Hangzhou, a well-known tourist city at home and abroad, is the capital of Zhejiang Province. It lies on the lower reaches of the Qiantang River and is the southern end of the l,794-kilometre-long Grand Canal (Beijing-Hangzhou Canal). 

With a history of over 2,200 years, Hangzhou is one of the seven ancient capital cities of China. It was the capital in Wuyue State of the Five Dynasties and the Southern Song Dynasty. In the 13th century, Italian traveler Macro Polo admired Hangzhou as 'the most beautiful and splendid city in the world'. 

Covering an area of 16,596 square kilometres, the city embraces 8 urban districts namely Shangcheng, Xiacheng, Jianggan, Gongshu, Xihu, Binjiang, Xiaoshan and Yuhang, and 5 suburban counties, namely, Fuyang, Tonglu, Lin'an, Jiande and Chun'an. 

By the end of 2003, the registered population in Hangzhou is 6,4287 million, including the urban registered population of 3,9319 million.