The older areas of Hangzhou lie down from the lake in the eastern and southern parts of town,around the small canals which cut their way through the town.
The city is famous in Chinese tourism for its West Lake,a large freshwater lake surrounded by hills and gardens,its banks dotted with pavilions and temples.It gives rise to what must be one of China's oldest tourist sayings:"Above there is heaven,below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou."
Located in the area known as "Jiangnan" or "South of the River" which covers southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang proinces,Hangzhou lies in one of the most prosperous regions of China.On weekends,the city is flooded out by Chinese who day-trip down from Shanghai,Suzhou or Wuxi,and daily with buses carrying their cargoes of westerners.Hangzhou is one of China's great tourist attractions,its popularity on par with Guilin..
