Hangzhou (China)

Dresden's partnership with its 13th twin city is still very young: The mayors of the two cities signed an agreement on municipal friendship and cooperation in October 2009. But for a long time in advance, there had already been intensive exchanges in the fields of science and the economy.

 

General:

The beautifully scenic city of Hangzhou is located in the north of Zhejiang Province, one of the smallest but at the same time wealthiest of the Chinese provinces, on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River and at the southern end of the Grand Canal of China. Hangzhou lies approx. 200 km southwest of Shanghai and covers a total area of 16,596 km2 with its population of 6.66 million (end 2006). The actual metropolitan area covers 3,068 km2 and is home to 4.14 million inhabitants (end 2006). There are 24 different nationalities living in Hangzhou. Han Chinese account for 90.75% of the total population. Of the minority ethnic groups, the She and Hui nationalities are the largest. The city is divided into eight urban and suburban districts.
Hangzhou is situated on the picturesque West Lake. In the springtime, its banks are lined by peach trees in blossom, magnificent lotus blossoms light up the water in summer, the autumn air is filled with the scent of the osmanthus, and winter is the season for the countless cherry trees. The Italian explorer Marco Polo praised Hangzhou as "a heavenly city, the most splendid and luxurious city in the world".
Hangzhou is furthermore the home of green tea. Longjing, or "Dragon Well" tea, from the mountains of Hangzhou is probably the best green tea in China. Tea has been grown in Hangzhou for at least 1,300 years.

History:
Hangzhou can be considered a cradle of Chinese civilisation. Since the discovery of Neolithic remains of the Kuahuqiao Culture, it is known that people already lived, worked and prospered here 8,000 years ago. The documented history of the city has been traced back to 221 BC. The building of the Grand Canal in the 7th century heralded a period of continuous growth. Hangzhou is one of the seven imperial cities and was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1132-1276). The city was originally named Qiantang, and only received its present name in 589, the 9th year of Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty. Today's Hangzhou Municipal Government was founded on 24th May 1949.

Economy:
Hangzhou is both the capital and the political, economic and cultural centre of Zhejiang Province. It is not only a magnet for tourists, but also an important manufacturing location and logistics hub. The various branches of light industry represented in Hangzhou play an essential role for the economy of the whole country.
Hangzhou is often termed the "Capital of Silk" and the largest textile factory in China is located in the city. The silk industry looks back over a long history; its production volume and product quality are among the highest in China. Silk brocades, especially, are famous both at home and abroad. The rural economy is also developing well.
The strongest branches in the city are new medicine, information technology, machinery and plant equipment, automotive components, household appliances, electronics and telecommunications, fine chemicals, chemical fibres and food processing.
Hangzhou attaches great importance to the development of cutting-edge technologies. Particular attention is paid to the fields of information services, online games, modern media, leisure culture and tourism, exhibitions and congresses, etc.
The private sector is nevertheless decisive for Hangzhou's overall economic strength. As in Germany, most companies can be classified as SMEs.

City of Hangzhou

Mayor Zhang Hongming

---

---

Postal address

318, North Huancheng Road
310026 HANGZHOU
CHINA

Foreign Affairs Office, International and Sister City Programs Department

---

Phone 00 86-571-85252843
Fax 00 86-571-85252842
Website http://eng.hangzhou.gov.cn/