Hupao Spring (Tiger Running Spring)

Hupao Spring is located six kilometers from Hangzhou city, at the foot of Daci (Great Compassion) Hill which stretches between the West Lake and the Qiantang River.

Legend goes that there used to be a temple and a monk named Xingkong once lived in it during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). Later, owing to lack of water, the monk had to plan to leave the temple. One night, he had a dream, in which an immortal told him two tigers would move a fountain here. As expected, in the next day, two mighty tigers from the Mt. Hengshan ran around the spot and dug a hole which caused the spring to gush forth. Hence the name Hupao Spring (Tiger Running Spring).

While as a matter of fact, Hupao Spring forms as the result of underground water seeping through veins and cracks within quartz sandstone that will not be eroded by acid materials. Due to its low content of mineralized ingredients and high percentage of radon, a radioactive element, the spring water, tasting pure, sweet and cold, is an ideal beverage for health. What is more, the spring water has high surface tension. Put a coin into a bowl filled up to the rim, and the water rises three millimeters above the bowl edge, but it does not overflow.

The discovery of ancient human fossils at wuguidong site in Hangzhou confirmed that there were ancient human beings living on the land of Hangzhou 50000 years ago. The excavation of Xiaoshan cross Lake Bridge site confirmed that there were modern human beings living here as early as 8000 years ago.?

杭州乌龟洞遗址古人类化石的发现证实五万年前就有古人类在杭州这片土地上生活，萧山跨湖桥遗址的发掘证实了早在8000年前就有现代人类在此繁衍生息。

It is said that when Xia Yu controlled the flood, the whole country was divided into Kyushu, and the vast area to the south of the Yangtze River was generally called Yangzhou. In the 21st century B.C., during the southern tour of Xia Yu, the princes of the general assembly, Yu Kuaiji (now Shaoxing), once sailed here by boat and gave up their Hangzhou (the "hang" is the ark) here, hence the name "Yuhang".

传说在夏禹治水时，全国分为九州，长江以南的广阔地域均泛称扬州。公元前21世纪，夏禹南巡，大会诸侯于会稽（今绍兴），曾乘舟航行经过这里，并舍其杭（“杭”是方舟）于此，故名“余杭”。

扩展资料：

风景名胜：

杭州拥有两个国家级风景名胜区——西湖风景名胜区、“两江两湖”（富春江——新安江——千岛湖——湘湖）风景名胜区；两个国家级自然保护区——天目山、清凉峰自然保护区；七个国家森林公园——千岛湖、大奇山、午潮山、富春江、青山湖、半山和桐庐瑶琳森林公园。

一个国家级旅游度假区——之江国家旅游度假区；全国首个国家级湿地——西溪国家湿地公园。杭州还有全国重点文物保护单位25个、国家级博物馆9个。全市拥有年接待1万人次以上的各类旅游景区、景点120余处。

著名的旅游胜地有瑶琳仙境、桐君山、雷峰塔、岳庙、三潭映月、苏堤、六和塔、宋城、南宋御街、灵隐寺、跨湖桥遗址等。2011年6月24日，杭州西湖正式列入《世界遗产名录》。

百度百科－杭州