Zhejiang is a province in China, which is quite rarely visited. The region south of Shanghai is home to many legacies of Zen Buddhism, which convey a very interesting image of ancient China. The capital city of Hangzhou and Wuzhen alone has countless buildings worth visiting.
Hangzhou - the city of silk
The province of Zhejiang, located south of Shanghai, has very interesting places and attractions for visitors. Especially the capital Hangzhou in China has an exciting trade history behind it and is considered to be an important producer of silk, which was transported to the west via the Silk Road. Hangzhou is the starting point of the Emperor's Canal, which leads over the Yangtze River to Beijing. The waterway is considered a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture. In the city itself you should visit places of interest such as the Western Lake, the main attraction of the municipality. The 500-hectare water body is located west of the city centre and houses three pagodas, which are of great importance in Chinese culture and are even depicted on the 1 yuan bill. In the south you can visit the pagoda of the Six Harmonies, originally from the 10th century. The frescoes of the pagoda are an impressive legacy from that time. Green tea fans will get their money's worth on the tea plantations. The Zhejiang Province is one of the most important growing areas for this expensive infusion drink. With a bit of luck you can watch the plantations of a real tea tasting ceremony.
Discover more places in Zhejiang China
The entire Zhejiang Zhejiang is rich in pagodas and temples, especially of Zen Buddhism. Ningbo, for example, is home to the oldest wooden building in southern China. It is called Baoguo Temple and comes from the Song Dynasty. This ruled China in the 11th century. The island of Putioshan off the coast of Zhejang is very important for the Chinese Buddhists. Here Japanese monks in the 9th century had inhabited various caves and arranged small places of prayer. The 20-metre-high Guanyin statue and over 20 temples are the tourist attraction par excellence. You should definitely visit Wuzhen, which is located directly on the Kaiserkanal and about 12 kilometers southeast of Shanghai. The city is considered to be a small Venice, as countless canals run through the centre. Wuzhen is also known for its museum villages, where you can visit an authentic piece of ancient China.
