Xiasha (Chinese: t , s , p Xiàshā, "Lower Sands") is an industrial and educational center, located about east of central Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a subdistrict of Hangzhou's Qiantang District. Geography This area is included is part of the Yangtze River Delta region, which includes Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang Provinces. History Xiasha is also called HEDA, which stands for the Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area. The area was founded in 1993 as one of China's first state level development zones. The zone currently occupied 34 square kilometers and may soon expand to a long range estimate of 100 kilometers. Xiasha strives to be an international industrial, scientific and manufacturing zone, paramount with a park of flags from all over the World which can be seen upon entering the center of Xiasha. Most of what is produced in Xiasha are microelectronics, mobile telecommunications, optical equipment products, automobile products, chemicals and computer laptops. Several international companies are located in the Xiasha including German owned Siemens High Voltage circuit breaker company, Motorola Mobile Communications Ltd., Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Allergan pharmaceuticals, Turumo Medical Corporation, Panasonic Motors, Dingyi, and food giant Wahaha. HEDA boasts 600 industrial enterprises in all. Education Xiasha is also a district of colleges and universities. Xiasha has 14 universities, including the well-known Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Zhejiang Gongshang University and Hangzhou Dianzi University. These 14 Universities house and educate 200,000 students, and many of the small businesses in the zone cater to these students. Most all of these schools were formerly in the city of Hangzhou, but moved to Xiasha starting around 2000. Moving Universities and Senior schools to outer districts is a new and popular concept now in China, as high real estate prices spur better economic development in the inner city. There are events for students and "English Corners", however many Expat teachers, and a few Chinese students complain about the relative isolation, the lack of entertainments, and the common view of the dull, flat landscape of the area, but since Xiasha is growing there is much to do if you have an imagination. The park near Zhejiang Sci-Tech is remarkable, with exquisite landscaping, arched bridges, sculpture, curved granite pathways. The streets have polished granite curbs, the sidewalks too are of polished and rough stone, with many park benches, trees, bike lanes. Canals with fishing areas are