Hangzhou

Pagoda of Six Harmonies stands on the bank of Qiantang River, safeguarding the turbulent waters. A magnificent view of the Qianjiang River Bridge (the first modern steel-structured bridge with combined railway and road functions) unfolds from the top.

About 80 km from Hangzhou city and just an easy hour bus ride away, Wu Zhen is a town where time passes without notice. More and more tourists have discovered the time-worn cobbled stone streets, crow-stepped gable, wooden doors and long, narrow alleys of Wu Zhen. Still, the life of the locals seem undisturbed. They still keep to their traditional customs, like drinking Sanbai Wine, making traditional maltose and sipping morning tea until 9.30 am, the same leisurely and pleasing way their great grandfathers did. With the newly created Wu Zhen International Theater Festival, the town shows also a touch of modern culture.

To immerse yourself into China's age-old tea tradition, visit the Longjing Tea Fields (or any of the other tea fields further to the west). Longjing is an exquisite variety of tea native to the region, and visitors will get a chance to sample the noble drink during a tea ceremony.

Founded in 1904, Xiling Seal Art Society was dedicated to the research of traditional Chinese calligraphy and seal carving art. Today, it is also a museum where more than 6000 authentic works of ancient Chinese artists are preserved, a boutique where you can get stone carved seals or calligraphy with your own name on it. Even the well preserved Qing dynasty style architecture of the society alone is a piece of art.