Hang-chau

A form of Hangzhou — A prefecture-level city, the provincial capital of Zhejiang, in eastern China; a former imperial capital.

Meanings

proper noun
  1. alternativeobsoleteAlternative form of Hangzhou.

    Now Hu-chau is forty-three miles, and Ka-shing sixty-three miles from Hang-chau (Kinsay).

    1937, John Frampton, transl., The Travels of Marco Polo, 2nd edition, London: Adam and Charles Black, page liv
    2 more examples

    The pictures that have been introduced were taken from a superb edition of a History of Buddha, republished recently at Hang-châu in Cheh-kiang, and profusely illustrated in the best style of Chinese art.

    [1886 June, James Legge, “Preface”, in A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms, Oxford, page xi

    From amongst the native Christians two or three men were found as helpers for the recently arrived party, who hoped to make their way inland at once, in the direction of Hang-chau.

    1893, M. Geraldine Guinness, The Story of the China Inland Mission, volume 1, London: Morgan and Scott, page 287

Origin

From an irregular romanization of Mandarin Chinese 杭州 (Hángzhōu, literally “capital of Hang”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Hang-chau. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hang-chau

MLA

“Hang-chau.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hang-chau. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Hang-chau,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hang-chau.

Source: Hang-chau on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.