They were welcomed by Reverend Arthur Elwin and his wife at Hangchou, currently known as Hangzhou. The city was known as "Heaven Below" to the natives, due to the scenery that surrounded the city. Upon their arrival, Hangzhou was in a poverty and disease stricken state due to the aftermath of the Tai-Ping Rebellion of 1861, which left the streets full of debris. Opium was widely used during this time period; thus many areas of the city were filled with recovering addicts.