Zhejiang 浙江

West Lake, Hangzhou

West Lake, Hangzhou By Fang Guo. Sourced via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License.

Zhèjiang (浙江) is a province in the east of China. It is one of the most beautiful places as well as attractive tourist spot in China. It is situated around the Qiántáng Jiāng which passes through Hángzhōu; the capital city of this province. The short name for this province is “Zhè”. It is surrounded by Jiāngsū;, Shànghǎi;, Ānhuī; and Fujian province. The East China Sea is located to the east of it.

Actually, Zhèjiāng has a long history through which one can know the ins and outs of this civilization. In short, it can be said that a unified Chinese empire was established in 221 BC during Qín Cháo and Zhèjiāng was then under its control. Though the unified Chinese state controlled it, there is a lack of control over the southern part of this province. As a result, Yue people started to inhabit there with own politics and cultures. With the passage of time, a kingdom was established there named Dōng Wú). Through different dynasties, Zhèjiāng started to enhance its prosperity and beauty. During the Yuan dynasty, Hangzhou was the finest and noblest city in the world, according to Marco Polo, who spent some 10 years living there. A special kind of ceramic was produced during the Southern Song and Yuan dynasty which made this province most popular in the world. It was also a connector between Shanghai, the national economic center, and wealthy Southern China. Now, it is one of the richest provinces in China.

Zhèjiāng is mainly mountainous area. Mountain covers about 70 percent of it. Tourists visit this place very often for its natural beauty. Among the mountains, Tiānmùshān, Mogan and Yandang are notable. Qiántáng Jiāng and the Ōujiāng are the two main rivers. Besides, the climate of this province is mainly subtropical type. Summer is too long and hot whereas winter is very short and cold. Thousands of islands lie in Zhèjiāng which makes this area most attractive to the tourists. Among the three main Islands of China, Zhoushan Island is exceptional which is also located in this province. The average temperature fluctuates from 15 to 19°C.

Hángzhōu is the main city of this province which is also the capital of Zhèjiāng. It is located in Yangtze River Delta region and renowned for its beautiful natural scenery with the west lake (a famous location). Another important city is Zhoushan which is located at the mouth of Hángzhōu Bay. Besides, Níngbō, Jiāxīng, Wēnzhōu etc are also some important cities.

There are so many tourist spots available here. Among these, Mount Putuo is famous for Chinese Buddishm and one of the four sacred mountains. West Lake is another important place as well as tourist spot in Zhèjiāng province which contains fresh enjoyable water. Qiandao Lake is also famous tourist attraction though it is man-made. Its drinkable and fresh water is notable. It includes many nice islands. If anyone visits this place, he can remind his childhood enjoying its beauty.

Tourist Attractions

Below is a list of tourist attractions in Zhejiang:

雁蕩山 - 方洞景區 by Kevin. Sourced via Flickr.

(温州市雁荡山风景名胜区; yàn dàng shān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(舟山市普陀山风景名胜区; pǔtuó shān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

<a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=3156709301&amp;posted=1&amp;size=large">View large on black</a> by Fang Guo. Sourced via Flickr.

(杭州市西湖风景名胜区; Hángzhōu xīhú fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州乐清市中雁荡山风景名胜区; wēn zhōu lè;yuè qīng shì zhōng yàn dàng shān fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): 雁荡山白芙线旁. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(平阳县南雁荡山风景名胜区; xiàn píngyáng nán yàn dàng shān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(海宁盐官观潮景区; hǎiníng yán guān guān cháo jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波天下玉苑景区; níngbō tiānxià yù yuàn jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(乐清市中雁荡山风景区; lèqīng shì zhōng yàn dàng shān fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(瑶琳仙境旅游区; yáo lín xiānjìng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波松兰山海滨旅游度假区; níngbō sōng Lán Shān hǎibīn lǚyóu dùjià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波滕头生态旅游示范区; níngbō Téng Tóu shēngtài lǚyóu shìfàn qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州双溪竹海漂流景区; Hángzhōu shuāng xī zhú hǎi piāoliú jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(金华市双龙风景旅游区; jīnhuáshì shuāng lóng fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

HDR by Matthew Yeo. Sourced via Flickr.

(嘉善县西塘古镇景区; jiāshàn xiàn Xītáng gǔzhèn jǐngqū): This is an ancient town in China dating to the Spring and Autumn Period (8th to 5th century BC). It is know for its traditional building styles, water ways and bridges. This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(天台山风景名胜区; tiāntái shān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴鲁迅故里; shàoxīng lǔxùn gù lǐ): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(临海江南长城旅游区; línhǎi jiāngnánchángchéng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(嘉兴南湖风景名胜区; jiāxīng nán hú fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(玉环县大鹿岛景区; xiàn yùhuán dàlù dǎo jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(天目山风景名胜区; tiānmù shān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(临安大明山风景旅游区; línān dà míng shān fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(仙都风景名胜区; xiān dōu fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州东方文化园; Hángzhōu dōngfāngwénhuà yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(横店集团八面山影视城; héngdiànjítuán bā miàn shān yǐngshì chéng): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(兰溪诸葛八卦村; lánxī zhūgé bāguà cūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(淳安县千岛湖风景区; chúnān xiàn qiān dǎo hú fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(诸暨五泄旅游区; zhūjì wǔ xiè lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(溪口风景区; xī kǒufēng jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(桐庐垂云通天河景区; tónglú chuí yún tōng tiān hé jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(舟山桃花岛风景旅游区; zhōushān táohuā dǎo fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(建德大慈岩风景区; jiàndé dà cí yán fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波中国渔村景区; níngbō Zhōngguó yú cūn jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波五龙潭风景名胜区; níngbō wǔ lóng tán fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宋城; Sòng Chéng): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(衢州龙游石窟旅游区; Qúzhōu lóngyóu shí kū lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(安吉竹子博览园; ānjí zhúzi bólǎn yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州未来世界; Hángzhōu wèilái shìjiè): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波梁祝文化公园; níngbō Liáng Zhù wénhuà gōngyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by Jakob Montrasio. Sourced via Flickr.

(乌镇古镇景区; wū zhèn gǔzhèn jǐngqū): This is an ancient and traditional Chinese town typical of the Yangxi river area. This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(浙西大峡谷; Zhèxī Dàxiágǔ): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州乐园; Hángzhōu lèyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州野生动物世界; Hángzhōu yěshēngdòngwù shìjiè): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波丹山赤水风景区; níngbō dān shān chìshuǐ fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴会稽山风景区; shàoxīng huì jī shān fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(新昌大佛寺; xīnchāng dà fó sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖州南浔旅游区; húzhōu nán xún lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州富春桃源风景区; Hángzhōu fù chūn táoyuán fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴兰亭风景区; shàoxīng Lán Tíng fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖州太湖旅游度假区; húzhōu tàihú lǚyóu dùjià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(义乌中国国际商贸城购物旅游区; Yìwū Zhōngguó guójì shāngmào chéng gòuwù lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州江心屿旅游区; wēnzhōu Jiāng Xīnyǔ lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(浦江仙华山风景名胜区; pǔjiāng xiān 华shān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴柯岩风景区; shàoxīng Kē Yán fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温岭长屿硐天; wēnlǐng cháng yǔ dǒng tiān): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波雅戈尔动物园; níngbō yāgěěr dòngwùyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(文成县铜铃山国家森林公园; wénchéng xiàn tóng líng shān guójiā sēnlín gōngyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(江山江郎山风景名胜区; jiāngshān Jiāng Lángshān fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州雷峰塔景区; Hángzhōu léifēngtǎ jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波天一阁博物馆; níngbō tiān yī gé bówùguǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(仙居风景名胜区; xiānjū fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by Chen Zhao. Sourced via Flickr.

(楠溪江风景名胜区; nán xī jiāng fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): About 27km north of Wenzhou city. This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州瑶溪风景名胜区; wēn zhōu yáo qī fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州市动物园; wēn zhōu shì dòng wù yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州市泽雅风景名胜区; wēn zhōu shì zé yǎ fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州乐园; wēn zhōu lè yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(武义郭洞风景区; wǔ yì guō dòng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(兰溪六洞山风景名胜区; lán qī liù dòng shān fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波镇海招宝山旅游风景区; nìng;níng bō zhèn;chēn hǎi zhāo bǎo shān lǚ yóu fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波保国寺风景区; nìng;níng bō bǎo guó sì fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波庆安会馆; nìng;níng bō qìng ān huì guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州市茶山五美景园; wēn zhōu shì chá shān wǔ měi jǐng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(苍南县渔寮旅游区; cāng nán xiàn yú liáo lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(苍南玉苍山国家森林公园; cāng nán yù cāng shān guó jiā sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(瑞安市玉海楼; ruì ān shì yù hǎi lóu): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴周恩来纪念馆; shào xìng;xīng zhōu ēn lái jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(舟山朱家尖风景旅游区; zhōu shān zhū jiā jiān fēng jǐng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(临安钱王陵公园; lín ān qián wáng líng gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(诸暨西施故里旅游区; zhū jì xī shī gù lǐ lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴沈园; shào xìng;xīng shěn;chén yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州双溪竹海漂流; háng zhōu shuāng qī zhú hǎi piāo liú): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波松兰山海滨旅游度假区; nìng;níng bō sōng lán shān hǎi bīn lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宁波东钱湖风景旅游区; nìng;níng bō dōng qián hú fēng jǐng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴东湖景区; shào xìng;xīng dōng hú jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(青田县石门洞森林公园; qīng tián xiàn shí mén dòng sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(嘉兴南北湖风景名胜区; jiā xìng;xīng nán běi hú fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖州太湖旅游度假区; hú zhōu tài hú lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴市府山景区; shào xìng;xīng shì fǔ shān jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(诸暨市斗岩风景区; zhū jì shì dǒu yán fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吴子熊玻璃艺术馆; wú zǐ xióng bō lí yì shù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴印山越国王陵文化旅游区; shào xìng;xīng yìn shān yuè guó wáng líng wén huà lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(福严佛教文化苑; fú yán fó jiào wén huà yuàn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(桐乡市丰子恺纪念馆; tóng xiāng shì fēng zǐ kǎi jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(君匋艺术馆; jūn táo;yáo yì shù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吴镇纪念馆; wú zhèn;chēn jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(桐乡市博物馆; tóng xiāng shì bó wù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(千丝岩风景区; qiān sī yán fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(清真禅寺; qīng zhēn chán;shàn sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(浙南箬寮原始林景区; zhè nán ruò liáo yuán shǐ lín jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(遂昌白马山森林公园; suì chāng bái mǎ shān sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(三衢石林风景区; sān qú shí lín fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州湾海滨游乐园; háng zhōu wān hǎi bīn yóu lè yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(太鹤山风景区; tài hè shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(龙门峡谷景区; lóng mén xiá gǔ jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(九龙湖风景区; jiǔ lóng hú fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(新四军苏浙军区纪念馆; xīn sì jūn sū zhè jūn qū jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(烂柯山风景区; làn kē shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(古田山国家自然保护区; gǔ tián shān guó jiā zì rán bǎo hù qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(钱江源国家森林公园; qián jiāng yuán guó jiā sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(花溪风景区; huā qī fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(湖州含山旅游区; hú zhōu hán shān lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(安吉藏龙百瀑景区; ān jí zàng;cáng lóng bǎi bào jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(九峰山风景区; jiǔ fēng shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(台山寺旅游区; tái shān sì lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(石鹅岩旅游区; shí é yán lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(嵊州市百丈飞瀑风景区; shèng zhōu shì bǎi zhàng fēi bào fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(云和县江南畲旅文化村; yún hé xiàn jiāng nán yú lǚ wén huà cūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(上虞市丰惠镇凤鸣山旅游风景区; shàng yú shì fēng huì zhèn;chēn fèng míng shān lǚ yóu fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(龙泉市博物馆; lóng quán shì bó wù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(景宁县草鱼塘森林公园; jǐng nìng;níng xiàn cǎo yú táng sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(丽水市瓯江漂流景区; lí shuǐ shì ōu jiāng piāo liú jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(遂昌县湖山森林公园; suì chāng xiàn hú shān sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(庆元县百山祖国家级自然公园; qìng yuán xiàn bǎi shān zǔ guó jiā jí zì rán gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(温岭市东辉公园; wēn lǐng shì dōng huī gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(普陀区六横镇旅游区; pǔ tuó qū liù héng;hèng zhèn;chēn lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(兰溪市黄大仙赤松园; lán qī shì huáng dà xiān chì sōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(东阳市白云文化城; dōng yáng shì bái yún wén huà chéng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(平湖市莫氏庄园; píng hú shì mò shì zhuāng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(江山市须江公园; jiāng shān shì xū jiāng gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(慈溪市五磊山风景区; cí qī shì wǔ lěi shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(海宁市钱君匋艺术研究院; hǎi nìng; níng shì qián jūn táo; yáo yì shù yán jiū yuàn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(海宁市徐志摩故居; hǎi nìng;níng shì xú zhì mó gù jū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(海宁市博物馆; hǎi nìng;níng shì bó wù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(台州黄岩九峰人民公园; tái zhōu huáng yán jiǔ fēng rén mín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(常山县东明湖公园; cháng shān xiàn dōng míng hú gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(浙西大草原古名酒文化村; zhè xī dà cǎo yuán gǔ míng jiǔ wén huà cūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(普陀区蚂蚁岛旅游区; pǔ tuó qū mā yǐ dǎo lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(杭州绿景塘生态农业观光园景区; háng zhōu lǜ jǐng táng shēng tài nóng yè guān guāng yuán jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(诸暨市汤江岩旅游区; zhū jì shì tāng jiāng yán lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(绍兴市越城区方圆农业观光园; shào xìng;xīng shì yuè chéng qū fāng yuán nóng yè guān guāng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(开化县南湖景区; kāi huà xiàn nán hú jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(上虞市长塘桃花源生态旅游区; shàng yú shì zhǎng táng táo huā yuán shēng tài lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(温州绿色乐园; wēn zhōu lǜ sè lè yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(衢州市太真洞风景区; qú zhōu shì tài zhēn dòng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(苍南石聚堂风景名胜区; cāng nán shí jù táng fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(瑞安桐溪风景名胜区; ruì ān tóng qī fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(瑞安隆山公园; ruì ān lóng;lōng shān gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(景宁“畲乡之窗”旅游区; jǐng nìng;níng“yú xiāng zhī chuāng” lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(遂昌金矿旅游区; suì chāng jīn kuàng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(遂昌县长濂文化旅游区; suì chāng xiàn zhǎng lián wén huà lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(龙泉市白云瀑风景区; lóng quán shì bái yún bào fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(平阳西湾景区; píng yáng xī wān jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(海宁西山公园; hǎi nìng;níng xī shān gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(平湖市民俗风情馆; píng hú shì mín sú fēng qíng guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(平湖市澳多奇农庄; píng hú shì ào duō qí;jī nóng zhuāng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(常山金钉子景区; cháng shān jīn dīng zǐ jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(泰顺承天氡泉景区; tài shùn chéng tiān dōng quán jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(马岙旅游区; Mǎ Aò lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(小沙旅游区; xiǎo shā lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(衢江九坛沟景区; qú jiāng jiǔ tán gōu jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(瑞安顺泰青云谷风景区; ruìān shùn tài qīng yún gǔ fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

History

Zhejiang was outside the sphere of influence of early Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty (sixteenth century to eleventh century BC). Instead it was populated by peoples collectively known as the Yue, such as the Dongyue and the Ouyue. Starting from the Spring and Autumn Period, a state of Yue emerged in northern Zhejiang that was heavily influenced by Chinese civilization further north, and under King Goujian of Yue it reached its zenith and was able to wipe out the state of Wu in 473 BC. Prior, Wu had been a major power to the north of Yue. In 333 BC, Yue was in turn conquered by the state of Chu. Then the state of Qin in turn subjugated Chu thus brining Zhejiang into the first unified Chinese empire.

Throughout the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 BC) and Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), Zhejiang was under the control of the unified Chinese state. It was, however, a frontier area at best with southern Zhejiang not under anything more than nominal control. The south of Zhejiang was still inhabited by Yue peoples with their own political and social structures. Near the end of the Han Dynasty, Zhejiang was home to minor warlords Yan Baihu and Wang Lang. They fell in turn to Sun Ce and Sun Quan who eventually established the Kingdom of Wu (222-280), one of the kingdoms of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.

During the fourth century AD, China was to be invaded from the north by nomadic peoples. They conquered areas of North China and established the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern Dynasties. As a result, massive numbers of refugees arrived from the north pouring into South China. This accelerated the sinicization of South China, including Zhejiang.

The Sui Dynasty reestablished unity and built the Grand Canal of China, which linked Hangzhou, in the south, to the North China Plain. This provided Zhejiang with a vital link to the centers of Chinese civilization. The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) presided over a golden age of China. Zhejiang was, at this time, part of the Jiangnandong Circuit, and there began to appear references to its prosperity. Later on, as the Tang Dynasty disintegrated, Zhejiang constituted most of the territory of the regional kingdom of Wuyue.

The Northern Song Dynasty re-established unity in around 960. Under the Song Dynasty, the prosperity of South China began to overtake North China. After the north of the country was lost to the Jurchens in 1127, Zhejiang had its heyday. Hangzhou became the capital of the Han Chinese, Southern Song Dynasty. Renowned for its prosperity and beauty, Hangzhou is thought to have been the largest city in the world at this time. Ever since then all the way to the present day, northern Zhejiang has, together with neighbouring south Jiangsu, been synonymous with luxury and opulence in Chinese culture. Mongol conquest and the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty in 1279 ended Hangzhou's political clout, though Hangzhou continued to prosper. Marco Polo lived in the city, which he called "Kinsay", for many years. He described it as the "finest and noblest city in the world."

The Zhejiang province, particularly the Longquan district, became renowned during the Southern Song and Yuan dynasty for its production of a particular celadon (greenware) ceramic. The Southern Song Longquan celadon is characterized by a thick unctuous glaze of a particular bluish-green tint over an otherwise undecorated light-grey porcellaneous body that is delicately potted. Yuan Longquan celadons feature a thinner, greener glaze on increasingly larger vessels with decoration and shapes derived from Middle Eastern ceramic and metalwares. These were produced in large quantities for the Chinese export trade to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and during the Ming dynasty, to Europe. Ming wares are mainly noted for a decrease in quality and it is in this period that the Longquan kilns declined, to be eventually replaced in popularity and ceramic production by the kilns of Jingdezhen, in neighboring Jiangxi province.

The Ming Dynasty, which drove out the Mongols in 1368, were the first to establish Zhejiang as a Province and the borders of the province have changed little since. With the invasion of Western capitalism, Zhejiang became the most important bridge between Shanghai, the international trading center, and wealthy Southern China.

In the second Sino-Japanese War, Japan took effective control over Zhejiang. Following the Doolittle Raid during world war II, most of the B-25 American crews that came down in China eventually made it to safety with the help of Chinese civilians and soldiers. The Chinese people who helped them, however, paid dearly for sheltering the Americans. The Imperial Japanese Army began the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign to intimidate the Chinese from helping downed American airmen. The Japanese killed an estimated 250,000 civilians while searching for Doolittle’s men.

After the People's Republic of China took control of Mainland China in 1949, the Republic of China government based in Taiwan continued to control the Dachen Islands off the coast of Zhejiang until 1955, even establishing a rival Zhejiang provincial government there, creating a situation similar to Fujian province today. During the Cultural Revolution (1966–76), Zhejiang was in chaos and disunity, and its economy was stagnant. These problems were intensified by an agricultural policy favoring grain production at the expense of industrial and cash crops. Mao’s self-reliance policy, and the reduction in maritime trade cut off the lifelines of the port cities of Ningbo and Wenzhou. While Mao invested heavily in railroads in interior China, no major railroads were built to improve the poor transportation conditions in South Zhejiang.

Zhejiang has been less favored by the central government due to the lack of natural resources, a location vulnerable to potential flooding from the sea, and an economic base at the national average. Zhejiang, however, has long been an epicenter of capitalist development in China, and has been leading the nation in marketisation and the development of private enterprises.  Northeast Zhejiang, as part of the Yangtze Delta, is flat, more developed, and industry oriented. South Zhejiang is mountainous and ill-suited for farming, and has traditionally been poor and underdeveloped. The economic reforms of Deng Xiaoping, however, have brought change to that region unparalleled across the rest of China. Driven by hard work, an entrepreneuring spirit, low labour costs, and an eye for the world market, south Zhejiang (especially cities such as Wenzhou and Yiwu) has become a major center of export. This, together with the traditional prosperity of north Zhejiang, has allowed Zhejiang to leapfrog over several other provinces and become one of the richer provinces of China.

People and Culture

Han Chinese make up the vast majority of the population. The She and Hui nationalities are the two largest minorities.

Languages

Zhejiang is mountainous and has therefore fostered the development of many individual localized cultures. Linguistically speaking, Zhejiang is extremely diverse. The inhabitants of Zhejiang speak Wu, a subdivision of spoken Chinese, but the Wu dialects are very diverse, especially in the south, where one valley may speak a dialect completely unintelligible to another valley a few kilometers away. Non-Wu dialects are spoken as well, mostly along the borders; Mandarin and Huizhou dialects are spoken on the border with Anhui, while Min dialects are spoken on the border with Fujian. (See Hangzhou dialect, Shaoxing dialect, Ningbo dialect, Wenzhou dialect, Taizhou (Zhejiang) dialect, Jinhua dialect, Quzhou dialect for more information). Throughout history there has been numerous lingua franca in the area to allow for better communication. The dialects spoken in Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Ningbo have taken on this role historically. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Standard Mandarin, which is not mutually intelligible with any local dialects, has been promoted as the standard language of communication in all of China. As a result, most of the population now have a good grasp on speaking and comprehending Mandarin and can code-switch when necessary, while the majority of the population educated since 1978 can speak Mandarin flawlessly. Urban areas tend to be more fluent in Mandarin than rural areas. Nevertheless, a Zhejiang accent is detectable in almost everyone from the area communicating in Mandarin, and the home dialect of any native resident remains an important part of the everyday lives and cultural identity of most Zhejiang residents.

Music

Zhejiang is the home of Yueju (越劇), one of the most prominent forms of Chinese opera. Yueju originated in Shengzhou and is traditionally performed by actresses only, in both male and female roles. Other important opera traditions include Yongju (of Ningbo), Shaoju (of Shaoxing), Ouju (of Wenzhou), Wuju (of Jinhua), Taizhou Luantan (of Taizhou) and Zhuji Luantan (of Zhuji).

Cuisine

Longjing tea (also called dragon well tea), originating in Hangzhou, is one of the most prestigious, if not the most prestigious Chinese tea. Hangzhou is also renowned for its silk umbrellas and folding fans. Zhejiang cuisine (itself subdivided into many traditions, including Hangzhou cuisine) is one of the eight great traditions of Chinese cuisine.

Place names

Since ancient times, north Zhejiang and neighbouring south Jiangsu have been famed for their prosperity and opulence, and simply inserting north Zhejiang place names (Hangzhou, Jiaxing, etc.) into poetry gave an effect of dreaminess, as was indeed done by many famous poets. In particular, the fame of Hangzhou (as well as Suzhou in neighbouring Jiangsu province) has led to the popular saying: 上有天堂，下有苏杭 (above there is heaven; below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou), a saying that continues to be a source of pride for the people of these two still prosperous cities.

Industry

The province is traditionally known as the "Land of Fish and Rice". True to its name, rice is the main crop, followed by wheat; north Zhejiang is also a center of aquaculture in China, and the Zhoushan fishery is the largest fishery in the country. Main cash crops include jute and cotton, and the province also leads the provinces of China in tea production (the renowned Longjing tea is a product of Hangzhou). Zhejiang's towns have been known for handcraft production of products such as silk, for which it is ranked second among the provinces.

Ningbo, Wenzhou, Taizhou and Zhoushan are important commercial ports. The Hangzhou Bay Bridge ,between Haiyan County and Cixi, is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world.

Zhejiang's manufacturing is centered upon electromechanical industries, textiles, chemical industries, food, and construction materials. In recent years Zhejiang has followed its own development model, dubbed the "Zhejiang model." This is based on prioritizing and encouraging entrepreneurship, an emphasis on small businesses responsive to changes of the market, large public investments into infrastructure, and the production of low cost goods in bulk for both domestic consumption and export. As a result, Zhejiang has made itself one of the richest provinces and the "Zhejiang spirit" has become something of a legend within China. However, some economists are now worrying that this model is not sustainable, in that it is inefficient and places unreasonable demands on raw materials and public utilities.The economic heart of Zhejiang is moving from Hangzhou and surrounding North Zhejiang, southeastwards. The per capita disposable income of urbanites in Zhejiang reached 22,727 yuan (US$3,272) in 2008, an annual real growth of 5.4%. The per capita pure income of rural residents stood at 9,258 yuan (US$1,333), a real growth of 6.2% year-on-year. Its nominal GDP for 2008 was 2.15 trillion yuan (US$309 billion) with a per capita of 42,214 yuan (US$6,078). In 2008, Zhejiang's primary, secondary, and tertiary industries were worth 109.5 billion yuan (US$15.8 billion), 1.158 tillion yuan (US$166.7 billion), and 881.1 billion yuan (US$126.9 billion) respectively.

Zhejiang was the first province of China, which had no counties in the poverty-county list of the central government. Zhejiang has become one of the most marketised and richest provinces in China. Compared to many other Chinese provinces, the development in different regions in Zhejiang is more balanced. While the countyside still lags far behind. In 2006, the per capita disposable incomes for eleven major cities in Zhejiang were ranked among the top 30 in China.

Geography

Zhejiang consists mostly of hills, which account for about 70% of its total area. Altitudes tend to be highest to the south and west, and the highest peak of the province, Huangyajian Peak (1921 m), is found in the southwest. Mountain ranges include the Yandang Mountains, Tianmu Mountains, Tiantai Mountains, and Mogan Mountains, which traverse the province at altitudes of about 200 to 1000 m.

Valleys and plains are found along the coastline and rivers. The north of the province is just south of the Yangtze Delta, and consists of plains around the cities of Hangzhou, Jiaxing, and Huzhou, where the Grand Canal of China enters from the northern border to end at Hangzhou; another relatively flat area is found along the Qujiang River, around the cities of Quzhou and Jinhua. Major rivers include the Qiantang River and the Oujiang River. Most rivers carve out valleys in the highlands, with plenty of rapids and other features associated with such topography. Famous lakes include the West Lake of Hangzhou and the South Lake of Jiaxing.

There are over three thousand islands along the ragged coastline of Zhejiang. The largest, Zhoushan Island, is Mainland China's third largest island, after Hainan and Chongming. There are also many bays, Hangzhou Bay being the largest.

Zhejiang has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Spring starts in March and is rainy and weather is changeable. Summer, from June to September is long, hot and humid. Fall is generally dry, warm and sunny. Winters are short but cold except in the far south. Average annual temperature is around 15 to 19°C, average January temperature is around 2 to 8°C, and average July temperature is around 27 to 30°C. Annual precipitation is about 1000 to 1900 mm. There is plenty of rainfall in early summer, and by late summer Zhejiang is directly threatened by typhoons forming in the Pacific.

Zhejiang is divided into eleven prefecture-level divisions, all of them prefecture-level cities:

Map # Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Type
Map of Zhejiang province in China 1 Hangzhou 杭州 Hángzhōu Sub-provincial city
2 Ningbo 宁波 Níngbō Sub-provincial city
3 Huzhou 湖州 Húzhōu Prefecture-level city
4 Jiaxing 嘉兴 Jiāxīng Prefecture-level city
5 Jinhua 金华 Jīnhuá Prefecture-level city
6 Lishui 丽水 Líshuǐ Prefecture-level city
7 Quzhou 衢州 Qúzhōu Prefecture-level city
8 Shaoxing 绍兴 Shàoxīng Prefecture-level city
9 Taizhou 台州 Tāizhōu Prefecture-level city
10 Wenzhou 温州 Wēnzhōu Prefecture-level city
11 Zhoushan 舟山 Zhōushān Prefecture-level city

News About Zhejiang

Volvo interested to buy Saab's test equipment
Volvo Car Corporation, the Swedish automobile manufacturer owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is interested in buying some of Saab Automobile's machinery and test equipment, but it hasn't yet placed a bid, Dow Jones Newswires reports. »INAUTONEWS

Zhejiang Villagers Protest Land Grabs
Since February 1st, residents from two villages in China's in Zhejiang Province in Cangnan County have been taking to the streets, protesting land grabs by local officials. Panhe East and West villagers say local officials stole their land. »

Saab Auto Receivers Confirm Bids For Trollhattan Plant
STOCKHOLM – The receivers in charge of Swedish car maker Saab Automobile's bankruptcy have received some bids for the company's estate, one of which is from Chinese car maker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. The court appointed receivers said ... »

Main internal expansion cases of domestic pesticide enterprises in 2011
On 31 Jan., 2011, Zhejiang Shenghua Biok Biology Co., Ltd. (Shenghua Biok), one of the leading abamectin manufacturers in China, released to expand its zircon business through setting up a new subsidiary, namely Zhejiang Gaogu Technology Co., ... »

China Expands Financing Channels for Social Housing07 Feb 2012
Local governments in Jiangxi, Hainan, Hubei and Zhejiang provinces have all agreed to use part of their bond incomes for social housing construction, according to a report published by the Economic Information newspaper, which didn't identify the ... »

Thumbs down for London cabs in China
Above: Drivers of Englon TX4 cabs wait at the Hangzhou Foreign Tourism Taxi Company on Jan 31 to suspend their contracts in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. By Xu Junqian SHANGHAI - The iconic black hackney carriage that has been running for more than half ... »AsiaOne

US trip of China's next leader: from Obama to Iowa
He eventually became governor, then jumped to one of China's most economically dynamic provinces, Zhejiang. Following a brief spell leading the financial hub of Shanghai, he moved to Beijing as one of nine members of the party's all-powerful Politburo ... »

Heavy seas for shipyards amid economy woes
"We haven't received any orders since last year," said Liu Min, a senior director at Zhejiang Jingang Shipbuilding Co Ltd, which is based in the city of Taizhou in Zhejiang province. The company started operations in 2006 with a capacity of 500000 ... »

China detains another exec for illicit fund raising
SHANGHAI - China has detained another private company executive in the eastern province of Zhejiang for illegal fund raising, as the government cracks down on so-called shadow banking, state media said Monday. Police in Wenzhou city - the cradle of ... »AsiaOne

China Researching High-Yield Bonds, Pengyuan Credit's Zhou Says
Authorities recently looked at small and medium-sized companies in the eastern province of Zhejiang and sought ideas from underwriters and investors, Zhou Yuanfan, vice president at Pengyuan Credit Rating Co., one of the country's official rating firms ... »

Clippers like their chances of landing JR Smith
JR Smith is playing for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China. (AP Photo) A Chinese Basketball Association rule prohibits NBA players signed during the lockout to return to the US to play before their Chinese teams' seasons are over. »

Residents worried as elevators stall, fall
The incidents have also raised concerns about people-moving equipment in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. An 8-month-old girl was flung out after her mother fell over as the elevator they were using plunged at the fifth floor and got stuck at ... »

Ningbo ranks No.1 in Zhejiang in growth of construction industry
According to Ningbo Housing Construction Committee, in 2011 Ningbo ranks No.1 in Zhejiang in the growth of construction industry. In terms of the output value of the industry, Ningbo is among the top three of the province. »

China detains Wenzhou exec in city's debt crisis -paper
| SHANGHAI Feb 6 (Reuters) - Police in China's eastern province of Zhejiang have detained a Wenzhou educational company boss for allegedly failing to repay large debts, the official Shanghai Securities News reported on Monday, the latest fallout from a ... »

Dinosaur footprints discovered in Beijing
Meanwhile,Chinese and Japanese scientists have announced the discovery of a new dinosaur species in the eastern province of Zhejiang, 13 years after the prehistoric creature's skeleton was unearthed during highway construction. »Ceylon Daily News

China: A Death Sentence to Hide Government Corruption?
by Global Voices Wu Ying, named China's sixth richest woman in 2006, lost an appeal against her death sentence at the Zhejiang Higher People's Court on January 18, 2012. Many citizens have pleaded online for Wu's life believing the death sentence was ... »

Businessman detained over 2.2b-yuan debt
HANGZHOU -- Police in East China's Zhejiang province have detained the boss of an education group as his firm was in debt to about 1000 private lenders, said the local government on Sunday. Dong Shunsheng, president of the Liren Education Group in ... »

Clippers set sights on signing JR Smith
JR Smith, shown playing for the Denver Nuggets against the Lakers in 2010, can't return to the NBA until his Zhejiang Golden Bulls team's season is over. (Luis Sinco) By Broderick Turner The Clippers, still not done dealing after signing Kenyon Martin ... »Los Angeles Times

ChinaExportMug.com: Mug Industry Seeks a Breakthrough in Small B2B
As a leading mug manufacturer with more than 10 year experience, Zhejiang Wuyi Fangda stanless steel products Co. enjoys good reputation and sophisticated manufacture technique. After extensive market analysis, Fangda stanless steel products co. »

ChinaExportMug.com: Mug Industry Seeks a Breakthrough in Small B2B
China Zhejiang Wuyi Fangda stainless steel products Co., Ltd., a large mug supplier specialized in producing series of mugs, has extended its marketing channel by launching a new department for small orders. As a leading mug manufacturer with more than ... »

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