Total area: 16,596 square kilometers (of which the city proper covers 429 square kilometers )
Total population: 6.08 million (with an urban population of 1.19 million)

Climate: Lying in the north fringe of the subtropical zone, Hangzhou is about 200 kilometers from the East China Sea. It has four distinct seasons. The average monthly temperature ranges from 3.8 degrees C in January to 28.6 degrees C in July, with an annual average of 16.2 degrees C . The West Lake area is never without flowers. The rainy season lasts from March through June. The best weather tends to occur in the spring and autumn.

Average temperatures and rainfall:
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Temp. (F)
38	40	49	59	69	75	84	83	75	64	54	43
Rain(inches)
10	10	13	13	12	14	11	11	12	10	8	7

Hanghzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, boasts a long history. State Wu, State Yue, and Southern Song Dynasty once built their capitals here, making it one of the six ancient capital cities in China. It is situated at the lower reaches of the Qiantang River and is the southern terminus of the Grand Canal as well. It is 180 kilometers from Shanghai. Originally a Neolithic site to the northwest, over the centuries Hangzhou became a small fishing village and eventually the capital of the province. When the Grand Canal was built between Hangzhou and Beijing, the city grew rapidly in importance and prosperity. From the ninth century on, over a period of 237 years, 14 emperors chose Hangzhou as the capital city.

The traditional local industry has been silk production, and Hangzhou's silk products have found their way to many parts of the world ever since the Tang Dynasty. So did the elegantly fragrant high quality Long Jing tea. Traditional Chinese medicaments and chrysanthemum flower tea are among the noteworthy local products. Also crafted locally and known for the quality of material and high level of skill in their manufacture are Zhang Xiaoquan scissors, Wang Singji Fans, West Lake silk umbrellas, Du Jinshen brocade, Shao Zhiyan writing brushes, and Xiaoshan decorative lace and dancing shoes

Hangzhou is one of China's major tourist attractions, drawing both local and overseas visitors. On weekends, the city is deluged by Chinese day-trippers from Shanghai, Suzhou, and Wuxi. The magnet is the exquisite West Lake.