Innovations in Hangzhou
- Hangzhou has been an important city since the 7th century CE, when its Grand Canal was built to connect the urban centre to Beijing. It is the world's longest artificial river.
- Woodblock printing developed in Buddhist monasteries to reproduce spiritual texts. During the Song era, it was widely adopted for non-religious purposes and supercharged intellectual life in the Song dynasty.
- Hangzhou was a place of great creativity. In the 11th century CE, polymath Shen Kuo (1031 - 1095 CE) invented the magnetic compass, drew the world's first topographical map, and recorded the process of sedimentation.
- Other technological breakthroughs includes the compass, the first mechanical clocks, and the invention of forensic science.
- The economic and technological advancements of the Song era translated into improving living conditions for the average person.
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The historical significance of urban centers
The impact of cultural and technological advances
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