Learn How to Pronounce Hangzhou | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Hangzhou
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)
Meaning and Context
Hangzhou, the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang Province in eastern China, is a major metropolitan hub celebrated for its profound historical legacy and breathtaking natural scenery. Founded over 2,200 years ago, the city served as the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty and has long been a cultural, economic, and political center. Its global renown is inextricably linked to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of West Lake (Xi Hu), a serene freshwater lake whose landscaped gardens, pagodas, and causeways have inspired poets and artists for centuries. As a cornerstone of the Zhejiang travel experience, Hangzhou is also the epicenter of Chinese tea culture, being the home of the world-famous Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea, cultivated in the surrounding lush hills. The city seamlessly blends ancient heritage, seen in sites like the Lingyin Temple and the Grand Canal, with dynamic modern innovation as a key driver in the Yangtze River Delta economic zone and a host city for major events like the 2016 G20 summit and the 2022 Asian Games, making it a premier destination for cultural tourism and business travel in China.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The standard English spelling is Hangzhou, which follows the Hanyu Pinyin romanization system. A common historical spelling, still occasionally encountered in older texts or derived from the postal map romanization system, is Hangchow or Hang-chow. Frequent misspellings and typos arise from phonetic misinterpretations or keyboard slips, such as "Hanzhou" (omitting the 'g'), "Hangzou" (substituting 'u' with 'o'), or "Hangzhao" (incorrectly adding an 'a'). Another error is the conflation with other Chinese cities, leading to spellings like "Hangzhu" or "Hangshou." It is also important to note the correct diacritical mark in the Chinese pronunciation, represented as Hángzhōu, where the acute and macron accents indicate the specific rising and high-level tones, respectively, though these are typically omitted in common English usage.
Example Sentences
No trip to China is complete without spending a few serene days exploring the classical gardens and pagodas surrounding Hangzhou's iconic West Lake.
As the birthplace of Longjing tea, a visit to Hangzhou often includes a tour of the Meijiawu tea plantations in the rolling hills just west of the city.
The city's perfect fusion of ancient history and cutting-edge technology was on full display when it hosted the 2016 G20 Summit, showcasing its modern infrastructure against a backdrop of timeless beauty.
Many travelers use Hangzhou as a convenient base for exploring other scenic and commercial centers in the prosperous Zhejiang Province.
After marveling at the ancient stone carvings at the Feilai Feng grottoes, you can return to the city center to experience Hangzhou's vibrant and innovative culinary scene.
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