The West Lake in Hangzhou.

Wuxi

The China Grand Canal remains the main artery from which Wuxi's culture flows.

It's the world's oldest and longest at nearly 1,800 kilometers－nine times the distance of the Suez Canal, the runner-up. The waterway was forged to connect Beijing and the capital of today's Zhejiang province, Hangzhou, in the seventh century.

It continues to operate.

Lingshan Buddhist Scenic Area claims to have world's tallest standing Sakyamuni statue at 88 meters－inching toward twice the Statue of Liberty's height. The park's palace hosts performances, artworks and relic exhibitions.

The 25-hectare Three Kingdoms City, where the Romance of the Three Kingdoms TV series was shot, stages bullfighting and equestrian performances.

Visitors can don period garb (220-280 AD) and participate in performances－that is, shows that don't require fighting or riding animals.

Anji

The bamboo the people of Zhejiang province's Anji county cultivate, in turn, cultivates local people.

The world's largest bamboo-production area is plumed with over 300 species processed into everything from luxury car-speaker diaphragms to clothes, food, computer shells, bike frames, beer－you name it.

Anji's "super grass" also produces places of such stunning scenery that they feature in films, including Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Visitors can stumble upon abandoned sets－often disintegrating－in its forests.

Another way in which Anji proffers pop culture is the only Hello Kitty amusement park outside Japan.