Preface: The Light of Lianzhu

Since ancient times, Hangzhou has always been a paradise for inhabitation and reproduction of human beings. As early as the Neolithic Age of 8000-5000 years ago, the ancestors have thrived here and created splendid culture. From the Kuahuqiao culture to Liangzhu culture, world-renowned cultural peaks have been created one after another. It is a principal inscape of newly developed Xia, Shang and Zhou’s civilization, and the prelude and the first light of the old oriental civilization.

SCENE 1 “SONG PALACE DANCE”

As the history has just gone away, a new and great era —— the Southern Song Dynasty has come towards us. The Southern Song Dynasty is a period when China’s feudal economy reaches its peak as it has accomplished huge achievements in various aspects such as economy, technology, culture and art. The economy and foreign trade have enormously surpassed that of any other previous generations, ranking at the top of the world at that time. Its capital city Hangzhou has gained a population of over one million, which is a famous metropolis gathering all talents and things. Inside the city, tea houses, taverns, art center and imperial music bars stand in great numbers, full of singing and dancing with good times.

SCENE 2 “ARMORED CAVALRY

“A favorable geographical position in the southeast, the capital of Sanwu, Qiantang has been prosperous from immemorial time.” Hangzhou’s prosperity has attracted the emperor of the Jin Dynasty in the north. In A.D. 1127, Jin’s army attacked Bianjing, and captured two emperors Hui and Qin, known to history “Jingkang Calamity”. The Song royal family was forced to move to the south. Zhao Gou, the ninth son of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, known as Emperor Gaozong, established the Southern Song Dynasty and chose Hangzhou as the capital. Since then, people from both sides of the Yellow River and Yangtze River and Huai River have raised armies and revolted. A surge of war between nationalities was stirred up. Yue Fei was a national hero emerged at that time. He has joined the army for four times, and was always fighting bravely in the battlefield. The Yue’s Army commanded by him was battle-scarred, and recovered tracts of Jiankang and Central Plains, arriving in Bianjing.

SCENE 3 “WEST LAKE LEGEND”

Hangzhou is one of the most famous ancient capitals of China, known as the Pearl of the East China Sea. It has been reputed as the “First State in the Southeast” by Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty as early as 900 years ago. The long-standing history has left abundant places of interest to Hangzhou. The West Lake has earned the good reputation of “A heaven on earth” for Hangzhou. Hangzhou has provided us with innumerable legends and beautiful stories.

SCENE 4 “CHARMING HANGZHOU”

The diligent and wise people in Hangzhou today have written the most splendid chapter in the history of Hangzhou. Millions of tourists gather together in Songcheng every year for appreciating the endless charm of the “Oriental Leisure Capital”. Currently, Hangzhou has a mainstream travel route including the West Lake for sightseeing, Songcheng for history experiencing, Hangzhou Paradise and Hangzhou Songcheng Crazy Appleland for relaxing.

Now, let the beautiful Xizi ladies greet you with refreshing Longjing Tea and graceful dance.