|
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
Located in the center of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, West Lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its beautiful scenery and rich cultural heritage. Surrounded by hills on three sides, the lake features the famed "Ten Scenes of West Lake," such as Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring, Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge, and Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, which perfectly blend natural landscapes with cultural landmarks like gardens, temples, and pagodas. For centuries, West Lake has inspired countless poets and artists. As the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi famously wrote, "West Lake may be compared to the beauty Xizi, always charming whether richly adorned or plainly dressed," a line that vividly captures its enduring charm in every season and weather.
Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City & Liangzhu Museum
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
The Liangzhu Ancient City Archaeological Site is located in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It served as the political, spiritual, and cultural center of the Liangzhu Culture, which dates back approximately 4,300–5,300 years, and is renowned as the "First City of China." The site covers a total area of about 14.33 square kilometers and consists of four components: the City Area, the Yaoshan Site Area, the Gukou High Dam Area, and the Plain Low Dam–Piedmont Embankment Area. It features a concentric triple-layered layout of "Palace Area, Inner City, and Outer City." Among its remarkable remains, the water management system is the earliest large-scale hydraulic engineering site discovered in China and one of the earliest dam systems in the world. On July 6, 2019, the Liangzhu Ancient City Archaeological Site was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming China's 55th World Heritage Site and providing tangible evidence of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
The Liangzhu Museum is located within the Meilizhou Park in Yuhang District, Hangzhou. It is an archaeological site museum dedicated to the collection, research, exhibition, and promotion of the Liangzhu Culture. The museum officially opened to the public in October 2008, with a floor area of 10,000 square meters. Its architectural design, conceived as "jade awls scattered on the ground," has earned it the nickname "a box for collecting treasures." The museum houses over 3,200 pieces (sets) of cultural relics. Its permanent exhibition is organized into three halls — "Water Town and Wetland," "Sacred Land of Civilization," and "Soul of Jade and Nation's Spirit" — providing a comprehensive and vivid presentation of the archaeological achievements and heritage value of the Liangzhu Culture. Representative exhibits include jade cong, jade bi, jade yue, lacquer cups inlaid with jade, and engraved pottery jars. In May 2024, the Liangzhu Museum was rated as a National First-Grade Museum.
Feilai Peak & Lingyin Temple
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
Feilai Peak, meaning "Peak That Flew Here," is a limestone hill renowned for its over 380 Buddhist stone carvings carved from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty (907–1368 AD). Lingyin Temple, literally "Temple of the Soul's Retreat," stands opposite the peak. Founded in 328 AD, it is one of the oldest and most celebrated Buddhist temples in China. The temple's main hall, the Hall of the Great Hero, houses a magnificent 24.8-meter-tall camphor wood statue of Sakyamuni. Together, Feilai Peak and Lingyin Temple form an integral part of the UNESCO West Lake Cultural Landscape.