West Lake Museum, 87 Nanshan Lu (0571 8788 2333), explains the entire history and influence of the West Lake, from its geological formation thousands of years ago to the primitive stone axes on display that show the early arrival of man. There is a section highlighting the long influence that the lake has had on China’s culture and there is special circular cinema where one sits in a boat to see the development of part of the lake.

China Tea Museum, Twin Peaks Village, on Longjin Lu (0571 8769 4221), is set appropriately amidst Hangzhou’s verdant tea fields. It should be of particular interest to anyone interested in the production of China’s favorite drink. A special emphasis is placed on how tea culture developed from its first inception during the Tang Dynasty. The way the upper classes took to tea is revealed through ancient imperial tea sets, while replicas of tea houses from across the country show how tea has influenced China’s ethnic minorities. If all this builds up a thirst, there are a number of real tea houses in the museum to quench it.

Tiandi, 123 Pinghai Lu (0571 8717 2468), is wedged among some of Hangzhou’s priciest stores -- and one of the city’s more sumptuous restaurants, within which it is possible to sample a selection of Guangdong and local cuisine that matches in taste the dark and fashionable settings.

Taizi Lou, 205 Yan’an Lu (05718708 7122-826) is a busy restaurant, popular with locals, that provides a different offering on each floor. The ground floor is a canteen for a quick lunch, the second serves Hangzhou dishes and the top is for roast duck. Go to the second floor for some cheap and authentic renditions of locals classics such as dongpo pork and beggar’s chicken.

Hangzhou

Marco Polo described Hangzhou as the most beautiful city in the world and it is still a place renowned across China for its extraordinary aesthetic charms. Nor is there anything superficial about its attractions: historically it has been a powerful influence in religion, the arts and in trade. Much of this legacy has survived into the present day, making Hangzhou one of China’s greatest tourist magnets.

 Although the history of Hangzhou starts in the third century BC, during the Qin Dynasty, the city first came to prominence in the tenth century as the capital of the short lived Wuyue Kingdom. When, 150 years later, the rulers of the Song Dynasty surrendered all of the territory of northern China to Jin invaders, they retreated to Hangzhou and made it the capital of what became the Southern Song Dynasty and Hangzhou’s fortunes rose to their peak.

Like other cities around China, Shanghai has developed satellite university towns or districts, designed to provide updated, spacious campuses large enough to handle the influx of new students as China expands enrollment. Songjiang, located southwest of Shanghai, is one such developing collegiate quarter. Seven universities make up the Songjiang University Town: Shanghai International Studies University; Donghua University; Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade; Shanghai University of Engineering Science; Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce; Shanghai Institute of Visual Art; and East China University of Politics and Law.

The campuses are impressively large and have big attractive buildings to match.  With room to spare, most of the universities are in the process of transitioning their students and graduate students to Songjiang, expecting further expansion of the student body in years to come. While the campuses are ample, pretty and clean, more than a drive-by might reveal a lack of lifeblood and activity. The usual haunts of any college town – such as tea shops, bookstores, video lounges and park benches – are still somewhat lacking.

Zhujiajiao is a water town near Dianshan Lake, with a history dating back more than 1,700 years. Long famous throughout southern China as a fabric and rice business center, it later fell into decline due to financial problems and the decay of its position as a land and water transportation hub. In 2000, the town was included within the Shanghai Municipal Government’s ‘One City Nine Town’ campaign and projects to protect and renovate the ancient water town were undertaken.

The initial focus on tourism promotion was gradually called into question, as tensions between this emphasis and the goal of cultural preservation became increasingly stark. A more selective approach, stressing heritage conservation, came to the fore. The future of Zhujiajiao as a ‘New South China Water Town’ was envisaged as a delicate balance between residence, culture and entertainment, preserving old historical buildings and lanes, while creating a modern tourism landmark.