A bird's-eye view of the North Tiaoxi Creek, with pristine waters and meandering greenways along the banks blending harmoniously with surrounding villages. [Photo by Li Zhong/Hangzhou Daily]

North Tiaoxi Creek in Yuhang district, Hangzhou is best known for its pristine waters, where meandering greenways along the banks blend harmoniously with surrounding villages, creating picturesque natural beauty.

Recently, the creek was the only river in Hangzhou to make this year's Zhejiang provincial list of "Most Beautiful Hometown Rivers".

The creek, a tributary of the Tiaoxi River system, spans 15.02 kilometers and serves as a key flood control and drainage channel in Yuhang district. Through continuous improvement efforts and comprehensive conservation measures over the years, the creek's water quality has consistently maintained a Class II rating. In 2023, the creek attracted nearly 6.12 million tourists and generated 460 million yuan ($63.65 million) in tourism revenue.