In a significant move to bolster its cultural and tourism landscape, Hangzhou is set to introduce a series of landmark projects that promise to transform the city into a hub of artistic and recreational innovation.

During the recent deployment and advancement meeting for Zhejiang Province's 2024 Cultural and Tourism Integration Project, three ambitious initiatives were spotlighted as the vanguard of the "Thousands of Projects and Trillions of Yuan" program, aiming to elevate Hangzhou onto a national platform for major cultural and tourism endeavors.

The New World Hangzhou City Art Center (Phase II) is poised for completion in Dec 2025. With a staggering investment of 10 billion yuan, the center occupies a strategic location in Shangcheng district, encompassing an area of 340,000 square meters. The project, a collaborative brainchild of German architect Ole Scheeren, renowned for his work on the CCTV headquarters, and Shigeru Ban, the Japanese architect who clinched the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize, will feature a diverse mix of shopping art centers, offices, art residences, and hotels. Notably, Hangzhou's K11 Shopping Art Center will host China's first outdoor symphony music hall, setting a new benchmark for cultural venues.

The Hangzhou Steel Industrial Site Comprehensive Protection Project, transforming the erstwhile industrial site into a vibrant public space, is another landmark project. This initiative, part of the Grand Canal World Cultural Heritage Park, aims to repurpose historical industrial structures into a modern nexus of culture and creativity. With the first phase set to conclude in December, the project will introduce a sprawling "Central Park" over 40,000 square meters, featuring an array of facilities including exhibition halls, a visitor center, and notably, a diving museum. This endeavor underscores Hangzhou's commitment to blending cultural heritage with contemporary innovation.

The Grand Canal Museum, with an investment of 3.19 billion yuan, embodies the fusion of historical reverence and modern design. Spearheaded by Herzog & de Meuron, the architectural firm behind Beijing's iconic "Bird's Nest", the museum will offer a floating exhibition space, elegantly suspending 13.15 meters above ground. Located in the Dachengbei demonstration area and slated for completion in December 2025, the museum will not only showcase the rich cultural tapestry of the Grand Canal but also serve as a testament to Hangzhou's visionary approach to cultural tourism.