Elegant Hangzhou

Many consider picturesque Hangzhou a Paradise on Earth. Thanks to its numerous mountains, hills, rivers and lakes, Hangzhou is characterized as a beautiful urban landscape with unique Eastern flavor. When Marco Polo arrived in Hangzhou in the 13th Century, he declared it “the most beautiful and elegant city in the world.” A still-popular Chinese saying goes, “Heaven is above, and below are Hangzhou and Suzhou.”

Hangzhou is a pristine model of a beautiful city. It not only shines thanks to millennia-old landscapes and artistic conceptions, but continues sparkling because of careful maintenance, broad civility and warm humanity. Since ancient times, Hangzhou has been referenced in numerous poems and paintings, fueling its continuous appeal. It is under a global spotlight today as host of the G20 Summit. Tourists from all over the world are streaming into the city for its slow life tempo and exquisite landscapes.

Hangzhou is perhaps best known for West Lake, a body of water that has been immortalized in art and literature countless times. Stunning West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides. It is divided into five sections by three causeways. Numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands can be found within the lake area. Peaks tremble as they are reflected off the ripples of the crystal water. Several causeways stretch across the lake and many islets dot the water, creating a natural panoramic scroll of landscapes. It’s hard to tire of West Lake.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, West Lake has attracted generations of writers with its beautiful views and profound cultural legacy. It is also one of the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers. Even after its treatment by poets, writers, painters, craftsmen and horticulturists, the body of water remains highly inspirational for today’s creative people. Writers across the millennia recorded much of West Lake’s history as well as anecdotes about ancient Hangzhou. Modern writers continue to be enamored by West Lake. In terms of poetry, Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Xu Zhimo and Hu Shi wrote a heavy volume about West Lake. A myth tells the tale of a white snake falling in love with a man. It’s no surprise that Marco Polo preferred Hangzhou to his hometown of Venice. To me, Hangzhou is blessed to be home to something as miraculous as West Lake.

To capture the essence of West Lake, one has to adopt the right methods and approaches. However, it is a daunting task for a poet to define the indescribable, fast-changing creative power of Heaven and Earth. In my opinion, West Lake is a song as much as a poem. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature. It is a great example of how generations of Hangzhou people have respected, protected and conversed with nature. West Lake is well deserving of being honored as World Cultural Heritage.

Since ancient times, Hangzhou has been widely acclaimed as the Buddhist hub of southeastern China thanks to a large number of Buddhist temples built by eminent monks from both home and abroad and profound Buddhist culture. Buddhism in Hangzhou was introduced by Indian monk Huili in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), grew in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), and flourished in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) wherein master monks emerged, academic research boomed, temples mushroomed, and influence penetrated the core of Chinese spirit. 

Of all the Buddhist temples in Hangzhou, Lingyin Temple is one of the most famous. Also known as Yunlin Temple, Lingyin has a history of nearly 1,700 years. It was one of the earliest houses of worship in Hangzhou, and is one of the 10 most famous Zen temples. Lingyin Temple is a must-visit for travelers interested in Chinese and Buddhist art and history. The temple, now esteemed as the most prestigious of Han-style Buddhism, is also a treasure trove of Buddhist art, quaint architecture, and exquisite carving, serving as a window of Buddhist culture. “A Buddhist World in Southeastern China” is another tagline Hangzhou has enjoyed.

Today’s Hangzhou is attempting to become an open, charming, exquisite and invigorating city where urban and rural people live together happily, with abundance and harmony. It is striding toward the goal of becoming an internationally renowned city. Hangzhou will continue to build a high-tech production base and a center for domestic and international tourism. It will continue fostering cultural creative industry, e-commerce, and financial services. It will enhance its overall strength, upgrade its eco-environment, and improve the life of every citizen. May the most beautiful and elegant city in the world continue shining brightly in the East.  

The author is a foreign correspondent for China Radio International.