Hangzhou is where ancient romance meets modern-day ingenuity, flipping traditional notions of a Chinese city on their head. Imagine exploring the legendary West Lake, the backdrop to China’s most famous love story (“Madame White Snake”), or feeling the power of nature as you watch the tidal waves dance along the Qiantang River. But it’s not just the scenery—it’s a powerhouse of innovation, home to tech giants like Alibaba, where dreams and careers flourish side by side. By 2023, Hangzhou’s economy had reached a level comparable to high-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, and today ranks #14 in our overall Prosperity index. A major initiative in 2023 to accelerate its digital economy landed the 2024 Global AI Conference (taking advantage of the #31-ranked convention center), positioning Hangzhou as a key player in artificial intelligence and advanced computing. Young, educated professionals are pouring in, according to government numbers. In 2023 Hangzhou’s nearly 400,000 new residents under the age of 35 with college degrees led Chinese cities in net talent inflow, and the city added more than 320,000 new jobs last year. With the sixth most Global 500 Companies among Asia-Pacific cities, Hangzhou’s already impressive #24 Unemployment Rate will continue falling.