What does Hangzhou mean in English?

The name Hangzhou (杭州) in Chinese has a specific meaning:

• 杭 (Háng): This character refers to a place name and historically, it was the name of a river or a region in ancient China. It doesn't have a direct meaning in modern English but is used as part of the city name.

• 州 (Zhōu): This character means "state", "province", or "region" in Chinese. It can refer to an administrative division or an area.

So, Hangzhou (杭州) can be loosely translated as "Hang Province" or "Hang Region", although this is more of a historical and geographical term rather than a precise modern translation. The name itself doesn’t have a strong or widely recognized meaning in English beyond its reference to the city's location in China.

The character 杭 has also historically been associated with a place near the Qiantang River, where Hangzhou is located. This gives some insight into its geographical and cultural significance as a major city in the region.