner's fan that they sold immediately, enabling the man to pay his debt at once. This story, true or not historically, indicates how deeds performed in the people's interest are cherished.

West Lake

The West Lake covers an area of 6.78 square kilometers. The average depth is 2.27 meters with the deepest being 5 meters. Three sides of the lake are surrouned by verdant mountains and one side of it is properous city. The beauty of the lake lies in the harmouniou sconbination of humanistic and natural scenery.

An old Chinese saying declares, "There is heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Centuries later, Marco Polo called Hangzhou the most enchanting city in all the world. This is most evident in the West Lake area--the effective, if not geographic, center of Hangzhou.Su Shi, a poet from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), likened the lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra, for its allure.

Centering around the West Lake, the West Lake Scenic Area is a scenic area The West Lake is like a shining pearl inlaid on the vast land of China, reputed for beautiful scenery, a multitude of historical sites, brilliant cultural relics, and a profusion of native products. Legend has it that the West Lake was a heavenly jewel fallen to earth. Pragmatists insist that it is a mere lagoon on Hangzhou's  westernfringe. In any case, West Lake has inspired painters for centuries. In ancient times, this place had been an shallow sea gulf before it evolved into a residual lake. The Baidi and Sudi causeways provide access to many parts of the lake. Most of the best known tourist siteslie around and within the lake. With a circumference of 15km, the lake area itself is easy for the visitor to negotiate.

Leifeng Pagoda

The original tower was built in 975 AD, during the Yuan dynasty, at the order of Qian Hongchu, the King of Wuyue Kingdom. It was built to celebrate the birth of one of Qian Hongchu favorite concubines, Huangfei's son. The Leifeng Pagoda was an ctagonal, five-storeyed structure built of brick and wood and with a base built out of bricks.

Leifeng Pagoda was originally an octagonal, five-storied tower of brick and wood.

As for whether there was a mausoleum below, this was debated for years until finally radar was used to investigate. On March 11, 2001 the mausoleum was excavated and many treasures were found, most notably a gold and silver coated hair of the Buddha.

In October 1999, the provincial and municipal governments complied with the aspirations of the general public decided to rebuild Leifeng Pagoda anew to enhance the scenery of the lake. The body of the pagoda was be based on a steel structure and copper parts which was made up of 1400 tonnes of steel and 200 tonnes of copper. On 25 October 2002, the rebuilt Leifeng Pagoda opened, built above the ruins of the old one and with documents and exhibits on show for visitors. The current structure contains four sightseeing elevators, and modern features including air conditioners, televisions and speakers. At the entrance of the pagoda there are two autonomous elevators to carry visitors to the foot of the pagoda. The original base of the pagoda is kept in good condition as well as the treasures discovered in a undergroud chamber.

Leifeng Pagoda was one of the ten sights of the West Lake because of the White snake.

The Mausoleum of General Yue Fei

The Mausoleum of General Yue Fei has been demolished and renovated several times. The existing one was rebuilt in 1715 in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and comprehensively repaired in 1979.

Occupying an area of four acres, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei is located at the southern foot of Qixia Hill near the West Lake. Entering the gate with double eaves, a patio with towering trees on both sides is found. The Shrine of Remembrance, the main hall, is right in the center. A sculpture of general Yue is set in the middle of the hall. He is in a colorful embroidered round cushion cover. Looking solemn and mighty, he has a sword in his hand and looks as if he is ready to protect his country. Over the sculpture is tablet in the original handwriting of Yue Fei, which states returning our territory and keeping it integrated. At the back of the hall are large pictures depicting Yue Fei's life stories. On the floor of the hall is a picture depicting 373 cranes. These cranes are the symbols of his integrity and faithful mind.

To the west of the main hall is a yard. There are two corridors exhibiting poems written to commend Yue Fei. Striding over the bridge in the middle of the yard, there are the tombs of Yue Fei and his son's. Yue Fei's tomb is right in the center, and to its left is the tomb of his son Yue Yun who had been a competent assistant of his father on the battlefields. Stone horses, tigers, and sheep of the Ming Dynasty (1386 - 1644) decorate both sides of the enclosure. This tomb, which had been destroyed several times, was rebuilt and possesses the features of the Song Dynasty. Facing the tomb are four iron sculptures, including Qin Kuai the chief plotter, in kneeling position. Concerning these sculptures, people wanted them to atone for their crime forever.

Xitang

Xitang has a flat terrain and densely covered rivers as well as quiet and peaceful natural enviorenment. Nine river courses run through the township. dividing it into 8 blocks, while the numerous bridges connect the water regions into an integrated one. That is what the old saying goes, "Nine Dragons Holding the Pearl" and "Wind Coming from Eight Sides". In the ancient township, there are well-preserved architecture complex of Ming and Qing Dynasties, which are of high artistry and research value,. It has become the focus of attentions from both domestic and foreign specialists and scholars with research interest in ancient architectures. By an bird's eye view of the whole township, one can see water waves popling everywhere and houses beside the river being reflected in the water. In the morning, into one's eyesight are the cute bridges across the flowing streams, and the mist seeming as silk., as well as the houses with whitewashed walls standing on both riverbanks, with inverted reflections in water. At dusk, there is the setting sun shining slantwise, songs wafting from the fishing boats, lights glittering in the nightfall and fragrance of vine floating in the air.. The waterside Xitang Town, very unique among the ancient towns throughout the country. is well known for its numerous bridges, lanes and covered corridors. Rivers crisscross in the whole town and bridges are densely distributed there. Up to year 1998, 104 bridges had been built in the whole town.

Wuzhen

WUZHEN, a town with a history of 1200 years, is just 50 minutes' drive from Hangzhou City. This small town, with its black tiled, tung oilpainted timber framework houses, that contrast sharply with its white walls and gray flagging, brings to mind a Chinese ink and wash painting. The river running through the town was once the main means of transportation for local people, but these days is little used, other than for festive celebrations, when bulk cargo is shipped in.

There are some well preserved Ming and Qing dynasty buildings in the town, formerly the homes of those rich enough to escape me social turbulence of past centuries, and who chose Wuzhen as the place to build them or its out-of-the-way location and convenient transportation. There are several ancient villas and gardens in the town, of which the Zhu Family Hall is the most famous. In the town center is a small square with a high stage.The actors, mostly local people, perform Shaoxing, Peking and flowerdrum operas, all for tree. as members of the audience mill around the square, cominco and going as they please. A giant abacus, rather than a tablet. hangs over its gate. engraved on both sides with the couplet: "Man may have one thousand schemes, but God has just one disposition." Another noteworthy feature 1.000-year-old gingko tree.

Tongli

Tongli, which belongs to Wujiang in Jiangsu Province, is located along the bank of Tai Lake and to the east of ancient canal with eight lakes surrounded; it is 80 kilometers away from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in the east and 18 kilometers away from Suzhou in the north, adjacent to 318 national highway in the south and Suzhou - Jiaxing expressway in the west. The administrative district of Tongli town, after mergence of Tongli and Tuncun in October, 2001, covers a total area of 102.91 square kilometers and boasts a total population of 58,000 with 12 administrative villages, 1 aquatic product base and 6 community residents' committees affiliated.

Tongli, formerly known as Futu, changed its name as “Tongli ” in early Tang dynasty due to its luxuriousness, and the current name “Tongli” can be traced back to Song dynasty when people re-created the two characters of “fu ” and “tu ”.

China National Silk Museum

Situated at the southern bank of the West Lake, in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province, China National Silk Museum is the first state-level professional silk museum in China as well as the biggest silk museum throughout the world. It opened to the public in 1992 and since 2004 people can visit it for free.

The museum owns eight exhibition halls, including: the Preface Hall, Relics Hall, Folk-custom Hall, Dyeing and Weaving Hall and Modern Achievements Hall. The Preface Hall introduces the 5000-year-long history of Chinese silk culture.. This hall provides strong evidence for this fact and shows the history of the Silk Road through which silk was spread abroad. Relics Hall presents several preserved relics, which cover almost every dynasty of ancient China, and a number of pictures to explain Chinese traditional silk culture .It should be mentioned that tourists can appreciate a piece of fragmentary brocade that dates back 5,630 years. That is the earliest silk that has ever been discovered. Folk-custom Hall displays some prominent products created by outstanding weavers. Dyeing and Weaving Hall tells people how to dye and weave silk and the scientific theory of it. There are also weavers showing the whole process.

China National Silk Museum is a museum equipped with modern facilities and is dedicated to providing convenience for tourists. It offers free guide, free audio guide, free pamphlets on silk information, and even free wheelchairs for the disabled. People can also choose their favorite silk goods in the museum shop and relax in the teahouse.

The tea museum

This museum is the only one in China with the tea theme. The museum has no external walls but is enclosed by vegetation giving the unique impression that the halls and the tea in the museum depend upon each other. Additionally, one hundred distinctive Chinese characters relating to tea are enchased in the road to add color to your trip.

The museum is comprised of four groups of buildings which display the history and development of tea in China. The exhibition building is divided into six halls to show the history of growing and processing tea in China. They are the Hall of Tea History, the Kaleidoscope Hall, the Hall of Tea Properties, the Tea-friendship Hall, the Tea Sets Hall, and the Tea Customs Hall. Here, different halls illuminate different aspects of tea and its culture in China's long history. The Tea Customs Hall is recommended. Here visitors can discover the great impact of tea on the lives of various Chinese minority groups. The Kaleidoscope Hall features more than three hundred kinds of tea, including the six basic types of tea in China including some reprocessed teas. To learn more about these kinds of tea, take a digital earphone prepared by the museum.

Besides functioning as a museum, here is also a research institution which often holds conferences on tea and its culture. This work has received much attention from government as well as other sectors of society. In the museum, visitors also have opportunities to see a tea art performance and drink teas in a calm and quiet place.