[Historic evolution] According to the unearthed relics, people lived and multiplied in the land of Lin’an during the Paleolithic period, and the stone ax and stone knife unearthed are the earliest primitive agricultural production tools, and have a history of about 100,000 years. Besides, many stone pieces, pottery pieces and grinding tools of the Neolithic Period have been discovered, and they have a history of about 10,000 years; moreover, jade ware of the Liangzhu Civilization Period was also unearthed in Lin’an. The whole region of Lin’an comprises original Lin’an, Yuqian and Changhua Counties. Before the Western Han Dynasty, the three counties were not established. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the southeast region belonged to Yue, and the northwest region belonged to Wu. In the 26th year of King Zhou Jing (BC 494), Wu occupied the land of Yue, and the whole region belonged to Wu. During the Warring States Period, in the third year of King Zhouyuan (BC 473), Wu was annihilated by Yue, and the region belonged to Yue. In the 35th year of King Zhouxian (BC 334), Chu defeated Yue, and the region belonged to Chu. In the 25th year of the First Emperor of Qin (BC 222), Qin annihilated Chu, and the southeast region belonged to Yuhang of Kuaiji Prefecture, while the northwest belonged to Guzhang. The county had been established for more than 2,100 years. In the second year of Emperor Wudi in Western Han Dynasty (BC 109), Yuqian County was established; in the 16th year of Jian’an in Eastern Han Dynasty (211), Linshui County was established; in the first year of Taikang in Jin Dynasty (280), the name was changed into Lin’an; in the second year of Chuigong in Tang Dynasty (686), Zixi County was established; in the third year of Taiping Tianguo in Northern Song Dynasty (978), its name was changed into Changhua. In 1958, Yuhang County was merged into Lin’an County, and Yuqian County was merged into Changhua County. In 1960, Changhua County (including Yuqian County) was merged into Lin’an County. In 1961, the original Yuhang County was separated out. (See the following table)

Evolution table for organizational system

[Historic culture] The Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism culture in Lin’an have a long history. It has relics of King Yu, Fang Feng Clan and the First Emperor of Qin; the well-preserved tomb of King Qian Liu of Wuyue State as one of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms in Late Tang Dynasty, the tombs of King Qian Liu’s parents Qian Kuan and Mrs. Shui, and king tombs of Wuyue State like Kang Tomb; footprints and poems of celebrities like Guo Pu, Xie An, Prince Zhaoming, Li Bai, Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Yu Dafu and Zhou Enlai; prominent local figures including Hong Zikui (scholar of Song Dynasty), Fang Keyou (mathematician of Qing Dynasty), Lai Xuezhao (modern revolutionary martyr), Zhao Erchun (model of caring about the people), Luo Gengmo (famous contemporary economist), and Chen Jinshui (son of plateau). In the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, Buddhism was spread into China, and the Indian monks entered Tianmu Mountain to do missionary work. Then Tianmu Mountain was honored as Bodhisattva Wei Tuo’s ashram, where eminent monks of various generations emerged. Tianmu Mountain Buddhism has produced a huge influence on Southeast Asia, especially Japan. West Tianmu Mountain has relics like Zhang’s House of the Taoist master Zhang Daoling; Dongxiaogong Village of Qingshanhu Sub-district has the famous Dongxiaogong Relic, which was the famous Taoist temple in regions south of the Yangtze River before.

[King of Wuyue Qian Liu] Qian Liu (852-932), also known as Ju Mei and “Poliu", was born in Lin’an. He established the State of Wuyue during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in Late Tang Dynasty. On February 16 in the sixth year of Dazhong in Tang Dynasty (852), he was born in Linshuili, Shijing Township, Lin’an County (now Qianwulong at the southern foothill of Gongcheng Mountain), and died in Hangzhou on March 26 in the third year of Changxing in Tang Dynasty (932) at the age of 81 years old. Qian Liu was born poor, and cooperated with others to sell illegal salt by taking risks at the age of 17, to make a living. At the age of 21, he joined the army; “the king was brave after entering the army”. To quell the war of buffer regions, and safeguard the peace of the people, he was battle-scarred and established unusual merits repeatedly. He was canonized as the Grand Marshal of the World, Minister of Propriety, Chief Imperial Secretary & Head of the Secretariat, and King of Wuyue successively. He governed thirteen states (now Zhejiang, Suzhou of Jiangsu, and Fuzhou of Fujian), and treated Hangzhou as the capital. Qian Liu had been on the throne for 30 years, experiencing three dynasties and five kings, including Tang, Later Liang Dynasty, and Later Tang Dynasty. His posthumous title was King Wusu. He passed down his throne to his son, and his son passed down the throne to his grandson. In 978, his grandson Qian Hongchu returned the land to Song. The State of Wuyue experienced three generations and five kings, lasting for 77 years. He had been on the throne for the longest time in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. After Qian Liu controlled thirteen states of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he pursued the national policy of “serving the central land”, protecting the people, and developing economy. He built the Hai Tong Defend, dredged the rivers and lakes, launched water-conservancy projects, developed farming and sericulture, expanded the city of Hangzhou, explored the sea transportation, expanded the trade, and gave a tax break. This played a positive role for the development of Hangzhou, East and West Zhejiang, and Yangtze River Delta. In the territory of Wuyue State, “all open lands are explored, the fields are filled with farm products, and the country is rich”. The State of Wuyue became “the richest” economic power in the world, and Qian Liu was praised as the founder of the scene that “Up in heaven; there is paradise; down on earth, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou”. As the King of Wuyue in Later Tang Dynasty and Grand Marshal of the World, Qian Liu built a country in wartime, made the country safe and stable with martial virtue, and governed the country with cultivated virtue by learning from the ancestors’ success and failure. He was a wise king in the history of China.

Image of the King of Wuyue, Qian Liu

[Three generations and five kings of Qian’s family] Qian Liu created the State of Wuyue, and 4 of his sons and grandsons were canonized as the King of Wuyue, known as “three generations and five kings” in history.

King Wenmu – Qian Yuanguan (887-941) was the seventh son of Qian Liu, also known as Mingshi and Yuanguan. He was on the throne from 932 to 941, and gave orders to exempt the farmers’ land tax during aridity for many times, and Established the Talent Selection Institution to choose talents. He was skilled at poems, and his Collection of Jinlou was spread in the world. His tomb was in Hangzhou.

King Zhongxian – Qian Hongzuo (927-947) was the sixth son of Qian Yuanguan, also known as Xuan You. He was on the throne from 941 to 947. He reduced the tax and brought Fuzhou into the territory of Wuyue. His tomb was in Longshan of Hangzhou.

King Zhongxun – Qian Hongzong (925—975) was the seventh son of Qian Yuanguan, also known as Longdao. In 947, Qian Hongzuo died of illness, and Qian Hongzong acceded to the throne, but he was dethroned in December. His tomb was in Qinwang Mountain of Shaoxing.

King Zhongyi – Qian Chu (928—998) was the ninth son of Qian Yuanguan, also known as Wende and Hongchu. He was on the throne from 948 to 978. He encouraged reclamation, reduced the tax, and made great contributions to the Central Plains, in order to protect themselves. In 978, faced with the severe situation, he presented thirteen states to Song, and the State of Wuyue declined. Historical sites of Hangzhou including Jingci Temple, Upper Tianzhu, Baochu Tower, Liuhe Tower, and Leifeng Tower were built when Qian Chu was on the throne. His tomb was in Xianxiangli in Luoyang of He’nan.

[Famous descendants of King Qian] People of talent came forth in large numbers among the descendants of King Qian, and famous contemporary descendants of King Qian include:

Qian Juntao (1906-1998), born in Tongxiang of Zhejiang, famous calligrapher, painter and collector, once acted as Vice President of Xiling Seal Society.

Qian Zhongshu (1910-1998), born in Wuxi of Jiangsu, famous litterateur, once acted as Vice President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and was honored as “Research Leader of Chinese and Western Literature”, “Top One Profound Scholar in China” and “Kunlun in Culture”.

Qian Xuesen (1911-2009), born in Hangzhou of Zhejiang, famous scientist and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, was honored as “Father of Guided Missiles in China”.

Qian Weichang (1912-2010), born in Wuxi of Jiangsu, famous scientist and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, once acted as Vice Chairman of the CPPCC and Vice Chairman & Honorary President of China Democratic League.

Qian Sanqiang (1913-1992), born in Huzhou of Zhejiang, famous scientist and nuclear physicist, once acted as Director of China Institute of Atomic Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Deputy Secretary General of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Vice President of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was honored as “Father of Atomic Bombs in China”.

Qian Qichen was born in Jiading of Shanghai in 1928, and once acted as the Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier of the State Council.

Qian Zhengying, born in Jiaxing of Zhejiang in 1923, the Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, once acted as Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC.

Qian Yongjian was born in the USA in 1952, and his ancestral home is Hangzhou of Zhejiang. As the nephew of Qian Xuesen (“Father of Guided Missiles in China”), he is the American biochemist, Academician of United States National Academy of Sciences, Academician of Institute of Medicine, Academician of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, University of California, San Diego; he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.

[Qian Liu Research Society] Qian Liu Research Society is a mass academic organization, and was founded in 1992. It has more than 100 members, and the competent unit is the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Lin’an District. Qian Liu Research Society was arranged under the leadership of the Cultural and Historical Records Committee, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Lin’an District, and has experienced five sessions. The first and second chairmen and vice chairmen were major leaders of the county (city) committee and government, and Chairman of the Municipal CPPCC have taken charge since the third session. The Research Society invited well-known descendants of Qian’s family at home and abroad including Qian Qichen, Zhou Feng and Xiang Xiuwen to act as the honorary chairman, and invited Qian Xu, Qian Yonggang, Qian Yuankai, Qian Sijin, Qian Wenzhong, Qian Facheng, Qian Zheng, and Qian Handong to act as consultants. The daily affairs of the Research Society are organized and implemented by the Cultural and Historical Records Committee, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Lin’an District, and it mainly aims to promote the academic Research activities about the state governance ideas of the founder of Wuyue, Qian Liu and his successors as well as the historical role of Qian’s family. Via the exploration and study on Wuyue culture, it tries to propagandize, protect and develop the cultural relics and historic sites of Lin’an; it will also contact Qian’s descendants at home and abroad. Until 2015, it had compiled 22 issues of Study on Qian Liu; published Inheritance of Ancestors' Possession – Records on Qian’s Descendants in Lin’an, Book of Wuyue, An Eternal Family, The First Aristocratic Family of Zhejiang, King Qian of Wuyue, King Qian of Wuyue, Qian Liu and the West Lake, Biography of Qian Liu, Prosperity – Records on Celebrities in Qian’s Descendants, Introduction of Qian’s Parental Instructions, and Stories of King Qian; held a seminar themed by King Qian of Wuyue and prosperity of “Yangtze River Delta”. The activity of “Public Sacrifice to King Qian in Qing and Ming Dynasties” has been recovered since 2011, and Qian’s descendants at home and abroad will be invited to worship their ancestors in Lin’an every year. The research exchange activity of Qian Liu has attracted attention from the news media throughout the country. China Central Television and Zhejiang Television Station have publicized, reported and introduced the theme for many times. Central leaders like Xi Jinping, Qian Qichen, Yang Rudai, Wang Guangying, Yan Jici, Qian Weichang, Qian Zhengying, Chen Muhua, Zhang Zhen, Bai Lichen, and Qian Shugen, cultural celebrities including Xie Jin and Jin Yong, and “three Qians” of Taiwan (Qian Chun, Qian Xu and Qian Fu) once visited Lin’an to investigate the tomb of King Qian. The Research Society will conduct external exchange, and has established regular contact with more than 40 cooperative organizations for study on Qian Liu and Qian’s descendants in China.

[Famous quotations and couplets]

Tianmu Mountain droops for the length of two peaks;

It is as grand and magnificent as the dragon and phoenix, stretching to Qiantang.

——— Jin · Guo Pu Geographic Records

Couplets at the gate of Wolong Temple in Linglong Mountain:

Exquisite mountain, exquisite water, exquisite mountain and water;

Distant bell, distant drum, distant bell and drum.

Couplets for the place names of Lin’an:

The fish of Zaoxi jumps over Hengtang and goes to Hualong;

The drum of Fangyuan is played in Genglou, and the Sun (Taiyang) rises.

(Qing · Fang Keyou)

[Celebrities and famous poems]

Climb Tianmu Mountain and Present it to General Yunhui’s Brother

(Liang) Xiao Tong

The cloud flies and is stopped above the river;

The north tributary is separated from the stream, and the mountain breeze blows.

The mountains are 10,000 Ren high, with many high peaks;

The nine tributaries of the stream surround the river.

The mountains are high and steep, up to the high sky.

The clouds gather together, which will bring the rain soon.

I am appreciating this famous place now;

It has surpassed my previous dwelling place.

I climb up the high mountain to look into the distance;

When looking around, I think of myself suddenly.

It seems that the beautiful appearance is presented before me;

Hence, I can’t help staying here for a long time.

To Wen Chushi Who Returned to the Former Residence of Baie Peak, Mount Huang

(Tang) Li Bai

I once climbed to the peak, and overlooked the old pines on Tianmu Mountain.

The relic where the immortal refined jade still exists, and a trace is still left when they took flight to the land of the immortal

Dongshan Mountain

(Tang) Li Bai

It's quite a long time since I visited Dongshan Mountain; I don’t know how many times the roses blossomed.

Are the clouds still gathering and scattering freely? Where does the bright moon go?

Bride Stone

(Tang) Bai Juyi

You stand there silently to expect your husband;

There is no adjacent stone as your neighbor around.

Your hair ornament will always keep its original appearance;

Your pretty eyebrows and beauty will be kept eternally.

The snow is like cosmetics flying in the wind;

The rosy clouds are like rouge, surpassing the sunlight.

Don’t say that there is no mirror in front of the rock;

The bright moon can still reflect your appearance.

Climb Linglong Mountain

(Song) Su Shi

It is not known when the two mountains appeared here;

The mountains are steep, as if they were hung in the air.

They are rolling like waves.

The white clouds are shuttling above.

The construction period of Sanxiu Pavilion has been delayed for a long time;

There is a strong wind along the winding path.

You can see better sceneries if climbing up high;

You don’t need to waste the limited time to view a better scene.

Strong figure of Su Shi in Linglong Mountain

Song of Returning Home

(Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms) Qian Liu

I hang up my brocade when returning home in three festivals;

I enjoy the sunshine on the sunny days.

Banners and flags are blowing on Gongcheng Road;

My friends and relatives come in succession.

I seldom meet my friends and relatives in the hometown;

They are holding banquets today.

There is no bull fighting and no bullying among the people;

The King of Wuyue is returning by riding a horse.

Dadi Mountain

(Song) Su Shi

I visited Hangzhou in pre-life;

It seems that I once visited everywhere before.

I want to live in Dongxiao as a retired official;

And stay here in a vacant lot of the temple.

Girl of Yuqian

(Song) Su Shi

The girl of Yuqian is wearing green dresses with white cuffs;

Without shoes, their snow-white feet are exposed.

Their hair is tied up with a big silver comb;

They are walking in the wind and rain, just like the shuttle with silk yarn traversing in the loom.

The dress-up and ornaments of Yuqian girls originate from the palace makeup of their elder generations;

The people here still remember the King of Wuyue.

In early spring when willows fly in the air,

The girls pencil their eyebrows in front of the stream, and then goes across the stream.

They feel extremely happy when meeting their husbands after collecting firewood;

They believe that even the beautiful ladies from the noble families of Jiang and Ji are comparable to them!

Walk from Chuanghua Shuangxi Pavilion

Seek the Stream Source to Zhiping Temple

(Song) Su Shi

This place is surrounded by mountains with green trees and heavy mist, making the clothes wet;

There are two streams between the mountains, and the rushing current even shakes the window.

Though the bamboo shoots beside the stream are thin, people still desire to eat them after being full;

We walk in the wood to seek edible wild herbs.

However, I worry that the county leader might know my travel to the temple;

I still feel happy when striving to get on the ferryboat and cross the bridge.

It is the path at the foot of Liquan Mountain;

The mulberry stalk and wheat are growing well.

East and West Mountains

(Song) Hong Zikui

West Mountain has been unknown for many years;

Only Xie An of East Mountain is fmous.

The richness, brightness, poverty and darkness;

All worldly affairs can be viewed from two aspects.

Flowers on Crisscross Footpaths (Three Pieces)

(Song) Su Shi

When travelling to Jiuxian Mountain, I heard Flowers on Crisscross Footpaths in the children's songs. The villagers said, “Princess Wuyue will always return to Lin’an in spring, and the king wrote to her, ‘The flowers on crisscross footpaths are blooming. You can return now.’” The people of Wu adapted his words into a song which is melodious and mournful; the words are clear and easy to understand:

The flowers on crisscross footpaths are blooming and the butterflies are dancing in the air;

The things are still there, but men are no more the same ones.

The adherents have become old;

The wandering woman are singing and returning.

Countless flowers are blooming on crisscross footpaths;

The passersby compete to enjoy the flowers.

If they leave their parents and go far away;

They will become old when returning.

Their richness appears like the growing grass;

Their legend is as brilliant as the flowers on crisscross footpaths.

Confucius didn’t return to Lu until he became old;

The women singing a song is returning home slowly.

On the Path of Lin’an

(Modern) Yu Dafu

There are several thatched sheds with mud walls;

The camellia flowers show several buds.

The men and women are busy with farm work in sunny days;

The flowers in front of the door are leisure.

Climb Dongdaxian Peak and Enjoy Qiantang River (Tianmu Mountain)

(Modern) Yu Dafu

I climb to the top of the peak, to overlook Qiantang River;

It is as grand and magnificent as the dragon and phoenix, drooping for the length of two peaks;

In the gold air of the setting sun;

The mountains seem purple, and the river is yellow.

Random Thoughts in Front of Qincao Tobm

(Modern) Yu Dafu

The mountains are exquisite and the water is clear;

Dongpo once visited Yunying here.

In the Record of Lin’an comprising eight volumes;

Why is the story of Qincao missed?

Dwelling in Chanyuan Temple of Tianmu Mountain

(Modern) Yu Dafu

In the cold spring of February, the mountains are filled with snow;

I try to overlook the pass of East Anhui at the high peak.

I have lived in Chanyuan Temple for two nights;

　　And enjoy the stream in the woodland.