In 1127, when fleeing from invaders in the north, Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) passed a town called Xixi and, captivated by the scenery, he wanted to make Xixi a new capital, but was talked out of doing so. Finally, he decided to build the new capital on Phoenix Hill, a strategically important spot in the southeast of today’s Hangzhou, and before departing, Gaozong said “One will hate to leave Xixi when indulged by the beautiful scenery here” to express his reluctance to say goodbye to the beautiful town.

Today, this sentence has become a slogan for the Xixi National Wetland Park, enticing visitors from around the world as a testimony to how humans and nature can coexist in a harmonious and sustainable way in Hangzhou, a place aptly nicknamed “Paradise on Earth”.

Qin Jirong contributed to this story.