杭州市は、中国の東南沿海、長江の南を流れる銭塘江下流の北岸にあり、北京、杭州をつなぐ大運河の最南端に位置します。杭州の人口は６７２．３５万人、面積は１６，５９６平方キロメートル。浙江省の省都であり、政治、経済、科学、教育、文化の中心を担っています。

    Hangzhou is located  nearby the southest coast, on the north bank of the entrance of Qiantang River. And it is the most southern end point of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Hangzhou has a population of 6.72 millions,and the area is 16,596 square kilometers. It is the Captital of Zhejiang province, and the center of politics,economy,science,educaion and culture.

　主要産業は、機械、電子、食品、紡績、化学で、近年著しい経済発展を遂げており、中国内都市競争力ランキングでも上位にランクされています。

   The main indutries are Mechanical industry,   Electtical Industry, Food industray and Chemical industry,etc. As the fast economic developing, Hangzhou is more and more competitive among top cities in China.

       白居易や蘇東坡の詩にうたわれ、人々にこよなく愛され続けている西湖のほか多数の観光資源を備え、国内外観光客で賑わいをみせる観光都市で、１３世紀のイタリアの旅行家マルコポーロが「世界で最も美しく華やかな都市」と誉め讃えたことでも有名です。

   As portrayed in the poems written by Sushi and Baijuyi, everybody loves the West Lake forever.Because of the unique natural resource, home and oversea tourists desire to vist the prosperous city. Marco Polo,the greatest traveller from Itlay in the 13th Century,praised Hangzhou as "the most beautiful and glorious metropolis in the world.

             飲湖上初晴後雨　　　蘇軾（北宋）

水光瀲灔晴方好　　　水光　瀲灔として　晴れ方に好し
山色空濛雨亦奇　　　山色　空濛として　雨も亦た奇なり
欲把西湖比西子　　　西湖を把りて西子に比せんと欲すれば
淡粧濃抹総相宜　　　淡粧　濃抹　総べて相宜し

［口語訳］
　水面の光はきらきらと輝き、晴れた時の景色はとても良い
　山の様子がぼんやりと曇り、雨の時の景色もやはり良い
　西湖のこの風景をかの西施に喩えてみるならば
　薄化粧の姿も濃く装った姿も、どちらも全く良いものだ

 Drinking on the West Lake, Drizzling After Sunshine----by Su shi (Nortehn Song Dynasty)
 
The Sun plays on the floodings, the scene is riant,
The drizzles misting the mountains is also a sight.
Comparing West Lake to "West Beauty",
Both are charming in light dress as well in bright.

杭州の西湖十景は：

Ten Views of the West Lake are as the following:

1.蘇堤春暁　Spring Dawn at Su Causeway
西湖を南北に走る全長約２．８Kｍの堤。車両通行禁止なのでのんびりと西湖を楽しむことができる。夕方には中国人カップルでいっぱいになる。

The total length of the north-south causeway  is 2.8km.The causeway is a pedestrian precinct,where vehicles may not enter.Tourists can enjoy the landscape of  West Lake leisurely.Toward evening,many chinese couples walk on the Su Causeway to enjoy  the wonderful landscape.

2.曲院風荷　Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard

西湖の西北、「岳廟」の向かいにある。とても大きな庭園で園内にはたくさんの蓮が植えられている。静かな園内には茶館もあり、のんびりと龍井茶を楽しむこともできる。 

The courtyard lies on the northwest side of the West Lake,nearby the Yuefei Temple. There are a mass of lotuses and quiet teahouse in the capacious courtyard. You can enjoy Longjing tea in the teahouse leisurely. 

3.平湖秋月　Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake

「白堤」の西側、狐山の南側にある。湖面とほぼ同じ高さに作られたのでこの名がある。満月の夜、ここからの西湖の眺めは最高とされている。

It lies on the west side of Bai Causeway, at the southen side of Fox Hill.The elevation of the lake and of  the cuseway is nearly the same,hence the name "Calm Lake ". At the full moon night , here is the best position for view of the West Lake.

 4.断橋残雪　Melting Snow at Broken Bridge

西湖の北側「白堤」に架かる橋のこと。ここは日本でもアニメ化された民話「白蛇伝」の舞台にもなっている。雪景色が最も美しいとされている。ここから白堤を歩き始めると車両通行禁止になっているのでのんびりと西湖の景色を楽しむことができる。  

 On the north side of the West lake,an arch brige was built on the  Bai Causeway. It is said that  some sotries of "Legend of the White Snake" happened here .A snow scene of Broken Bridge is very beautiful.The Bai causeway is also a pedestrian precinct,where vehicles may not enter.Tourists can enjoy the landscape of  West Lake leisurely as walking on the Causeway.

5.柳浪聞鴬　 Orioles singing in the willows

西湖の東側にある。以前はあまり人気もなかったが２００２年「西湖南線」の完成により新しく生まれ変わり人気のスポットとなった。とても大きな公園で綺麗に整備されている。 

It is on the easten side of the lake. Here was not very popular before  2002. After the"  West Lake South Line Rebuilding Project "  finished, this place became one of the most popular scenic spots.Now it is a spacious park on the east side of the West Lake.

6.花港観魚　Viewing Fish at flower harbor

蘇堤の南端近くにある公園で、園内はとても広いが中でも５００種以上の牡丹が植えられている牡丹園とたくさんの赤いコイが泳ぐ紅魚池が有名。 

It is a sapcious courtyard on the southen side of Su Causeway. The courtyard is famous for more than 500 kinds of tree peonies and a mass of cryprinus carpiods swimming in the pool.
 
 
  
7.雷峰夕照　 Sunset glow at Leifeng pagoda

西湖の南側。以前は「雷峰塔」もなくさみしい場所だったが２００２年１１月に「雷峰塔」が再建されてからは人気の名所になった。ここから見る西湖の夕日が有名。 

8.双峰插雲　Twin peaks piercing Clouds

西湖の西側に南高峰（２５６ｍ）と北高峰（３５５ｍ）があり、これらを双峰と呼ぶ。「双峰插雲」とは霊隠路の洪春橋から見た双峰のことを指すが現在この場所からは木々の影響で景色を楽しむことはできない。西湖湖畔や霊隠寺周辺からその景色を楽しもう。 
 

9.南屏晩鍾　 Evening bell at Nanping hill

西湖の南側「雷峰塔」の向かいにある「浄慈禅寺」の鐘の音と西湖の夕日とがすばらしい情景を作り出すのでこの名がある。
 It is on the southen side of the lake,opposite to Leifeng Pagoda.It's famous for the evening bell of Jingci Temple and the sunset of the West Lake.

  
10.三潭印月　Three pools mirroring the moon

西湖に浮かぶ島で最も有名。島には池がたくさんありそこに「九曲橋」が架かっている。島の南側には３本の石塔が立っていて満月の夜に船から見る情景が最高とされている。 
 
 　　是非一度杭州を観光しましょう。どうですか、皆様？僕とメールで連絡してください。

Wuzhen is basically at the centre of a triangle formed by Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. There is no railway station or airport at Wuzhen, just the bus station. There are however,  buses that run directly to Wuzhen from Shanghai South Bus Station, Hangzhou New Bus Station and Jiaxing. Buses also run to nearby Tongxiang, the regional centre for Wuzhen. For those further away, buses also run from Ningbo, Nanjing and Wuxi to Tongxiang.

A local bus (4 rmb) runs from inside Tongxiang Bus Station to Wuzhen (pay on  the bus). There is an express bus also available from Jiaxing and Suzhou to Tongxiang. Tongxiang is the regional shopping and administration centre for Wuzhen and the local bus trip is around 20 minutes to and from Wuzhen. If you want to experience the real life experience of local Chinese bus travel, the local bus is the way to go. Do not be concerned for personal safety, as local people, although curious, are very friendly. However, as with travelling anywhere in China, take care of your valuables (i.e. wallet, passport and mobile phone).

Taxis will also run to Wuzhen from Tongxiang (50 rmb) Jiaxing  (around 80 rmb), Hangzhou to Wuzhen (around 200 rmb) and Shanghai to Wuzhen (300 rmb) but the Express buses from Hangzhou and Shanghai are airconditioned and comfortable.

Travelling from Shanghai airport, you can take the airport bus to Shanghai South Bus Station. Within Shanghai, the Metro No. 3 line will also take you to the South Bus Station. Buses run regularly to Wuzhen and Tongxiang from the Shanghai South Bus Station.

Within Wuzhen the 350 bus travels to Xi Zha (West old town) or there are blue bicycle taxis available if you would like a more relaxed ride. Wuzhen is only a small country town so for the fit and healthy, walking is also an option and the opportunity to observe more of the local activities. THere is no bus to Dong Zha (East old town), but it is easily access via blue bikes or walking (about 1.2 kilometres).

In using the blue bike taxis, you need to negotiate a price, but nowhere in Wuzhen should cost you more than 10 rmb.