Holiday in Cixi

About Cixi

Cixi is located on the southeast of Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang Province and combines a ceramic tradition that is over 7,000 years old with modern industrial spirit. The city is named after a Buddhist legend of a pious mother — ci means compassionate, xi means mother — and has carried this name since the Tang Dynasty. The Shanglin Lake region in the south of the city is the historical center of Yü ceramics (Yü Yao): between the 2nd and 12th centuries, it housed the most important kilns for celadon ceramics in China. The green-glazed Yü wares were exported via the maritime Silk Road to Arabia and East Africa, influencing the ceramic arts of Korea and Japan. Archaeological excavations have uncovered over 120 historical kiln sites. The Hangzhou Bay Bridge (Hangzhou Wan Kuahai Daqiao) is one of the longest sea crossings in the world at 36 kilometers: the cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2008, connects Cixi with Shanghai-Pudong and reduces travel time by two hours. Halfway across is an artificial island with a viewing platform, restaurant, and service station — a surreal experience in the middle of the bay. The Minghe Valley south of the city preserves traditional village culture: old stone houses, bamboo forests, and tea terraces create an idyllic landscape where time seems to stand still. The region produces high-quality Yüming green tea, which was imperial tribute tea during the Song Dynasty. Fengshan Mountain in the city center offers panoramic views over Hangzhou Bay and houses the Wuzhu Temple, a pilgrimage site since the Tang Dynasty. On clear days, visibility extends to Shanghai on the opposite side of the bay.