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Hangzhou\u2019s appeal extends well beyond its poetic scenery. Often dubbed the Silicon Valley of China, it\u2019s home to rising tech and robotics firms such as DeepSeek, which share the skyline with centuries-old pagodas \u2014 and sleek cafes that serve Longjing tea lattes.<\/span><\/p>\n Just an hour away by high-speed rail lies Suzhou, often called China\u2019s Venice of the East. Here, its own Jinji Lake offers a scenic complement to the city\u2019s classical gardens, while traditional boats still ply its canals. Nearby, Yangcheng Lake yields a prized seasonal delicacy: The famed hairy crab.<\/span><\/p>\n Together, these two lake cities offer a captivating balance of past and present \u2014 with plenty to see, savour, and linger over.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s cut to the chase: Hangzhou might not have the international pull of Shanghai or Beijing (yet), but its shopping scene certainly punches above its weight. Hangzhou Tower (<\/span>Hangzhou Dasha<\/span><\/a>) is the grande dame of malls, home to an encyclopaedic range of luxury brands, \u2014\u00a0<\/strong>including Hermes, where lucky shoppers have been known to snag the French maison\u2019s elusive handbags.\u00a0<\/span>Hangzhou Centre<\/span><\/a>, meanwhile, leans younger and trendier, showcasing buzzy Chinese labels like Songmont, recently fronted by British It girl Alexa Chung.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nTHE MODERN METROPOLIS OF HANGZHOU<\/span><\/h2>\n