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Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province. The city is a little over 100 miles from Shanghai. It has a population of just over 2 million people. The city is also connected to Beijing by a canal that is almost 1100 miles long.

The sights of Hangzhou Picture Courtesy of Travel China Guide

Among its attractions is the West Lake area which covers about 21 square miles. Half a million foreign tourists and 20 million Chinese visit the lake each year.

In addition to the region's natural beauty, attractions like Lingyin Temple draw many visitors. Lingyin is about five miles from Hangzhou. The temple is almost 1700 years old. But the Hangzhou/West Lake area is best known for its gardens, bridges, islands, and fish ponds where visitors relax in one of China's most serene settings.

The combination of parks, temples, museums and sheer beauty will make Hangzhou a tourist center well into the future.