The city has also continued to develop its tourism industry and remains one of the go-to destinations for both domestic and international tourists. West Lake scenic area has been open to the public for free since 2002. This policy not only doubled the annual number of visitors but has brought in several hundred billion yuan to the area. This has proved a great boost with many tourism-related businesses in the accommodation, catering and retail sectors reaping great benefits.

The introduction of innovative technologies is turning Hangzhou from a tourist city into a dynamic economic center. In 2016, the city made great strides in its industrial structure but it is the city's tertiary industry, accounting for 61.2 percent of information economy, driving GDP growth. Certainly, the Year of the Rooster promises to be a prosperous one.

A two-tier public bicycle storage unit garage, the first of its kind in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. It has been in operation since November, 2016. The 40-square-meter space can store more than 80 bicycles at a time. [Photo/IC]

A nighttime view of Hangzhou High-tech Zone (HHTZ) in the district of Binjiang [Photo/Hangzhou.com.cn]