Hangzhou
The native residents of Hangzhou, like those of Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu, speak Hangzhou dialect, which is a Wu dialect. However, Wu Chinese varies throughout the area where it is spoken, hence, Hangzhou's dialect differs from regions in southern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu. As the official language defined by China's central government, Mandarin is the dominant spoken language.
Hangzhou is known for its historic relics and natural environment. Although Hangzhou has been through many recent urban developments, it still retains its historical and cultural heritage. Today, tourism remains an important factor for Hangzhou's economy. One of Hangzhou's most popular sights is West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The West Lake Cultural Landscape covers an area of 3,323 ha (8,210 acres) and includes some of Hangzhou's most notable historic and scenic places. Adjacent to the lake is an area which includes historical pagodas, cultural sites, as well as the natural environment of the lake and hills, including Phoenix Mountain. There are two causeways across the lake.
- Grand Canal, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The part of the Canal in Hangzhou was built in 610 AD. To visit the core historical sites, you may take metro Line 5 and get off at Grand Canal Station (大运河站) or Gongchenqiao East Station (拱宸桥东站).
- The world's largest tidal bore races up the Qiantang River through Hangzhou reaching up to 12 m (39 ft) in height.
- The residence of Hu Xueyan (胡雪岩故居) located on Yuanbao Street was built in 1872 by Hu Xueyan, a native of Anhui, a very successful businessman. It was restored and opened to the public in 2001.
- Xixi National Wetland Park. Established with the aim of preserving the wetland ecological system, it covers an area of about 10 km2 (4 sq mi). Fish ponds and reed beds have been restored and it is home to many types of birds. It holds a temple and several historic rural houses.
- Hangzhou Botanical Garden
- Hangzhou Zoo
- Old China Street on He Fang Street (He Fang Jie or Qing He Fang，literally 'neighbourhood along the river'), which offers various souvenirs.
- Jade Springs (Yu Quan)
- Yuefei Temple A temple constructed during the Song Dynasty in 1221 to commemorate Yue Fei, which is located near the West Lake.
- West Lake Cultural Square is one of the tallest buildings in the city centre (about 160 m (520 ft)) and houses the Zhejiang Natural History Museum and Zhejiang Museum of Science and Technology.
- Qiandao Lake is a man-made lake with the largest number of islands in Chun'an County, an administrative area of Hangzhou government. These islands are different in size and shape, and have distinctive scene.
- Longjing tea fields, west of the lake.[67]
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The Mount Mogan Green [II]
As we descended from the villa, we followed the true residents of Mount Mogan, who kindly led us to the waterfall. That was years before we knew about iNaturalist – a time where a beetle is a beetle (to us), with no name of its species. And then, the moment came. I knew Jon is
The Mount Mogan Green [I]
What do you do when your city is under shelter-in-place order? Grow emergency bean sprouts?Attempt to draw?Spread positivity in the neighbourhood? Been there, done that? How about, jumping into the past? Click onto a random folder of old travel images and let your memory run, backwards. It was the summer of 2015. Jon came to
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