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Considered one of the most beautiful cities in all of China, Hangzhou is the capital of the Zhejiang province. It is located at the south end of the ancient Grand Canal waterway that originates in Beijing. Hangzhou is one of the seven earliest capitals of China and today is one of the leading cities visited by tourists in China.

The West Lake area has been a popular theme for poets and artists since the 9th century. It includes over 60 cultural relic sites, several islands reachable by boat, temples, pavilions, gardens, and arched bridges. Marco Polo, after visiting Hangzhou, proclaimed it as the finest and most luxurious city in the world.

Hangzhou was the host of the 2023 Asian Games. It is the permanent home of the World Leisure Expo, the China International Animation Festival, and the China International Micro Film Festival.

While most residents are conversant in Mandarin, the common language is the Wu dialect spoken throughout much of eastern China. Migration of workers and students from the rural areas has perpetuated this usage of the traditional language.

Hangzhou is considered an oasis for religion. While Buddhism is the predominant faith, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity are tolerated. The region’s most famous universities and hospitals were founded by Catholic orders and the Presbyterian Missions. While there was some persecution of Christians in the early 2000s, today there are several Christian and Catholic churches that meet openly.

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