参考译文

　　As the capital city of Zhejiang province, Hangzhou is steeped in history and culture. And the 5,300-year-old Archeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in Yuhang District is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization.

　　Hangzhou is globally known for its beautiful landscape. Just as an old Chinese saying goes, “Up in the sky there is heaven; down on the Earth we have Suzhou and Hangzhou.” and this reflects our strong affection for the city throughout history. West Lake, which stands in the southwest of Hangzhou, is a popular tourist destination thanks to its impressive natural scenery and many historical sites. In 2011, it was inscribed on the World Heritage Site. In addition, the breath-taking tidal bore of the Qiantang River attracts millions of tourists every year.

　　The city is home to many historical and cultural sites. For example, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, built in 1631, stretches for1,797 kilometers and is the world’s longest and oldest artificial waterway. It was designated a World Heritage Site on June 22, 2014.

　　It also enjoys a strong global reputation. In the 13th century, the Italian traveler Marco Polo in his travelogue described it as “the finest and most magnificent city in the world”. And in 2011, the city was selected as one of the 41 Places to Go by The New York Times and an International Garden City by the United Nations as well.

　　In addition, Hangzhou played an important role in the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. And it has taken the lead in implementing the Tourism Diplomacy initiative launched by the country in January 2015.