Birthplace of Longjing tea (Dragon Well tea) and home to ecommerce powerhouse Alibaba, the emerging tech hub and capital of eastern China’s Zhejiang province is also known for its beautiful landscapes and traditional silk industry.
Culture by the water
Situated in the city centre, Hangzhou’s West Lake is both a breathtakingly scenic spot and a cultural landmark. Famous for its influence on Chinese poetry, paintings and garden design, the Unesco World Heritage Site’s significance is such that it features on the back of the Rmb1 banknote. Locals like to cycle down the Su and Bai causeways, taking in the gorgeous views of the water, mountains, bridges and pagodas.