Hangzhou: A blend of history and modernity

From October 15th to 16th, more than 20 media reporters from Russia, India, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Vietnam and other “Belt and Road” countries gathered in Hangzhou to participate in the “Foreign Media China Tour”. Activities included field interviews and numerous events to encourage an in-depth understanding of this 5,000-year-old vibrant city.

Reporters and the delegation began their tour at the urban planning exhibition hall and the city balcony to understand the overall city planning of Hangzhou and discover landmark buildings in the heart of Qianjiang New City.

They also visited the May Fourth Constitution “Historical Data Exhibition Hall” and the drafting place of the 1954 Constitution on the New China.

A trip to the Xiqiaoyin Society displayed the art seal engraving, one of Hangzhou’s intangible cultural heritage. Reporters also experienced the development of Hangzhou’s Wenchuang Industry from the Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Office.

After visiting Xiqiaoyinshe, reporters toured the West Lake, a landmark attraction in Hangzhou, experiencing the picturesque waters and mountains. Many reporters took out their cameras and took photos.The delegation also visited Alibaba Group, the country's first cross-border e-commerce industrial park “dream town” and the centre of Hangzhou's science and technology dreams. They uncovered the rapid development of Hangzhou's digital economy and cross-border trade in recent years.

Participants spoke highly of their experiences in Hangzhou. Gaurav Sharma is a journalist working for the Asian News Agency of India, and he participated in the G20 report in 2016. This is his third visit to Hangzhou, where he likes the food and climate. He also said that in the past two years, Hangzhou has changed significantly, including improving infrastructure and construction.Shreejana Shrestha is a reporter from the BBC, this is her first visit to Hangzhou. Her first impression of Hangzhou is that it is a very quiet, clean city with a calm way of life.

A reporter from Ethiopia, Tadele Kaleyesus Bekele, also expressed his appreciation for the good urban planning in Hangzhou. He said that since the local digital economy is developing rapidly, the urban environment is also very friendly to the young people who are starting a business here, as there are many opportunities for entrepreneurship. As with many other reporters on this tour, he said that he will report back what he saw and heard to his country to further enhance the possibilities of learning from China.