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The official slogan of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games is "Heart to Heart, @Future".
Four-time Olympic diving gold medallist Guo Jingjing is among Hangzhou 2022's "dream ambassadors".
More than 52,000 volunteers will be needed for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
Every Hangzhou 2022 volunteer will be presented with a "little cyan box" containing a certificate, pin badges and stamps.
Ten companies have been named as prestige partners of Hangzhou 2022, including Alibaba Group.
The Hangzhou Olympic Center Stadium, the focal venue of the Games, is also known as the "Big Lotus".
Esports and breaking will make their Asian Games debuts at Hangzhou 2022.
Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province.
Hangzhou sits on the Qiantang River, which stretches for 285 miles and enters the Pacific in Hangzhou Bay.
Sister cities of Hangzhou around the world include Boston in the United States, Leeds in England, Nice in France, Cape Town in South Africa, Budapest in Hungary and Canberra in Australia
Hangzhou hosted the G20 Summit in 2016.
Hangzhou is one of China's "ancient capitals".
From 907, Hangzhou was the capital of Wuyue, a coastal Kingdom which lasted until 960.
A huge fire in 1237 destroyed nearly 30,000 buildings in Hangzhou.
Hangzhou was believed to be the largest city in the world by 1180.
Hangzhou was founded in the year 200 by the Qin Dynasty.
A city wall was first constructed in Hangzhou under the Sui Dynasty in 591.
Hangzhou is the southern endpoint of China's famous Grand Canal, a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Hangzhou's famous West Lake has been described as "a paradise on water or water in paradise".
West Lake in Hangzhou is a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Marco Polo described Hangzhou as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest city in the world".
Hangzhou has been a famous producer of silk for centuries.
Hangzhou is famous for Longjing tea, which is considered to be among the finest in China.
The people in Hangzhou speak with their own distinct dialect.
A popular dish in Hangzhou is Dongpo pork - belly pork served in a thick gravy.
The China Academy of Art was founded in Hangzhou in 1928.
Opera is popular in Hangzhou and is performed in many theatres in the city.
Quyuan Garden in Hangzhou features 200 different species of lotus flowers.
Zhejiang Library in Hangzhou houses a collection of nearly 80,000 books.
Hangzhou is considered a superb place to view China's revered plum blossom.
Hangzhou is home to the first public bicycle project in China.
Alibaba Group was founded in Hangzhou by Jack Ma.
Hangzhou has been described as a "cashless city" with the Alipay app widely used.
Hangzhou hosted the World Short Course Swimming Championships in 2018.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic badminton champion Chen Yufei is from Hangzhou.
Forbes has rated Hangzhou as the best commercial city in mainland China.
Hangzhou is considered as a major centre for scientific research.
Matches during the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup were played in Hangzhou.
Three sporty robots, named Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen, are the Hangzhou 2022 mascots.
A number of companies have signed up to support the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, with the below official prestige partners at the top level of sponsorship.
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Geely Holding Group is the official automobile services partner of Hangzhou 2022.
The major car manufacturer is headquartered in Hangzhou and will provide transport for the Asian Games.
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[modal title="" id="china-telecom"]
China Telecom is an official communication service partner of Hangzhou 2022, along with China Mobile.
The two companies will provide 5G network coverage throughout the event.
They will also work in areas including artificial intelligence and cloud technology.
[/modal]
[modal title="" id="china-mobile"]
China Mobile is an official communication service partner of Hangzhou 2022, a duty it shares with China Telecom.
The two companies will provide 5G network coverage throughout the Asian Games.
They will also work in areas including artificial intelligence and cloud technology.
[/modal]
[modal title="" id="icbc"]
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is the official banking partner of Hangzhou 2022.
The company will work to provide "comprehensive, one-stop banking services" for the Asian Games.
It is a reprisal of the role for ICBC, which was also official banking partner at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010.
[/modal]
[modal title="" id="loongair"]
Loongair is the official airline of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
It is based out of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and has unveiled jets with livery dedicated to the event.
The company has adopted the catchphrase 'Fly Loong Air for amazing Asian Games' as part of its support.
[/modal]
[modal title="" id="alibaba"]
Alibaba Group is a major Chinese technology company with various interests, including commerce and retail.
It was founded in Hangzhou by Jack Ma and still has a presence in the city.
The company will manage the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, which includes the main venue hub for next year's Asian Games, through its sports division.
It will also help out in a variety of other areas, including its affiliate Alipay which is also a prestige partner of the Games.
Alibaba is also a top-tier partner of the International Olympic Committee.
[/modal]
[modal title="" id="alipay"]
Alipay, an online and mobile payment platform, is an affiliate of the Alibaba Group.
It is used extensively in Hangzhou, which has been described as a "cashless city".
Payments made using Alipay will be a common part of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
[/modal]
[modal title="" id="361-degrees"]
361 Degrees International Limited is a Chinese sportswear company which will provide clothing for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
The company has more than 5,000 shops in China.
It was the official provider of uniforms for staff and volunteers at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
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[modal title="" id="china-pacific"]
China Pacific Insurance Group is the official insurance services partner of Hangzhou 2022.
The company has pledged to provide a package of insurance protection and comprehensive risk management services for Hangzhou 2022.
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[modal title="" id="das"]
DAS-Security is a cybersecurity firm based in Hangzhou.
It will offer cybersecurity services throughout the 2022 Asian Games.
The Asian Games are the oldest and most prestigious event on the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) calendar, dating back to the inaugural edition in 1951.
Like the Olympic Games, they are normally held every four years.
However, the 2022 edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou will take place one year later than planned in 2023.
This decision was made in May 2022 by the Olympic Council of Asia, due to continued COVID-19 restrictions in China.
Dates of between September 23 and October 8, 2023, have now been set for the Games.
Hangzhou 2022, as it will still be known, will be the 19th edition of the Asian Games.
The Games follow the sports programme of the Olympics, with athletics and swimming as core sports, as well as featuring disciplines which reflect the diverse sporting culture of the continent.
The first edition of the Asian Games was held in New Delhi in March 1951.
The aftermath of the Second World War meant Japan were barred from the 1948 Olympics in London.
They were not invited to the founding meeting of the Asian Games Federation in 1949 but the country was allowed to compete in the inaugural Asian Games.
South Korea did not participate, however, due to the Korean War, which had started the previous year and would last until 1953.
The Games were officially opened by Indian President Rajendra Prasad at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
A total of 489 athletes from 11 National Olympic Committees competed in 12 sports.
Japan topped the medal table with 24 gold, 21 silver and 15 bronze medals.
The Torch Relay, now a well-established aspect in the build-up to both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, was introduced as a new tradition of the Asian Games for Tokyo 1958.
The Relay commenced at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the main venue for the previous Games in Manila.
In Japan, the Torch was carried from the United States-occupied Okinawa Island to Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu for a journey through the Japanese archipelago.
A total number of 1,820 athletes from 16 countries competed in 13 sports in May and June.
The sacred flame was ignited at the Opening Ceremony by triple jumper Mikio Oda, who three decades earlier had become Japan's first Olympic champion when won the gold medal at Amsterdam in 1928.
The Games were officially opened at the National Stadium by Japan Emperor Hirohito.
Japan, yet again, topped the medal table with 67 gold, 41 silver and 30 bronze medals.
The fourth edition of the Asian Games was held in Jakarta in August and September 1962.
Politics were playing a big part behind the scenes as, succumbing to pressure from Arab countries and China, the Indonesian Government refused to issue visas to the delegations from Israel and Taiwan.
Nevertheless, a total number of 1,460 athletes from 12 countries competed with badminton making its debut as one of 13 sports.
The Games were officially opened by Indonesian President Sukarno at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Japan topped the medal table with 73 gold, 65 silver and 23 bronze.
The seventh edition of the Asian Games was held in Tehran in September 1974 as the quadrennial event moved to the Middle East for the first time.
The Azadi Sport Complex was purposely built for the Games, which saw Iran’s capital play host to a record 3,010 athletes from 19 different countries.
Fencing, gymnastics and women's basketball were added to existing disciplines with 16 sports now on the programme.
In addition to the use of state-of-the-art technology, from synthetic track to photo-finish cameras, the Games were known for strict security measures due to reported threats from Palestine and a Japanese militant sect.
Politics played a major role as the action got underway with the Arab nations, China, North Korea and Pakistan refusing to face Israel in basketball, fencing, football and tennis.
The Asian Games Federation conference, which was held 10 months before the Games, had decided to expel Taiwan and accept China.
The Games were officially opened by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, at the Aryamehr Stadium.
Iranian freestyle wrestler Mansour Barzegar delivered the athletes’ oath, while Golverdi Peymani lit the Cauldron.
Japan topped the medal table with 75 gold, 49 silver and 51 bronze.
The eighth edition of the Asian Games was held in Bangkok in December 1978 - the third time in four editions they had been staged in Thailand's capital.
Original hosts Singapore could not fulfil their obligations due to financial reasons.
Pakistan’s capital Islamabad was then chosen to stage the event but also pulled out due to conflicts with Bangladesh and India.
It led to Bangkok stepping in and hosting the Games again.
On the political front, Israel was expelled from the Asian Games.
A total number of 3,842 athletes from 19 countries competed in 19 sports.
Making their debuts were archery and bowling.
The Games were officially opened by the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej at the National Stadium.
Japan topped the medal table with 70 gold, 58 silver and 49 bronze.
New Delhi 1982 marked the beginning of China’s dominance in the medal standings, ending Japan’s run of securing overall triumphs at all previous editions of the Games.
China amassed 61 gold, 51 silver and 41 bronze.
In preparation for the Games, colour television had been introduced into India and enabled the Games to be broadcast using the very latest technology.
These Games were also memorable for another reason.
This was the first Asian Games to introduce a mascot, with Appu - an elephant Indian officials claimed represented fidelity, wisdom and strength - chosen.
South Korea, which would go onto host the 1986 Asian Games and 1988 Olympics in Seoul, had a 406-person delegation at New Delhi 1982.
This included an observation team to study the events, facilities and management.
The Games were officially opened by Indian President Zail Singh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
P T Usha, one of India's greatest athletes, read the athletes’ oath.
Standards were rising all the time with 74 Asian and Asian Games records broken.
The 10th edition of the Asian Games took place in Seoul in September and October, 1986.
The venues and facilities were highly impressive as they were also going to be used for the 1988 Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea’s capital.
Considered a test event for the Olympics, a total of 4,839 athletes from 22 countries competed in 25 sports.
Making their first appearances were women's cycling, judo, women's shooting and taekwondo.
Standards were high with as many as 83 Asian records and three world records broken, while two world records were equalled.
Japanese hammer thrower Shigenobu Murofushi won Asian Games gold for the fifth successive time, a sequence stretching back to Bangkok 1970.
Hodori, a tiger cub, was the official mascot of both the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympics.
But the star of Seoul 1986 was India’s P T Usha, who won four gold medals and one silver to make her the most successful track and field athlete at the Games.
Ten socialist countries - Afghanistan, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, South Yemen, Syria and Vietnam - boycotted the Games due to political tensions.
The only one not to was China, which once again topped the medal table with 94 gold, 82 silver and 46 bronze.
South Korea finished second ahead of Japan, marking the coming of age of sport in the country.
A total of 837 medals were awarded.
Just a few days before the Games were officially opened by South Korea President Chun Doo-hwan, at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, a spy detonated a bomb behind a vending machine at Gimpo International Airport, killing five people.
Seven world records - six in archery and one in cycling - and 89 Asian records were broken, while one world record and 11 Asian records were equalled at Beijing 1990.
The Games served as a precursor to China's future development in the sporting arena as the country went on to bid, unsuccessfully, for the 2000 Olympics and then successfully for the 2008 Olympics.
Beijing 1990 was officially opened by Chinese President Yang Shangkun at the Workers' Stadium.
Chinese athletes Xu Haifeng, Gao Min and Zhang Rongfang, who competed in shooting, diving and volleyball respectively, lit the Cauldron.
China topped the medal table with 183 gold, 107 silver and 51 bronze.
The 12th edition of the Asian Games took place in Hiroshima in October 1994.
The main theme of these Games was to promote peace and harmony among Asian nations.
This was emphasised by the Japanese hosts as the venue was the site of the first atomic bombings of 1945.
Hiroshima 1994 saw the return of Taiwan to the Asian Games and the addition of five Central Asian countries newly independent from the former Soviet Union; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
It was the first edition of the Games to be held in a non-capital city.
Due to the First Gulf War, Iraq was suspended from the Games.
The Cauldron was lit by Thai muay thai kickboxer Somluck Kamsing, who two years earlier had won an Olympic gold medal in featherweight boxing at Atlanta 1996.
Kamsing would go onto defend his Asian Games featherweight boxing title.
A total of 6,554 athletes from 41 National Olympic Committees participated in the Games, competing in 36 sports, including canoeing, kabaddi, sepak takraw and squash.
China topped the medal table with 129 gold, 78 silver and 67 bronze.
The 14th edition of the Asian Games was held in Busan in September and October 2002.
Busan thus became the second South Korean city to stage the Games, following in footsteps of 1986 hosts Seoul.
A total number of 6,572 athletes from 44 countries competed in 38 sports.
It was the first time in the history of the Asian Games that all 44 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia participated.
That included North Korea, which sent an unprecedented delegation to South Korea, and Afghanistan, which returned to the Asian Games for the first time since the Taliban had come to power in 1996.
The 17th edition of the Asian Games took place in Incheon in September and October 2014.
It was the third time South Korea had staged the Olympic Council of Asia's showpiece event, following in the footsteps of 1986 hosts Seoul and 2002 hosts Busan.
A total of 9,501 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees competed in 36 sports.
Three spotted seal siblings were the official mascots of the Games.
Known as Barame, Chumuro and Vichuon, meaning wind, dance and light, they were chosen as symbolic to the future peace between North Korea and South Korea.
The 18th edition of the Asian Games was originally due to be held solely in Jakarta - but the Indonesian capital ended up sharing the event with Palembang after a decision confirmed in September 2015.
It meant the flagship event returned to the country for the first time since Jakarta hosted the Asian Games in 1962.
Jakarta and Palembang are located on two different islands - Java and Sumatra respectively - and are around 270 miles apart.
This meant this was the first Asian Games to be held in two separate regions, with a 45 minute flight separating the pair of host cities.
The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in the middle of the city will be the focal sporting hub of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
Its centerpiece is the Hangzhou Olympic Center Stadium, also known as the "Big Lotus", which will stage the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and athletics.
With a capacity of 80,000, the stadium covers a floor area of 229,000 square metres, comprising six floors and a basement.
It was completed in 2018 and has mainly hosted football matches since then.
Renovations have taken place in preparation for Hangzhou 2022.
The cluster is also home to the Hangzhou Olympic Center Aquatics Sports Arena, a new venue near to the main stadium which will stage swimming, artistic swimming and diving.
It features a design inspired by the Milky Way and space for 6,484 fans.
Also at the site is the Hangzhou Olympic Tennis Center, for both tennis and soft tennis.
The Hangzhou Olympic Center Squash Court will stage squash, and the Hangzhou Olympic Center Gymnasium will host basketball medal matches and some preliminary games.
At the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center here, a large "Jade Cong" themed building will serve as a training base.
Chun'an County, which is a two hour drive and around 150 kilometres from Hangzhou, will be the home of cycling at the 2022 Asian Games.
A new velodrome has been built for track cycling which has a capacity of 3,040, while road cycling, mountain bike and BMX will also be held on courses in Chun'an.
The venue cluster is just two kilometres from a satellite Athletes' Village, one of four which will complement the main Village in Hangzhou.
As well as the cycling events, Chun'an will also be the location for marathon swimming and triathlon.
It is the home of Thousand Islets Lake, also known as Qiandao Lake, where athletes will take to the water.
The lake is a major tourist attraction.
CHUN'AN VENUES
Venue
Sports
Chun'an Jieshou Sports Center
BMX, marathon swimming, mountain bike, road cycling, track cycling, triathlon
Fuyang District is located to the south-west of Hangzhou, and is around 55 kilometres from the city centre.
It will be home to sports including canoe slalom, canoe sprint and rowing which will take place at the Fuyang Water Sports Center.
This venue is located to the north of Dongzhou Island and has a design based on the "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains", one of the few surviving works by Chinese painter Huang Gongwang.
Basketball matches will also take place at Fuyang Sports Center Gymnasium, while archery will be at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center Archery Field.
Shooting will take place at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center Shooting Range and the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center Stadium will stage modern pentathlon.
Archery, shooting and modern pentathlon will take place on a site of 67 acres.
On the southern and eastern walls of the shooting complex, 34,000 pieces of rotary shutters have been set up to present Huang's painting.
Gongshu District lies in the northern part of Hangzhou city centre and is home to the Gongshu Canal Sports Park cluster.
The park is the largest newly-built Asian Games venue in the urban area of Hangzhou.
It has been designed by Winka Dubbeldam, a Dutch-American architect.
Venues have been split between two halves of the park and are connected with asunken shopping mall.
The environment is a key part of the project with wetlands restored and natural cooling systems used for the buildings.
Gongshu Canal Sports Park Hockey Field will host hockey, with boxing at Hangzhou Gymnasium.
Esports will make its Asian Games debut here at the Xiacheng District Esports Venue, which has 4,500 seats, while breaking will also make its maiden appearance at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium.
Table tennis will share this venue with breaking. It has 7,500 seats and an appearance based on a jade cong from the Liangzhu culture.
Xihu District lies in the centre of Hangzhou and contains the famous West Lake.
Golf will take centre stage here, at the West Lake International Golf Course.
The Yellow Dragon Sports Center is also located here, which includes a 52,000-seat stadium which will be used for football.
Twin towers at the stadium are equipped with projection light shows, which mean matches can be beamed onto an external wall to be watched by anyone in the area.
The site also includes the Yellow Dragon Sports Center Gymnasium which will be used for gymnastics.
Water polo will be staged at the Yellow Dragon Aquatics Center and basketball will be played at Zijingang Campus Gymnasium.
Cricket will also find its home here, at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field.
Shaoxing is a city situated on Hangzhou Bay which lies around 65 kilometres to the south-east of Hangzhou. Driving time between the two cities is around an hour and 15 minutes.
Five sports will be held in Shaoxing, making it the largest host city outside of Hangzhou itself.
Sport climbing will be held at the Yangshan Rock Climbing Center, which has a design inspired by a silk cocoon.
The newly-built Shaoxing Baseball Sports Culture Center has become the largest venue in China for international baseball and softball.
Basketball matches will also be held here, at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, as well as volleyball at China Textile City Sports Center Gymnasium.
Wenzhou is a port city which lies more than 300 kilometres to the south of Hangzhou in the southeastern part of Zhejiang province.
It is home to more than nine million people.
The city was named as "Famous City of Dragon Boat Race in China" by the General Administration of Sport of China in 2012, and will host dragon boat racing at Hangzhou 2022.
It will take place at the Wenzhou Dragon Boat Sports Center.
Two stadiums in Wenzhou will also be used for football.
The host city of the 2022 Asian Games is a mixture of the old and new, with memories of its ancient past combining with a high-tech modern society. It boasts a distinct culture, famous sights and welcoming people.
The city is served by HangzhouXiaoshanInternationalAirport which is just nine miles from the city centre.
Flights depart for cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Osaka, Singapore, Madrid, Amsterdam and Doha, as well as more than 50 Chinese cities.
Thirty cities in China have direct rail services to Hangzhou, while there is also a long-distance bus station.
Sister cities of Hangzhou around the world include Boston in the United States, Leeds in England, Nice in France, Cape Town in South Africa, Budapest in Hungary and Canberra in Australia.
Hangzhou is one of China's ancient capitals, with the city previously known as both Hangchew and Hangchow before taking its current name in the year 589.
From 907 it was the capital of Wuyue, a coastal Kingdom which lasted until 960.
In 1127, Hangzhou became the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, an era which stretched for more than 150 years.
During this period the city flourished and became a key 12th and 13th century centre for trade and the arts.
A number of scholars, artists and poets came to live in Hangzhou during this time.
Hangzhou is the southern endpoint of the Grand Canal, which is also known as the Jing–Hang Grand Canal in China.
The canal is the longest in the world, and stretches for 1,104 miles to capital city Beijing in the north.
Major cities connected by the canal include Tianjin, Changzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou, while it travels through Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
It connects five of China's main river basins, including the two longest rivers in China - the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.
It was constructed in various sections from the fifth century BC onwards, with the work described as the "most extensive civil engineering project prior to the industrial revolution".
The canal was then rebuilt by the Sui dynasty and was connected to Hangzhou by the year 610.
More than 3.1 million slaves and criminals were reportedly forced by Emperor Yang to build the canal, with 2.5 million dying due to disease and overwork.
The canal became a vital part of China's communication network and economy, being used to transport grain, rice and other materials from north to south and vice versa.
It is sometimes called "The Emperor's Canal" due to its strategic importance to China's leaders.
Others have described it as one of two miracles of classical China, along with The Great Wall.
The canal is still in use today and has the status of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
In Hangzhou, the canal is a popular tourist attraction and is blessed with stunning architecture and a beautiful landscape.
Locals and visitors alike often take to the canal on boats.
Wu Hill features a seven-floor high tower where there are tremendous views of the lake, while Solitary Hill is a volcano island which at least three emperors have built palaces on.
Ten different sights are described as "must sees" when visiting West Lake.
This includes "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon", "Lotus in the Breeze at the Winding Courtyard", "Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway", "Autumn Moon over a Calm Lake", "Listening Orioles Singing in the Willows", "View Fish in the Flower Harbour", "Evening Sunshine over Leifeng Pagoda", "Evening Bells at the Nanping Mountain", "Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds" and "Melting Snow on Broken Bridge".
In 1089, a long dike across West Lake was constructed by Su Shi, to help farmers battling against drought.
At the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, golf will be played at the West Lake International Golf Course.
Famed Venetian explorer and writer Marco Polo was fascinated by Hangzhou during his travels in Asia, and now has a permanent link to the city.
He visited many times during the Yuan Dynasty, which lasted between 1271 and 1368, and was instantly won over.
Polo described the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world", and also "the most magnificent and beautiful in the world" and the "city of heaven".
"The number and wealth of the merchants, and the amount of goods that passed through their hands, was so enormous that no man could form a just estimate thereof," he said.
Polo was one of the first westerners to visit Hangzhou and has been honoured with a statue in the city, which stands near West Lake.
The people in Hangzhou speak with their own distinct dialect, which is a member of the Wu Chinese language family.
Traditional Mandarin is also widely spoken.
As a city which is surrounded by water, with the Pacific Ocean to the east and West Lake and the river to the west, seafood is popular.
River fishes are regularly eaten, as well as prawns stir-fried in Longjing tea which are famously served at Lou Wai Lou restaurant.
In general, Hangzhou cuisine is said to be more sweet rather than savoury.
A popular dish is Dongpo pork - belly pork served in a thick gravy.
The China Academy of Art was founded in Hangzhou in 1928, and the city still boasts three of its four campuses.
Opera is popular and is performed in many theatres in the city.
Major festivals which take place in Hangzhou include the Mid Autumn Festival, where people observe a full moon and eat "moon cakes" - also called "reunion cakes".
This is due to the full moon being a symbol of families reuniting.
A dragon boat racing festival is also held at Jiang village, where traditional races take place on the river.
Another major gathering is the Hangzhou Chaoshan Plum Blossom Festival.
Quyuan Garden features 200 different species of lotus flowers, while Zhejiang Library houses a collection of nearly 80,000 books which is considered to be a treasure of the Chinese people.
A popular destination is Song Dynasty Village, which transports visitors back to the Southern Song Dynasty which was in place between 1127 and 1279.
People are dressed in costumes from the time, while there are historical performances and demonstrations by acrobats.
The Village also has an indoor theatre with 3,000 seats where "spectacular" shows take place.
Yu Fei, an acclaimed warrior during the Southern Song Dynasty, is honoured with a tomb and shrine at the foot of Qixia Hill.
Due to the popularity of the scheme, riders often found that the bike points were full when trying to return their cycle.
To help combat this, the city introduced smart lock technology in 2018 which allows users to park bikes in dedicated areas next to the docks if space is unavailable.
West Lake is considered as one of the best cycling spots in China.
Hangzhou has become a technological hub with key industries including IT, in particular areas such as e-commerce, cloud-computing and digital security.
It has been described as an "internet city" with the slogan for the Asian Games - Heart to Heart, @Future - referencing this by including the @ symbol.
Forbes has rated Hangzhou as the best commercial city in mainland China.
According to the Hurun Global Rich List 2021, the city ranks eighth in the world for the most billionaires living there, with 66.
Hangzhou is also considered as a major centre for scientific research.
Major universities include Zhejiang University, a top 100 comprehensive public research university in the world, as well as Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Zhejiang A&F University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University and China Jiliang University.
Badminton player Chen Yufei, the women's singles champion at Tokyo 2020, is from Hangzhou.
Gymnast Lou Yun, who won the vault gold at both Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988, and LA shooting champion Wu Xiaoxuan, are other champions from the city.
Li Zhangyu, a four-time Paralympic cycling champion, is also among the city's sporting stars.
When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.
Reporting to and working closely with the Events Director – Technical Operations, the Head of Technical Officials is responsible for day-to-day management of the Technical Officials programmes within the Events Department, including:
Management of day-to-day technical officials operations including tournament assignments and planning;
Management and development of the professional technical officials workforce including referees, umpires, and tournament doctors;
Technical officials policy development through consultation with key stakeholder groups including commissions, panels, Continental Confederations and working groups;
Innovation initiatives within the technical officials area to enhance officiating accuracy and sport presentation; and
Technical officials pathway development including working with Continental Confederations and Member Associations on recruitment, education, training, and development initiatives.
Pierre de Coubertin once said cricket has "practically no appeal for those who are not British". While he expressed doubts about the Olympic viability of cricket, lacrosse and baseball, Philip Barker wonders how the man who helped revive the modern Games would have reacted to new sports at Los Angeles 2028.