[Geographical location] Lin’an District is located in the northwest of Zhejiang Province and in the west of Hangzhou City. Located in the area of Tianmu Mountains in the northwest of Zhejiang Province, it is adjacent to Yuhang District of Hangzhou City in the east, next to Fuyang District and Tonglu County in the south, neighboring Shexian County of Anhui Province in the west, and bordering Jixi County and Ningguo City of Anhui Province in the north.

The width of Lin’an District from east to west is 100 kilometers, the length from south to north is 50 kilometers, and the total area is 3,126.8 square kilometers; it governs 5 sub-districts, 13 counties and 298 administrative villages. The district government is established in Jincheng Sub-district.

[Origin of name] As the source of Taihu Lake River System, Lin’an is located in the western suburb of Hangzhou City, and it is 46 kilometers away from the downtown of Hangzhou. “Lin’an” has a long history as a county name. According to the Old Local Chronicles of Lin’an, Lin’an County was established in the 16^th year of Jian'an in Eastern Han Dynasty (211), and it was called Linshui County at that time, with its county jurisdiction in Gaole Village, Gaohong Town. In the first year of Taikang in Western Jin Dynasty (280), its name was changed into Lin’an County owing to Lin’an Mountain within the borders. According to the Old Local Chronicles of Lin’an during the years of Qianlong in Qing Dynasty, Lin’an Mountain is located “18 Li in the southwest of the county”, “its height is 100 Zhang, and its perimeter is 23 Li. The Notes of the Peace Earth says, ‘The name of county was taken from this mountain.’” In the third year of Jianyan in Southern Song Dynasty (1129), Hangzhou was set as the imperial place and promoted as Lin’an Prefecture; then Lin’an became its subordinate county. “Hangzhou” was called “Lin’an” at that time, with three indications. First, it means that “the world will be peaceful when the emperor arrived”; second, the imperial court of the Southern Song Dynasty remembered Qian Liu’s (King of the State of Wuyue) historical achievements to Hangzhou with gratitude, so it named Hangzhou “Lin’an” with his hometown; third, the Southern Song Dynasty retained sovereignty over the south of the Yangtze River, and it indicates “temporary settlement”. On December 28, 1996, Lin’an was transformed from county to city. On September 15, 2017, Lin’an was transformed from city to district.

[District tree gingko] The gingko tree is also known as maidenhair tree, Gongsun tree, and duck palm tree, belonging to the gymnospermous plant. Widely known as the “living fossil”, gingko trees were widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere during the Mesozoic Jurassic Period, while wild gingko trees were scattered in the zones and valleys of West Tianmu Mountains at the altitude of 300 m – 1,200 m. According to the Volume 7 Gymnospermous Plant of Flora of China published in 1978, “The gingko tree is the rare species left from the Mesozoic Era, and is China’s specialty. Only Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang Province has wild trees.” According to the third issue of Chinese National Geography in 2004, “At present, throughout the world, only West Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang Province, China has a small number of wild and semi-wild gingko trees.” There 244 gingko trees in West Tianmu Mountain, in which the most famous gingko tree is called “A Family of Five Generations”, including 22 trees. They are located at the altitude of 960 meters, about 50 meters downwards the Kaishan Palace. It is a well-known landscape in West Tianmu Mountain. Lin’an has many ancient gingko trees, distributed in various towns (sub-districts) of the city. There is 1 gingko tree with the height of 20 meters, DBH of 1.1 meters and age of 1,300 years in Qianqingtang, Longgang Town. One gingko tree lies across the stream in Qinfeng Village, Tuankou Town, five branches stretch to the stream, forming a “lying gingko tree”; its tree age is over 500 years. Qianshan Village, Qingliangfeng Town has two gingko trees with the height of 28 meters, DBH of 1.2 meters, crown breadth of 20m×15m, and age of over 1,000 years. On January 19, 1986, a proposal was passed at the Eleventh Session of the Eighth Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of Lin’an County, to determine the gingko tree as the “county tree” of Lin’an. Later, the citizens widely planted gingko trees. From 1987 to 1989, 240,000 gingko trees were planted in the county. Besides, the gingko leaf was also used as the logo of China's first Forest Landscape Resources Expo and the logo of Lin'an TV Station.

Living Fossil Gingko Tree of West Tianmu Mountain – “A Family of Five Generations”

[Population situation] In 2021, the registered population of the district was 542,200 in the end of the year, increasing by 2,702 people when compared with that of last year, including 268,800 males and 273,400 females; the gender ratio was 98.31 (female 100). The fertility rate was 6.3‰, the death rate was 6.8‰, and the natural growth rate was -0.5‰. In the end of the year, the permanent resident population of the district was 642,000, increasing by 7,000 people when compared with that of last year.

[Minority] The district has 39 minorities and 5 national villages. The minority population is 11,008, occupying 1.89% of the total population; there are 4,573 people of She Nationality, taking up 41.54% of the minority population. The basic characteristic of the minority is “small population and scattered residence”, dominated by She Nationality. Some people of She Nationality still use She language in daily communication, and a few minorities can sing Shanha songs. Some minority masses dominated by Tujia, Miao, Bouyei and Zhuang nationalities in Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Guangxi live in Changhua Town, Daoshi Town, Longgang Town, Taiyang Town, Gaohong Town, Banqiao Town, Qingshanhu Sub-district, and Jincheng Sub-district by way of marriage. The district has 16 Halal ramen restaurants and 16 operators sell Halal lamb kebabs.

[Honorary title] In September 1986, Lin’an County was praised as one of the 100 Advanced Counties for Basic Education by the State Education Commission.

In November 1988, Lin’an County was praised as one of the “100 Advanced Counties for Nationwide Illiteracy Eradication” by the State Education Commission.

On December 8, 1993, Lin’an County was named as “the Hometown of Painting and Calligraphy Art” by the Ministry of Culture.

In 1993, Lin’an County entered the list of “Top 100 Counties (Cities) in National Comprehensive Strength”.

In 1994, Lin’an County entered the list of “Top 100 Counties (Cities) in National Comprehensive Strength”.

In March 1996, Lin’an County was named as “the Hometown of Bamboos in China” by the Ministry of Forestry.

In July 1996, Lin’an County was named as “National Demonstration County of Forestry Revitalization with Technology” by the Ministry of Forestry.

In July 1998, the Organizing Committee of Chinese Specialty Hometown Recommendation and Publicity awarded Lin’an City the title “the Hometown of Hickory Nuts in China”.

On April 11, 2000, Lin’an City was named as “the National Ecological Demonstration Zone” by the State Environmental Protection Administration.

In April 2000, Lin’an City was named as “the Hometown of China’s Famous, Special and Excellent Economic Forest and Hickory Nuts” by the State Forestry Administration.

In December 2000, Lin’an City was named as “China’s Top Tourist City” by the China National Tourism Administration.

In August 2001, Lin’an City was listed as “the National Comprehensive Agricultural Development Project Area”.

In September 2001, Lin’an City was praised as “the National Advanced County of Economic Forest Construction” by the State Forestry Administration.

From 2003 to 2006, Lin’an City entered the list of “Top 100 Counties (Cities) in National Comprehensive Strength”.

On August 2, 2006, Lin’an City was named as “the National Health City” by the National Patriotic Health Association.

On August 15, 2006, Lin’an City was named as “China Mountain Sports Base”.

In October 2006, Lin’an City was named as “the Hometown of Bamboos in China” by the State Forestry Administration again.

On May 9, 2007, Lin’an City was named as “the National Forest City” by the National Afforestation Environmental Protection Commission and State Forestry Administration.

On November 21, 2007, Lin’an City was listed as “the Third Batch of National Demonstration County (City or District) for Science Popularization” by China Association for Science and Technology.

On April 20, 2008, Lin’an City was praised as “the Financial Ecological City” of 2007 by 4 units including China Financial Eco-City Review Committee, China National Financial Network, China Society of Financial Studies and Sohu Finance.

In February 2009, Lin’an City was listed as “the National Demonstration City for Modern Forestry Construction” by the State Forestry Administration.

On September 18, 2009, Lin’an City obtained the title “China's Top 10 Cities for Harmonious and Sustainable Development” (County-level City Group) at the Second China High-level Forum for Sustainable Development of Harmonious Cities.

In September 2009, China Cash Forest Association awarded Lin’an City the title “Capital of Hickory Nuts in China”.

On February 10, 2010, Lin’an City was named as “the National Model City for Environmental Protection”.

In May 2010, Lin’an City was listed as “China’s Top 100 Counties in Trademark Development”.

On July 30, 2010, Lin’an City obtained the title “National Double Support Model City” again.

On October 23, 2010, Lin’an City obtained the title “China Food City of Nuts and Fried Goods”.

On October 28, 2010, Lin’an City became “China Manufacturing Base for Energy-saving Electric Light Sources”.

In December 2010, Lin’an City was praised as “National Health City” again.

On December 18, 2010, Lin’an City obtained the titles “China's Top 10 Cities for Harmonious and Sustainable Development” and “China's Top 10 Leisure and Livable Ecological Cities” at the Third China High-level Forum for Sustainable Development of Harmonious Cities.

On April 8, 2011, Lin’an City obtained the title “China’s Gastronomic Capital of Bamboo Shoots”.

On July 15, 2011, Lin’an City obtained the title “National Ecological City”.

On December 28, 2011, Lin’an City obtained the title “China Manufacturing Base for Hardware and Tools”.

On November 10, 2012, Lin’an City obtained the title “Decorative Paper Capital of China” issued by China National Forest Products Industry Association.

On December 28, 2012, Lin’an City obtained the title “Hometown of China's Famous Tea” issued by the China Tea Science Society.

On December 12, 2012, Lin’an City obtained the title “China Manufacturing Base for the Characteristic Industry of Gems and Jewelry” issued by Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China.

On September 1, 2013, Lin’an City was praised as “the National Advanced Unit in Mass Sports of 2009-2012” by General Administration of Sport of China.

On March 18, 2014, at the joint approval of China National Light Industry Council and China Horologe Association, Lin’an City was granted the title “Hometown of Watch Accessories in China”.

In July 2014, at the First China County Economy and E-commerce Summit, Lin’an City was granted the title “China's Top 100 Counties for E-commerce Development”.

In July 2014, at the Second Promotion Meeting for Beautiful Tourism Brand with Chinese Characteristics, Lin’an City was granted the title “China's Best Health Preservation and Leisure Tourism City”.

In December 2015, Lin’an City obtained the title “Nationally Garden City”.

On December 24, 2015, Lin’an City obtained the title “The Most Beautiful Town of China”.

In July 2016, Lin’an City entered the list of “Top 100 Counties in Economy”.

On November 8, 2016, Lin’an City was praised as “National City of Literacy”.

In September 2017, Lin’an City was praised as the First Batch of Demonstration Counties for Ecological Civilization Construction.

In December 2017, Lin’an City was praised as “China's Most Beautiful Rural Tourist Destination”.

In December 2017, Lin’an City was praised as “Food Safety County (City and District) of Zhejiang Province”.

In December 2017, Lin’an City was praised as “the County (City and District) Almost without Illegal Buildings” of Zhejiang Province, the Winning Unit of Hangzhou City for the Action of “No Illegal Buildings”, and the Winning Unit of Hangzhou City for the Special Rectification Project of “Four Sides and Three Actions”.

In December 2017, Lin’an City was praised as the National County-level Advanced Unit for Earthquake Prevention and Disaster Reduction, County-level Advanced Unit of Zhejiang Province for Earthquake Prevention and Disaster Reduction, and Excellent County (City and District) of the Province for “the Public Service of Entrepreneurship and Innovation”.

In December 2017, Lin’an City obtained the First Prize of Zhejiang Province in GSV▲ of Tmall in Double Eleven, and was praised as the national “Top 50 Counties in E-commerce of Agricultural Products”.

On September 26, 2018, Lin’an obtained the title “China Natural Oxygen Bar”.

On October 8, 2018, according to the Research Report on Scientific Development Index of Small and Medium-sized Cities in China 2018, Lin’an entered the list of Top 100 Districts of 2018 in National Comprehensive Strength and Top 100 Districts in National Green Development.

On December 30, 2018, at the “Fourth Exchange Meeting on Strengthening and Creating Social Governance Outcomes” held in Beijing, Lin’an District obtained the title “National Demonstration Zone for Innovation in Social Governance of 2018”.

On January 13, 2019, Lin’an District was praised as “the First Batch of National Cultural Tourist Attractions”.

In April 2019, Lin’an District was praised as “Top 10 County Cities in Rural Revitalization with E-commerce” at the second national summit forum of “Rural Revitalization with E-commerce”.

In June 2019, Lin’an District was praised as “the Model City with Clear Water and Green Mountains” in China.

On July 26, 2019, Lin’an District was selected as the Pilot County for Rural Steel Prefabricated Houses of China.

On December 31, 2019, Lin’an District was named as “National Typical County for Rural Innovation and Entrepreneurship” by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.