Lin’an in Southern Song—A Great Convergence of Southern and Northern Cultures

Abstract

In the third year (978 AD) of the Taipingxingguo period of the Northern Song dynasty, Wu and Yue Kingdoms paid allegiance to the Song dynasty. Hangzhou served as the capital city of a separatist dynasty for 72 years. It became the seat of the Hangzhou Prefecture of the Northern Song dynasty in 978 AD and gradually developed into an important foreign trade port. In the 2nd year (989 AD) of the Duangong era, institutions in charge of foreign trade called shibosi were set up in core cities. Su Shi held a post in Hangzhou twice. Renovating the canals and dredging the West Lake were two of his achievements, which promoted the economic development and urban environment of the city.