Above is heaven, below is Hangzhou

There is an old Chinese proverb that says that Hangzhou and Suzhou together make up Heaven on earth because of their natural beauty. Hangzhou is located 180 kilometers (112 miles) southwest of Shanghai. The city has a population of 6.5 million, of which 1,910,000 residents live in the six urban core districts.

The city became a major political center under the Southern Song, who made it their capital following a major regrouping in 1123. It was under the Song that the city grew into a metropolis, with multistoried wood buildings containing some of the highest population densities in the world at that time. Marco Polo said of the city in the late 13th century that it was "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world." The famous 13th century Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta said it was "the biggest city I have ever seen on the face of the earth.” The city’s famous West Lake is surrounded by Chinese landmarks that inspire much emotion for their historic significance. Hangzhou itself is a modern city with excellent hotels, shopping, and dining.