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Ancient History

Hangzhou, one of the seven ancient capitals in China, was once the political center for the Wuyue Kingdom and the Southern Song Dynasty. Originally known as Qian Tang, Hangzhou was established as a city in Sui Dynasty (589AD) with the name Hangzhou first appearing in history.

Hangzhou rose to prominence as the capital of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Forced to flee before the invading took place, the Imperial court under the rule of the pusillanimous Emperor Gaozong (1107-1187) moved its capital southwards from Kaifeng to Hangzhou. Hangzhou, known as Lin’an during that period, was designated as the capital in 1138 as well as the following 140 years.

Hangzhou officially became a city in 1927. The city was liberated on May 3, 1949, which marked a new historical chapter for it development.

Different Cultures

Liang Zhu Culture

Liang Zhu Culture is an important sect of ancient culture in the area of Tai Hu Lake, residing at the lower reach of Chang Jiang River. This prehistoric civilization dates back roughly 4000-5300 years and earned its name after the local Liang Zhu Town in Yu Hang city, thanks to the discovery by Mr. Shi Xin Geng from the original West Lake Museum in 1936.

Grand Canal Culture

Just like the Great Wall, the Grand Canal is widely recognized as one of the four ancient greatest construction projects in the world. It is a masterpiece of the Chinese people and a group of water conservancy experts in their efforts to utilize and change nature. China’s Grand Canal is the earliest and longest man-made waterway in the world. Tracing back 2400 years to the Spring and Autumn Period, Fu Chan, King of Wu Kingdom, ordered the canalization from Jiang Do to Mo Kou. The subsequent digging work kept on until the artificial Grand Canal running from Hangzhou to Beijing came into existence in 1293 A. D.

Religious Culture

“All land under heaven belongs to the emperor; all people on the land are subjects of the emperor”. This used to be the concept of imperial power in traditional Chinese culture. As everything depends on and serves the imperial power in traditional Chinese culture, so does every religion. Religion as an ideological system must gain the recognition of the monarch. This has been the first criterion of religions.

In addition to all these various cultures, Hangzhou also possesses Silk Culture, Traditional Chinese Medical Culture, Wu Yue Culture and Calligraphy and Seal Engraving.