As spring proceeds, in the most agreeable weather of April, the ancient Grand Canal in Hangzhou features beautiful spring scenery everywhere. Walking upstream along the canal, you will see weeping willows and singing warblers, the charming banks of Xiaohe Historical and Cultural Block, the ancient charm of Xiangji Temple … a tranquil and peaceful spring scene.
Dreaming Back to the Republic of China Era — the Stories of the Old Road
This old road was recorded as “Ten-li Silver Hushu” and “the main port of people getting to and from the city in Gongbu (old name of Gongchen Bridge 拱宸桥)” in the Republic of China era. It is a precious memory of old Hangzhou people.
It was then called Yuanzheng Road together with Hecheng Road and Changjishang in 1966, and in 1981, it was renamed Dadou Road (大兜路).
It is one of the surviving blocks that still preserve the old landscape of Hangzhou. Along the road, “River Bridge and Lights on Fishing Boats (simplified Chinese: 江桥渔火；pinyin: jiang qiao yu huo)”, the Grand Canal sightseeing, the Republic of China era architecture … are murmuring the stories of the old Hangzhou City.
Dadou Road Historical and Cultural Block
大兜路历史文化街区
Address: 160 Dadou Road大兜路160号
Ticket: Free
Hours: All day
Traditional Art — Ancient River Charm
The ancient road that is given birth by the shipping industry has existed since the Southern Song Dynasty. Buildings in the block usually have two stories, with the 1st floor functioning as shops and the 2nd floor as residential areas. Here, you will experience the authentic lifestyle of the old Hangzhou.
Rice shops, cocoon shops, cloth shops, hatcheries, sauce shops … everything is still what it looked like a hundred years ago.
Xiaohe Straight Street Historical and Cultural Block
小河直街历史文化街区
Address: near 48 Xiaohe Road 小河路48号附近
Ticket: Free
Hours: All day
A Bridge and a Street, the “Little Shanghai”
To the west of Gongchen Bridge, there is an ancient street that has been a prosperous area for a long time in modern history and was once heralded as “Little Shanghai”, attracting people to linger.
“Beiguan Night Market (北关夜市)” is how Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block was called during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which shows the prosperity of the place.
Now, the place is home to China Umbrella Museum, China Fan Museum, China Knife, Scissors and Sword Museum and other science popularization and collection museums. The modern industrial atmosphere here gives it an alternative cultural touch.
Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block
桥西历史文化街区
Address: 407 Xiaohe Road 小河路407号
Ticket: Free
Hours: All day
The Modern Art of the Old Bricks and Tiles
“In the south, there is Nanxin Granary (南新仓) and in the north, there is Fuyi Granary (富义仓)”. The granaries built because of the emergence of Caoyun (simplified Chinese:漕运; literal meaning: water transport of grain to the capital in feudal times) have become a historical memory with the development of Caoyun Culture, and Fuyi Granary is the only one that has been preserved, renovated and renewed. The storing function of the granary has been changed and now it is full of modern artistic charm.
Facing the front gate is a little maze of a strong artistic atmosphere that can be seen through with just a glance. Based on the granary, the exhibition is divided into six zones, which are Clouds and Starry Sky, Old Goods Granary, Two Dimensions, Tetris and Coffee Splashing, Modern Japanese Rock Garden and Gallery Forest. It features rich visual effects, and intertwining time and space that give people an increased sense of being lost … just like how a potential internet-famous attraction ought to be.
Fuyi Granary 富义仓
Address: 8 Xiawan Lane, Hushu South Road 湖墅南路霞弯巷8号
Ticket: 19.9 yuan
Hours: 10:00-21:00 from Sunday to Thursday; 10:00-22:00 from Friday to Saturday
An Isolated Private Garden
Surrounding the garden are towering commercial buildings that stand in great numbers, and inside the garden is a pure land with rockeries and water.
The original owner is a great figure – the founder of Tongyigong Yarn Factory (通益公纱厂), Gao Yicheng (高懿丞). The yarn factory he founded is the predecessor of the noted “Hangzhou First Cotton Mill” in modern history.
The garden has a classic Jiangnan Garden style with zigzag bridges, a lake, trees, grasses and flowers everywhere and slim bamboos and willows complementing each other. If you love the ancient charm of China and don’t want to go with the mainstream, then this is the place for you.
Gaojia Garden 高家花园
Address: 8 Fengjing Street 风景街8号
Hours: All day
Flowery Umbrellas and Silk
Flowery umbrellas all over the ceilings, various types of silk seen everywhere, interesting clay figurines …. dreamlike scenes as such can be found in the Hangzhou Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion. The charm of culture is sometimes contained in these exquisite handicrafts, and because of this, many parents take kids here to observe and learn from time to time.
The quintessence of the workmanship demonstration pavilion is that all exhibits can be touched, photographed and experienced under the instruction of masters. The wisdom and ingenuity of Chinese traditional craftsmen of thousands of years are continued and inherited here.
Hangzhou Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion
杭州手工艺活态馆
Address: 10-1 Qiaolong Street, Xiaohe Road 小河路桥弄街10-1
Ticket: 30 yuan
Hours: 9:00-17:00
The Thousand-Year-Old Temple Where Lighted Sandalwood Incense Remains
The temple was originally built in 978 during the Southern Song Dynasty. As the first temple that people encountered when entering or leaving Hangzhou, it is naturally called “the First Wisp of Incense Odor of the Grand Canal”. To date, the incense odor has been there for over a thousand years. It is a veritable thousand-year-old temple.
Maybe it is with the aid of the Buddha that the vegetarian noodles of the place are widely praised.
Xiangji Temple 香积寺
Address: 1 Xiangjisi Lane香积寺巷1号
Ticket: 20 yuan
Hours: 8:00-17:00
Connecting the South and the North, Offering All Scenery
The Hangzhou Section of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal with a length of 12 kilometers is scattered with cultural and natural landscapes of different types. It’s a great choice for a spring outing and fun.
The dedicated water bus line that has been put into service for long conveniently connects these landscapes with a single shipping route. The water bus ticket price is reasonable, only three yuan and it offers the most cost-efficient route to some areas. It is a must-have for those who want to enjoy all scenery of the Grand Canal.
Water Bus 1-7 Lines
Address: along Hangzhou Section of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal
Price: 3 yuan per time
Hours: as indicated in Hangzhou Water Bus Timetable