With CGTN ... Bonus film - the Asian Games sports infrastructure - with Rafa Goes Around! ... Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in eastern China, is renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Located at the southern end of the Grand Canal, which extends to Beijing, Hangzhou has been one of China's most renowned and prosperous cities for much of the last millennium. Marco Polo reportedly described the city as "the finest and most splendid city in the world." Historical Significance Hangzhou has a rich history dating back over 2,200 years to the Qin Dynasty. It became a significant city during the Sui Dynasty when the Grand Canal was constructed. During the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), Hangzhou was the capital of China, a period that significantly boosted its status and prosperity. West Lake One of Hangzhou’s most famous attractions is West Lake (Xī Hú). This UNESCO World Heritage site is celebrated for its scenic beauty, inspiring poets, scholars, and artists since the 9th century. The lake is surrounded by temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands. Major attractions around West Lake include the Broken Bridge, Su Causeway, and Leifeng Pagoda. Lingyin Temple Lingyin Temple, also known as the Temple of the Soul's Retreat, is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China. It was founded in 328 AD during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The temple is famous for its grand halls, numerous pagodas, and Buddhist grottoes, particularly the Feilai Feng grottoes, which contain hundreds of stone carvings of Buddhist figures. Longjing Tea Hangzhou is the origin of the world-famous Longjing (Dragon Well) tea. Longjing Tea Village, located in the hills west of West Lake, offers a picturesque setting where visitors can learn about tea cultivation, enjoy tea tastings, and experience traditional tea ceremonies. The tea is renowned for its high quality, green color, fragrant aroma, sweet taste, and flat leaves. Grand Canal The Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the longest canal or artificial river in the world. Hangzhou marks the southern end of this ancient waterway, which played a crucial role in the cultural and economic development of the region. Visitors can take boat rides to explore the historical and cultural sights along the canal. Modern Hangzhou Today, Hangzhou is a blend of traditional and modern influences. It is an important economic hub, home to numerous high-tech industries and the headquarters of Alibaba Group, one of the world's largest e-commerce companies. The city's infrastructure is well-developed, with a high-speed railway, an international airport, and a comprehensive metro system. Tourism and Culture Hangzhou is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. The city hosts various cultural festivals, such as the West Lake International Expo, the China International Tea Expo, and the Hangzhou International Marathon. Hangzhou cuisine, known for its light and fresh flavors, is also a highlight for visitors, with famous dishes like Dongpo Pork and West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy.  

TianXin Park is a scenic spot with classical gardens within an ancient city wall. The city wall was constructed in the year 202 AD. The TianXin Pavilion is a key feature of the park, which was developed in 1924 and now occupies an area of 30,000 square meters.

SānLǐTún is a popular destination for shopping, fashion, dining and entertainment.

In YunNan province.

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The true measure is : does the government work for the people, or vice versa. Is it a sham / illusion / deception 'democracy' - elections, where one is forced to choose between elite factions, that are basically the same ideology? 'Pick a card, any card ...' Or is there a better way based on merit and that is bottom up - a system that truly responds to, and cares for, the people? With Jerry's Take on China ... In China, the people are family. In the West, the people are livestock. -- Recently, out of the hundreds of countries in the world, three decided to suicide, to serve their puppet masters : the Philippines, Argentina and Italy. Will Taiwan (not a country) be next? Are they Chinese or just fodder on a US missile base ??? -- China has defended itself (hence the Great Wall), but never been expansionist ... YT comment : George-rj4fj : "They who point fingers at China, failed to notice the huge expansionism of the Euro-Caucasians throughout the world so that some 2/3 of the world speaks not only English and Spanish but have also been forced into adopting Western cultures, religion, history and clothing. Talk about "cultural genocide"! They who accuses China of "expansionism" are also ignorant of history. Mongolia and Manchuria became part of China not from Chinese Han expansionism of conquest but because China was conquered by the Mongols and the Manchus and became part of THEIR empires. So too did Tibet when it ran wars into China in an expanding of the Tibetan Empire - and was defeated and absorbed in turn. Chinese culture is an amalgamation of all the different cultures that were absorbed into the greater Chinese diaspora. They who do not know history and are content in creating their own versions from western propaganda make themselves foolish by opening their mouths on topical subjects that they have absolutely no idea about." Bonus film - Jerry Grey in conversation with Ben Norton ... With Reports on China ...

Bonus films - how to get to JinShanLing Great Wall, one of the most beautiful sections near BeiJing (well, about 3 hours away) by bus (cheaper than a coach tour) ... If you have 3 or 4 days spare, also check out ChengDe Imperial Summer Resort, a bit further in the same direction from BeiJing.

JǐNán is the provincial capital city of ShanDong province in east China. It is known as the 'City of Springs'. Including BaoTu Park and HongJiaLou ... Aerial views ...