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Hangzhou The Chinese spirit
Destination Report Hanghzou is a special edition of Headquarters Magazine June 2013
>Introduction
Hangzhou
The first impressions
West Lake
To be really honest, before it was decided I would fly to Hangzhou for this supplement’s sake, I didn’t know much - I don’t dare to say ‘nothing’ - about the destination, let alone Hangzhou as a MICE destination. I was thrilled to discover a city on the move, hustling and bustling with new developments and dynamic people, willing to do good, willing to show the world Hangzhou is already on the international meetings map, and will even increase its profile in the days, months, years to come! Report Rémi Dévé With 8 million inhabitants, a nice mix of state-of-the-art venues, leisure activities, high-end hotels and an efficient transport network, Hangzhou is becoming a meetings destination association planners have now to count on. If, a few years ago, it was more known as a leisure destination, the Chinese destination is gradually changing its profile, especially on an international level. Its strength lies in the fact that they can combine, like no other Chinese (and maybe Asian!) city, work and fun.
Beautiful scenery The capital and largest city of the Zhejiang Province in Eastern China, Hangzhou is most renowned thanks to its rich history, outstanding sites and beautiful natural scenery - and the famous Longjing tea! On the very day I arrived, under a radiating sun, I was taken to the famous West Lake, the city’s best-known attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a one-of-a-kind boat trip. For me, a European full of clichés 2
about Chinese cities being polluted, noisy, only ‘urban’, I was amazed to discover a relaxed, peaceful destination, with silent electric motorcycles and friendly people, where you can take a scenic walk along the shores of a majestic lake, set against a beautiful backdrop of green, leafy mountains. So, for MICE travellers looking for a destination where they can work in a peaceful environment away from their daily hubbub, search no more, Hangzhou is the place! Blessed with the grandeur of natural sites such as Qiantang River, West Lake and Xixi Wetland (which I was also lucky enough to take a boat trip on), the ‘back garden of China’, as it is often fondly referred to, is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life while you can still enjoy the convenience of quality infrastructure all around town.
Access and infrastructure If some might think Hangzhou is still in its infancy within the meetings industry, my
very experience there prove them wrong. Though indeed the city could benefit from a more visible profile on the international scene, newly developed spots like Xiang Lake near Hangzhou’s Xiaoshan International Airport and Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou’s suburban area have increased the city’s attraction for MICE tourists. Hangzhou’s convenient domestic and international transportation network is also worth a note. With direct flights to the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and more, a new bullet train connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou in only 40 minutes, it really is no wonder that Hangzhou is becoming a popular MICE destination. A number of accommodation and exhibition halls have also recently opened, giving the city some state-of-the-art venues for MICE events. In terms of accommodation, international brands like Shangri-La, Aman Resorts, Banyan Tree, Angsara and Four Seasons have all opened properties over. Jumeirah should follow the lead soon. The luxury hotels are mostly around the West Lake, on the bank of the Qiantang River or near the Xixi Wetland (more on hotels page 8).
> Introduction
Dragon Boat Race in Xixi Wetland National Park
Grand Canal
A certain je ne sais quoi As the closest capital city to Shanghai (I actually tested it myself – Shanghai is literally next door with a hi-tech high-speed train), Hangzhou is like an urban metropolis, but with a certain je ne sais quoi and laidbackness impossible to find anywhere else. Its location is a definite advantage, and, over the last two decades, the city has witnessed a rapid economic development, establishing many key industries like
Congress, held at Taixuhu Holiday Hotel, was a success (more on this page 5), but there are many others! Let’s mention, for instance, the 56th International Les Clefs d’Or Annual Conference, organised at the New Century Hotel Hangzhou, or the 5th International Conference on Management of Travel Destinations, with more than 150 representatives from abroad and over 300 representatives from 50 different nations.
With a nice mix of state-of-the-art venues, leisure activities, high-end hotels and an efficient transport network, Hangzhou is becoming a meetings destination planners have now to count on machinery, electronics, textile, food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, etc. Hangzhou is innovative, a leader in many fields of endeavour, and for associations looking for links (and maybe new opportunities in terms of delegates and even business potential) with new, emerging destinations, Hangzhou could well be the place. No wonder, then, the city makes every effort to attract large and multinational companies as well as international organisations to attend or stage MICE events. Recently the 2012 World Green Roof
So, if Hangzhou doesn’t have it all yet, it might only be a matter of time. Adjacent to the above-mentioned West Lake lies a scenic area includes historical pagodas, cultural sites, as well as the natural beauty of the lake and hills. Hangzhou’s historical traditions, already infused in the lifestyles of locals, offer visitors interesting experiences, which will truly be an added value to the most interesting association events. From a cup of tea to a visit to the famous traditional Chinese around Qiandao Lake and Xiang Lake after a hard day’s work, Hangzhou is yours to discover.
Hangzhou, the hard facts - - - - - -
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capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province largest conference ever: +/- 3,000 delegates #3 MICE destination in Mainland China according to the ICCA stats largest capacity auditorium: 2,400 30,000 hotel rooms for all kinds of budgets direct flights from/to the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia / Shanghai 40 minutes away with the bullet train rated by the World Bank as having ‘the best environment’ in China and by Forbes Magazine as ‘the best city for commerce in Mainland China’
Contact Roger Shu T. +86 571 8720 4909 F. + 86 571 5681 5261 roger@hz.cn www.micehangzhou.com/en 3
> Interview
Hangzhou with a vision Interview with Mr. Chen Bin
As the Director of Hangzhou Tourism Promotion Centre, the Executive Vice President and the General Secretary of Hangzhou MICE Association, Mr. Chen Bin is in the perfect position to talk about the state of Hangzhou’s local meetings industry. On a sunbathed terrace, on my very last day, Mr. Chen took some time to answer my questions, as he showed great hopes for the future of Hangzhou as a MICE destination.
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HQ: Tell us a little bit about the history of the MICE industry in Hangzhou. Mr. Chen Bin: Hangzhou has always been a popular leisure tourism destination, but the focus has been more on quantity rather than quality, as numbers only mattered. A few years back, Hangzhou government decided to change the perspective and improve the diversity of travellers coming to Hangzhou. We have come to acknowledge the MICE industry has a significant contribution towards the welfare of the destination. It’s an every season kind of business and it continues to bring benefit along the year. Improving, educating the industry is an on-going process and involves all kinds of stakeholders, as the developments include infrastructures, human resources and destination promotion, as well as the creation of a MICE Association, in addition to a MICE department, back in 2010.
destination in Mainland China, right after Beijing and Shanghai, mainly due to a lot of efforts in marketing and promotion. Our extensive programme include various activities, like participating at tradeshows in several countries which are the main target markets of Hangzhou such as CIBTM in Beijing, AIME in Melbourne or IMEX in Frankfurt, just to name a few, organising familiarisation trips for decision makers in order to promote Hangzhou as a MICE
HQ: So your efforts have already proved to be fruitful… Mr. Chen Bin: Definitely. In two years, Hangzhou has become the third MICE
HQ: In terms of infrastructure, is there anything in the pipeline? Mr. Chen Bin: Hangzhou already boasts good infrastructure, which I’m personally very
Mr. Chen Bin
proud of. Accommodation wise, we have a wide variety of hotels catering to all kinds of budgets, where you can hold great conferences too. The new international airport makes the destination very accessible, with the opening of new air routes on the way, as well as with the proximity of Shanghai. Of course we could do with a purpose-built congress centre, but I’m happy to announce discussions are being led to have one in the area of our famous West Lake.
In two years, Hangzhou has become the third MICE destination in Mainland China, right after Beijing and Shanghai destination, and becoming member of different international MICE organisations like ICCA, in whose rankings we have moved from the 47th to the 27th place just over a year in the Asia-Pacific region… which I think says it all!
HQ: Personally what are your personal favourites of Hangzhou? Mr. Chen Bin: I like the combination of professionalism and tranquillity only to be found in Hangzhou. It’s a bustling destination, but there is a relaxed atmosphere to it. To network, share knowledge and do business, Hangzhou provides the ideal environment: it stimulates the mind. Holding a congress here will definitely be a guaranteed success!
> Case study
Case Study
The International Rooftop Landscaping Association in Hangzhou The International Rooftop Landscaping Association (IRLA) was established by green roof workers and is officially registered as a non-profit organisation. It aims to organise and unite green roof workers, protect global environment, construct low-carbon, energysaving, ecological environment and promote human society’s sustainable development. In October 2012, the World Green Roof Congress was held in Taixuhu Holiday Hotel, in Hangzhou, with 1,200 participants. Ms. Yi Lv, of DMC Hangzhou Merry Journey Convention Service Co., Ltd., was in charge. HQ: Can you tell us a bit about the Green Roof Association and their World Congress? Yi Lv: The Hangzhou World Green Roof Congress (WGRC) builds a friendly public platform for elites both from the Vertical Planting industry around the world and from other industries who share concern for environmental protection. Its aim is to exchange information on new concepts, technologies and policies of ecological environmental protection and to promote the development of the Green Roof industry in all countries, thus contributing to tackling global warming. HQ: Why did they choose Hangzhou as their congress destination? Yi Lv: Hangzhou, the most beautiful garden tour city in China, is a rich city with fast economic and roof greening development. It made sense for the congress to be held
here because Hangzhou has so many diversified ‘green roof’ spots, such as Green Roof Group in the new CBD, Wangshu Green Building Designs + Taihe, Tianchen Roof Garden, Qiandao Lake Roof Agriculture and Ecology Field, the vertical garden at Xixi National Wetland Park… and many more! This allowed participants to learn more about the state of the Chinese green roof industry. HQ: What kind of venue(s) did they need? Why? Yi Lv: The World Green Roof Congress is a world-class international conference attended by more than 1,000 persons, so it is very important to choose the venue right. We selected Taixuhu Holiday Hotel in Xiaoshan Hangzhou mainly because of its wonderful 3042-m2 Golden Hall that can hold more than 1,000 persons. It was also very easy to accommodate all the
participants there, and the hotel proved to be an easy starting point for pre- and postconference activities. HQ: What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome as the organiser/ support? Yi Lv: The biggest challenges for the organiser was the lack of funds (and hence how to make the most of what we had!), how to promote the congress and how to make people more aware about green roof and vertical greening. Hangzhou Tourism Commission put a lot of efforts into supporting the organisers in all aspects, from logistical support, local PR support to encouraging local delegates’ enrollment and financial support. They were definitely instrumental in the success of the congress. HQ: What was the delegates’ feedback in general? Yi Lv: As our president Manfred said the 2012 China Hangzhou World Green Roof Congress was held very smoothly and successfully. Most delegates reflected that the congress was a wonderful and wellorganised event. They were thankful for all the organisers’ efforts in promoting roof greenery in China.
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> Hotels
A selection of conference hotels Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake
If you’re used to holding your conference or meeting in a hotel, here is a selection of eight properties, all worth checking out, all with a definite character.
Sheraton Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort The first Sheraton to have opened in Hangzhou, this hotel is ideally located in the National Wetland Park (as the name indicates!), thus offering easy access to downtown and West Lake. Its 380 spacious guest rooms and suites provide all the amenities you can expect in this kind of facility, while it is a good fit for business meetings as well, with a large pillar-less ballroom divisible into three, a foyer for pre-event activities or exhibitions and nine flexible VIP rooms, all with natural lighting. There are also three theme restaurants ready to welcome you, including Feast all day dining restaurant, Yue Chinese restaurant, and Satine French restaurant.
InterContinental Hangzhou With its striking appearance - with its round shape and glittering, golden colours, it was constructed as the sun - the InterContinental Hangzhou may well be the most iconic building of the city, a landmark property visitors come to have a look at if only for a few minutes. Just check out the picture, and you’ll understand what I mean! Located in the scenic new district of Qianjiang, with 391 rooms (and a rooftop swimming-pool with a view!), it’s also an integrated complex that houses the Hangzhou International Conference Centre 6
(boasting no less than 26 meeting rooms, a pillar-less ballroom of 1,780 m2 and two auditoriums), a shopping centre and a grand theatre. Maximum capacity in one room: 1,800 pax.
Banyan Tree Hangzhou Banyan Tree Hangzhou definitely rhymes with elegance, peacefulness and luxury. Set in the idyllic Xixi National Wetland Park, the resort-like hotel (where I was lucky enough to stay!) is just 50 minutes’ drive from Xiaoshan International Airport and 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre and West Lake. With the beauty of Jiangnan, symbolizing the relief and comfort provided by nature, as its red thread spread across the property, Banyan Tree Hangzhou is a subtle mix of oriental color and modern ornament. This is the place for an exclusive board meeting for instance, with two meeting rooms available accommodating up to 100 persons. Let’s also mention the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa Hangzhou, where you can get a treat you will always remember.
Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou This is more your ‘classic’ conference hotel, but with a definite added value in terms of location and spaciousness. Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou is indeed in
InterContinental Hangzhou
Taixuhu Holiday Hotel
close proximity to the People's Great Hall of Zhejiang Province, and Wulin Square, as well as the shopping street on the Yan’an Road. Boasting big meeting rooms, the hotel can cater to large groups, especially in the sun-bathed, pillar-free Royale Ballroom on the third floor, accommodating up to 500 people for a cocktail, 350 for a banquet or a seminar. Oh and did I mention its 294 guest rooms are super spacious and its breakfast is one of the best I’ve ever had? I should know, I stayed there!
> Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at Westlake When you enter the site where the Four Seasons Hotel is nestled, it’s like you step into an oasis of peace, charm and tranquility. Located along the shores of the West Lake amidst an exquisite garden, the hotel, which might be considered ‘boutique’ in view of its elegance and human size, has 78 guest rooms plus three residential-style villas complete with luxurious amenities. Expertly combining modern luxury and design with traditional architecture and timeless natural beauty, it’s also the ideal fit for exclusive gatherings: the hotel boasts a 515-m2 ballroom for up to 280 guests. In addition, three function rooms also cater for events of all kinds. Last but not least, prestigious gala dinners can be organised outside, in the lakeside gardens.
Taixuhu Holiday Hotel If its name seems to indicate it’s for leisure travelers only, don’t be mistaken: Taixuhu Holiday Hotel, situated 20 minutes’ drive from Hangzhou city centre, in a natural, preserved environment, with mountains and lakes all around, takes pride in impressive meetings facilities. With its 3042-m2 Golden Hall and 20 meeting rooms of different sizes, it is well equipped to host international and domestic high-end conferences. In addition to 526 luxurious guest rooms, six Chinese and Western restaurants admitting 3,500 people (yes, 3,500!), the hotel can also organise diverse recreational activities, including grass skating, boating, fishing, tennis… and much more! There’s also a Buddhist temple in its direct vicinity. So after a hard day’s work, you’ll know what to do.
Crowne Plaza Hangzhou Xanadu Resort Out of all the hotels I got to visit during my stay in Hangzhou, the Crowne Plaza Hangzhou Xanadu Resort might well be the conference hotel par excellence. Located a few minutes’ drive to the West Lake, the city centre and Hangzhou International Airport, it has been thought out as a conference village, where everything will run smoothly. The hotel has 302 guest rooms all with a view of the majestic lake or the beautiful gardens. In addition to a ballroom for up to 550 people, there are 18 flexible conference
rooms equipped with the most advanced meeting facilities and a column-free conference and exhibition centre of nearly 1,000 m2 which caters to events of any format and size. On a side note, the hotel also produces its own tea – who would have thought?
The Dragon Branded as ‘the first smart hotel in the world’, The Dragon, located between West Lake and Hangzhou’s CBD, boasts the world’s first intelligent meeting management system, which automatically analyzes incoming data. The goal is to make the guest’s experience more comfortable, fascinating, one-of-a-kind, by partnering with companies like IBM and designing whole sets of intelligent features for a truly remarkable hotel solution. Whether it be for checking out or in, finding your way (even outside the hotel!) or getting room service… you really have to see it for yourself to actually believe it! In terms of facilities, The Dragon offers 598 guest rooms, a banquet space of 4,500 m2 inclusive of two large ballrooms of 1,200 m2, for a maximum capacity in one room of 1,000 people.
The Dragon
Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou
Crowne Plaza Hangzhou Xanadu Resort
Sheraton Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort
Banyan Tree Hangzhou
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> Conference centres
Olympic Sports Expo Center
Conference centres Two is the key Like Mr. Chen Bin acknowledged in his interview, Hangzhou could do with a purposebuilt conference centre. But still, there are great places planners can use for events.
Zhejiang People’s Great Hall Located by the West Lake of Hangzhou, at the western foot of Baoshi Hill, the People’s Great Hall of Zhejiang Province, also named Zhejiang International Conference & Exhibition Center, is all about space, majesty and flexibility. Built and put into use in December 2002, it is divided into six areas: the main assembly room, the international conference hall, the conference hall of the People’s Congress Standing Committee, the conference hall of all districts and cities, and the banquet hall and the entertainment area. For conferences, the main assembly room is rather used - sometimes serving as the stage for art performances, with the People’s Square, the Culture Square and the Charm Square surrounding it. Covering an area of nearly 60,000 m2, the Zhejiang Great Hall can accommodate a bit more than 1,500 delegates in one single 8
hall. This fully-fledged facility, capable of hosting functions such as conference, performance, catering and recreation & entertainment, is an important centre for political, economic, cultural and technological activities in Zhejiang Province and for various activities held by the Party and governmental organs of Hangzhou City and Zhejiang Province. More info on www.zjdht.gov.cn
Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Center Still under construction at the time of writing this report, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Center, as the name implies, will be a large-scale sports complex, comprising of Hangzhou International Expo Center (840,000 m2, with 7,500 international standard booths), a Stadium (80,000 seats), a Gymnasium (18,000 seats),
The People’s Great Hall
a Natatorium (6,000 seats), a Small-ball Center (180,000 km2), a Tennis Centre (23 pcs), and Twin Towers! Located on both banks of Qijia River, which forms a boundary between Binjiang District and Xiaoshan District on south side of the Qiantang River, a 15-minute drive from the West Lake scenic spot, and a 10-minute drive from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, this Expo Center will also be able to accommodate large events of any formats. That’s definitely good news for Hangzhou, which, up until now, was more focusing on medium-size association meetings. Currently, Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Government as well as Hangzhou municipal Party Committee and Government are in full swing to bid for the eighth National City Games in 2015. Needless to say it will allow Hangzhou MICE Association to also bid for large-scale association conferences. More info on www.hzoiec.com/en/index.htm
> Special venues
Venues with flair Hangzhou is blessed with pagodas, temples, luxurious mansions you can use for very exclusive gatherings, like gala dinners or high-end board meetings. Here is a selection of three - a residence, a temple and a village, for variety’s sake.
Hu Xueyan’s Former Residence Built around 1872, the Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, a Hangzhou celebrity and one of the richest and most famous businessmen in Qing Dynasty, is a colossal private house covering almost 6,000 m2. At the time of its construction at the very prosperous site in Hangzhou, it cost the owner 10,000 grams of silver: no wonder, then, that the house screams luxury and elegance, in pure Chinese style on the outside, with many pavilions, booths, bridges and ingenious brick, wood and stone engraves. The inside, on the other hand, was influenced by western style, with large windows and more ‘classical’ furniture. If you really want to make the most of the venue, a night tour can be arranged, with a narrator guiding you along the way. The good news is that gala dinners can also be organised there (for around 60 persons), while traditional Chinese shows can be performed in the residence’s courtyard.
Hu Xueyan’s Former Residence
Qianwang Temple
Leifeng Pagoda if that’s the case, and take a stroll on the eastern side of the Hangzhou’s West Lake. There you’ll find Qian Wang Ci, or Qianwang Temple, which was built as a memorial to renowned King Qian Liu, the founder of the Wuyue Kingdom and profound contributor to the development of Zhejiang province. King Qian chose Hangzhou as the capital city of his empire. This fascinating spot has had temples built and destroyed on it for centuries. Three times it was erected as a memorial to King Qian, the final time being in 2003, which explains the ‘new’ look of the place. There are two courtyards inside the temple which, when combined, can be used for prestigious, memorable gala dinners, for up to 700 people.
Sometimes you get the urge to do a touristy thing when you’re abroad, but you really can’t handle crowds. Avoid Six Harmonies Pagoda, Lingyin Temple, and
In the spirit of a traditional Chinese Village, Amanfayun will seduce the most
Qianwang Temple
Amanfayun
demanding planners: it is a place to explore, a haven made of stone pathways leading to shaded courtyards, quaint restaurants and peaceful abodes. Situated on the outskirts of Hangzhou, a 20-minute drive from the West Lake, the resort houses 47 elegant little houses (guest rooms, a steam house, a library, etc.) surrounded by tea fields, natural forests and lush groves of bamboo. Many buildings at Amanfayun can be used either for small meetings or one-of-a-kind dinners: the meeting room, located on the second floor of the restaurant, is elegantly appointed and spacious, with wood carving and high-tech equipment, accommodating up to 70 persons, while ‘Fayun Place’, at the centre of the village, can be used for private functions there the exclusive character of the place can’t but enthrall you.
Amanfayun
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> Social programmes
In and out Hangzhou Discovering the culture of China and Hangzhou
West Lake
Few other Chinese destinations than Hangzhou can offer such a combination of high-end infrastructure to host meetings with so many possibilities to discover the Chinese culture after a hard day’s work. As for pre- or post-tour options, Hangzhou may not have it all but it comes really close! There is a good number of ‘tea villages’ west of Hangzhou. I was lucky enough to go to one on a sunny day and learn all about China's finest and most popular green tea, the Longjing tea, whose production has a history of over a thousand years and which has been enjoyed by many emperors through the centuries. If you drink Longjing tea all over the country and the world at large, it is in Hangzhou itself that the most authentic blends are available, right on the roadsides where the farmers themselves are stirring their favourite leaves over the roasters with their bare hands. As you would expect, a Longjing Tea village is picturesque: there on the slopes of the mountain, Longjing's wealth has seen its villages become modern while remaining traditional, with townhouses and double-storied homes with elegant balconies receiving tourists for calm afternoons spent over big glasses of deep green tea. Another option if you’re more the sporty type is to go for a low-carbon hiking tour around the village and - why not - handpick some tea leaves yourself. Talking about hiking, a walk around the West Lake is also definitely a must. A UNESCO’s World Heritage site since 2011, it has for centuries been charming all those who gaze upon it, and it is known worldwide as the Heaven on Earth. Doesn’t this say it all? Covering a total area of 60 km2, it also 10
boasts over 90 stunning tourist attractions or parks along its banks. Whether you’re into biking, simply walking, tea-picking, Tai Chi playing, or relaxing on a small cruise ship, the variety of activities you can do there seems simply limitless, as you think Hangzhou might be the only Chinese city to offer such a mixture of urban experiences and natural possibilities. As for the matter, it’s directly on the West Lake that I enjoyed the show called Impression West Lake, directed by famous Chinese artist Zhang Yimou, who recently choreographed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With natural mountains and water as its backdrop, staged entirely upon the lake itself, it is a grand open-air performance of light, music, dance, theatrics and a bit of pop culture. First initiated in 2007, Impression West Lake deploys the lake and its surroundings as props to create a life-like charming background and showcases the deep-rooted culture and natural beauty of Hangzhou. Some would say that it symbolizes a renewal of Chinese culture in regional tourism: good thing, then, that it can accommodate as many as 1,800 spectators!
Maybe a bit more ‘touristy’ but definitely worth discovering because of it teaches some elements about culture and history in Hangzhou, another show to enjoy is The Romance of the Song Dynasty. Set in Song City Hangzhou Scenic Spot, one of the most popular theme parks in China, it is full-on performance based on the historic stories and myths of Hangzhou, integrating singing, dancing and acrobatics into one whole dream-like show, a huge feast to the eye. The venue itself can host up to 3,000 people and offers conference service according to requirements of guests when no performance is presented. And if you decide for it, why not, before the show, wander around Song City? There Chinese culture is on display with cotton shops, alcohol shops, dye houses, pottery shops and local snacks to be found everywhere.
> Social programmes
Hangzhou, in a nutshell The thing is there is no nutshell when it comes to Hangzhou, as it clearly stands out as a fantastic ‘different’ Asian city in terms of culture and character. The city’s biggest selling lies in its abundance of historic and cultural scenic spots, a perfect balance of the West Lake and the surrounding mountains, added by Qiantang River, Grand Canal, and Xixi Wetland. It’s difficult to describe Hangzhou with just a few words, as the things to do and see stand aplenty.
Impression West Lake
The Grand Canal, 1,764 km in length, is the longest man-made waterway as well as being the greatest in ancient China, far surpassing the next two of the world: the Suez and Panama Canals. Running from Hangzhou in the south to Beijing in the north and connecting different river systems, it contributed greatly to ensure that the Chinese primary economy thrived in past dynasties. Now more than 2,000 years old, some parts of the canal are still in use, mainly functioning as a water-diversion conduit. The Hangzhou section is regarded as the pulse of the city, cultivating the unique cultural personality of the destination. There are 132 heritage sites in the Grand Canal, and among them seven sites are situated in the Hangzhou section, all infused with specific food, dress, customs and rituals, and other various local elements, waiting to be discovered. So a Grand Canal cruise, whether at night or during the day, is highly recommended! And if you don’t have enough water, I’d suggest a tour of Xixi National Wetland Park, situated in the west of Hangzhou, five kilometers from the West Lake, a rare urban wetland, applauded as the ‘Lung of Hangzhou’. With rich ecological resources, simple natural landscape and profound culture, it is the first and only wetland park in China combining urban life, farming and culture, which you can learn all about during a enjoyable cruise. It has indeed not only broad open views, but also a variety of water views.
The Romance of Song Dynasty
Xixi National Wetland Park
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Hangzhou
a fresh new alternative for your MICE in the heart of China
www.micehangzhou.com/en