Zhejiang province’s Thousand-island Lake is beamed across Times Square, New York. [Photo from zjol.com.cn]

A billboard promoting the Thousand-island Lake in Zhejiang province appeared above New York city’s iconic Times Square recently.

Times Square is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world with more than 300,000 people passing through it every day. Billboards are an important element of the area’s character and charm as it considered one of the best shop windows in the world.

The Thousand-island Lake, often referred to as the backyard of Hangzhou, spans an area of 573 square meters. Consisting of 1,078 islands, it is a man-made lake backed up by a hydropower dam on the Xin’an River that offers a quiet place for respite with its verdant mountains, crystal-clear waters and islands. It was awarded as one of the most beautiful landscapes in China by CNN.

Discovered beneath the waters of the lake has been Hecheng and Shicheng city, dubbed the Chinese Atlantis. In June 2016, Shicheng city was rebuilt and opened to the public. The new area includes a museum complete with a 360 degree underwater virtual reality (VR) experience, allowing visitors to travel back in time and explore the city’s past.