Zhejiang province has been famous for its natural beauty since ancient times. For thousands of years, poems, songs and prose have extolled the province.

In its capital city Hangzhou, the famous West Lake attracted tourists even 2,000 years ago. Thirteenth century Italian explorer Marco Polo, wrote that Hangzhou was "the city of heaven, the most beautiful and magnificent in the world".

The name Zhejiang literally means a winding river. It is the old name of the Qiantang River that runs through the province.