@All. Do You Know Hangzhou's "Treasure Specialties"?

Speaking of Hangzhou specialties, what do you have in mind? West Lake Longjing Green Tea? Hangzhou Silk? Lotus root starch, West Lake Carp in Sweet and Sour Sauce, Dongpo Pork?

No just them! The “treasure specialties” of Hangzhou are far more abundant than you think.

Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialty”, the Shared Cultural Heritage of Mankind

When it comes to  Hangzhou, the first thing springing to people’s minds is always West Lake.

No doubt that West Lake is beautiful, but the beauty of Hangzhou has never been confined to West Lake. Walking into Liangzhu and touching the history of over 5000 years, you’ll find that historical things are equally intoxicating.

Liangzhu Culture is 5,300 to 4,300 years old and is regarded as the earliest state form in East Asia.

Liangzhu Culture presents the early state of the country that took rice farming as its economic support and had social differentiation and a unified belief system. It manifests the outstanding contribution that the Yangtze River Basin made to the origin of Chinese civilization. Liangzhu is a sacred place that proves China’s over 5000-year-old civilization.

Liangzhu Ancient City is the core of Liangzhu Culture. It has witnessed the history and development of the early regional civilization of China.

As the power and belief center of Liangzhu Culture, Liangzhu Ancient City was formed about over 5000 years ago and includes a series of related sites such as a large-scale city site, a complex periphery water conservancy system, and hierarchical cemeteries (including altars).

Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialty”, the Romantic Love Witnessed by All

The Jiangnan Region, tender as water, is abundant in many romantic legends, which is even more true in Hangzhou, where a lot of love buds are seen, like the encounter that the White Snake and Xu Xian had on the Broken Bridge, the farewell that Liang Shanbo said to Zhu Yingtai on the Long Bridge ...

The name of the Broken Bridge originated in the Tang Dynasty.

There are two explanations for the name, one says that the road of the Solitary Hill is broken (ends) here, hence the name; the other says, the bridge used to be called Duan’s Bridge and Duan is the homonym of the word “Broken” in Chinese.   

According to legend, the White Snake and Xu Xian entered into their thousand-year-old predestined love on the Broken Bridge, hence, the bridge is known as one of the three lovers’ bridges of West Lake.

To requite his favor of saving its life in his previous life, the White Snake transformed into a beautiful lady and came across Xu Xian on the Broken Bridge in West Lake.

The misty rain of Jiangnan came unexpectedly and the White Snake and Xu Xian happened to take shelter from the rain in the same boat. Xu Xian gave his oil paper umbrella to the White Snake so that she could go home.

The oil paper umbrella is not big, but provides shelter for the White Snake; the Broken Bridge is not broken, but connects the fate of White Snake and Xu Xian.

The story of the White Snake and Xu Xian started in this picture-postcard place.

“Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge” is now one of the Top Ten Views of West Lake. Its scenery on winter days when the snow begins to melt is the most soul-stirring.

The Solitary Hill and the Inner West Lake covered in the white snow are extraordinarily beautiful.

Looking around the West Lake when the snow melts, you’ll see the lingering snow on the Broken Bridge is white as silver and the Solitary Hill is covered with mist and the lake water is mirror-like.

The romantic encounter that the White Snake and Xu Xian had on the Broken Bridge is touching, and the “Eighteen Times of Farewell” witnessed by the Long Bridge is also moving.

The Long Bridge is located at the southeast corner of the West Lake, near Jingci Temple.

According to historical records, outside Qianhu Gate (钱湖门) in the Song Dynasty, the water is broad and there is a bridge across the water surface. The bridge has three gates and a pavilion. It is over 500 meters in length and is magnificent. The bridge is called the Long Bridge.

Having studied together for several years, Liang Shanbo still didn’t know that Zhu Yingtai was actually a girl who disguised herself as a boy, but Zhu Yingtai was already in love with him. When they were saying farewell to each other, they were reluctant to leave and walk on the bridge back and forth eighteen times.

Zhu Yingtai used eighteen metaphors to indicate her love, but Liang Shanbo still didn’t get her.

The Long Bridge is long, but carries the shyness that they showed when expressing their love for each other, and the joy when they knew each other's affection.

Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialty”, the Condensed City Marks

The natural landscape, so to speak, stands for the magic craftsmanship of nature, and is also the well-meaning gift from nature, but it’s not the same case with time-honored stores and culture of a place, which are the accumulation of people’s work and the strength carried by the enduring culture. Speaking of Hangzhou’s “treasure specialties”, how can we forget those time-honored stores?

Zhang Xiaoquan 张小泉

In China’s knife and scissors industry, there has always been a saying, which goes, “there is Zhang Xiaoquan in the south, Cao Zhengxing in the center and Wang Mazi in the north”.

The history of Zhang Xiaoquan can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644） and now has a history of 400 years.

During Chongzhen Years of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xiaoquan, a scissors craftsman from Anhui Province moved to Hangzhou from Yixian County (黟县) and opened a scissors store called Zhang Dalong Scissors Store in Dajing Lane (大井巷) at the northern foot of Wushan Hill.

In the second year of Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the name of the store was changed into Zhang Xiaoquan, which is still in use today.

In 1929, Zhang Xiaoquan Scissors won the special prize at the 1st West Lake Expo.

To Hangzhou people, Zhang Xiaoquan Scissors, which are of high quality and low price, have been a part of their life.

Wang Xingji 王星记

Hangzhou is a noted fan-making city in China. Since the Southern Song Dynasty, many fan-making artisans have gathered here.

In 1875, a man named Wang Xingzhai (王星斋) opened Wang Xingji Fan Store in Qinghefang Street. It now has a history of 145 years.

The fan-making technique of Wang Xingji has already been inscribed on the lists of the first group of national-level intangible cultural heritage items and the first group of traditional crafts industry revitalization projects.

With the development of the times, Wang Xingji fan has transformed into a handicraft and a cultural symbol from its original function of being a tool used for heat relieving.

In December 2010, Wang Xingji Chinese Time-Honored Cultural Creative Industry Park opened on the banks of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Hangzhou section.

In this park, not only can people feast on all kinds of beautiful fans in the Fan Culture Display Hall, but also can experience the process of fan making in the processing workshop to feel the broadness and profoundness of the fan culture.

Hu Qing Yu Tang 胡庆余堂

Strolling in the Hefang Street at the foot of Wushan Hill, the huge black Chinese characters on the white wall, which reads “胡庆余堂国药号 (Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacy)” heave into sight.

In the lobby of Hu Qing Yu Tang, there is an endless stream of customers.

A plaque with four Chinese characters “真不二价 (Good Quality and No Bargain)” is hung right above the lobby, and the other horizontal plaque with two Chinese characters, “戒欺 (No Deceit)” is hung facing the inner hall.

It is the inexorable law followed by Hu Qing Yu Tang and is the reason why Hu Qing Yu Tang has become a time-honored brand in China.

Reputed to be “the Medicine King of Jiangnan Region (江南药王)”, Hu Qing Yu Tang, was founded by the official-businessman, Hu Xueyan (胡雪岩) in 1874 in the late Qing Dynasty.

Based on the imperial pharmacopeia of the Song Dynasty, Hu Qing Yu Tang collected all types of ancient prescriptions, proven formula and secret formula, and wrote the special medicine book, “the Complete Collections of Hu Qing Yu Tang Xu Ji Pills and Pulvis (胡庆余堂雪记丸散全集)” and was passed down to the world.

Kophenix 孔凤春

The old “five Hang’s” of Hangzhou refers to Hangzhou scissors, Hangzhou powder, Hangzhou fan, Hangzhou brocade and Hangzhou Cigar.

Among them, the Hangzhou Powder refers to Kophenix.

Kophenix Powder Store was originally established in 1862 by a man from Xiaoshan named Kong Chuanhong (孔传鸿) and now has a history of 158 years.

It is the first cosmetics enterprise ever recorded in the history of our country and is also a Chinese time-honored brand.

In the late Qing Dynasty, the “Goose Egg Powder” produced by Kophenix and exclusively used by Empress Dowager Cixi gained a lasting reputation.

In the Republic of China era, its Yutang face powder (玉堂扑粉), sandalwood loose powder (檀香蜜粉), rose perfume (玫瑰香水) and hair cream yielded unusually brilliant results and won many prizes in the 1929 West Lake Expo.

Different from other time-honored brands, Kophenix has gone through ups and downs in the past 100 years. Although having encountered many difficulties, the brand managed to survive to this day.

In October 2006, the Ministry of Commerce officially released the first group of Chinese time-honored brands, Kophenix was one of them.

Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialty”, the Jiangnan Charm in People’s Memory

The Jiangnan Region, which is tender as water, never lacks the nourishing of water. In people’s memories, the charm of the Jiangnan Region is always associated with a boat sailing across a river, leaving behind small ripples. When making an inventory of Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialties”, you will find that water is always involved.

Speaking of water and lakes in Hangzhou, West Lake is always brought up. West Lake is a place that can offer you new scenery every time you visit. Whenever you come, it will offer you a different kind of scenery, the brilliant flowers in spring, the bright moon in autumn, the elegant lotus flowers in summer and the magnificent snow scene in winter.

If you say West Lake is the heart of Hangzhou City, then Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Hangzhou Section is the blood of Hangzhou.

Walking into the Grand Canal Scenic Area, you’ll know the history and stories of the place and feel the rhythm of the heartbeat of the city.

In this place, there are also cruise boats, which start from the wharf of Wulinmen (武林门). You can take a canal cruise boat to enjoy the scenery along the canal.

With strong mist and fog and a tranquil natural environment, Xixi is like an intoxicating Song Dynasty poem and a water and ink painting with a beautiful poetic image.

Xixi Wetland is famous for the poetic image of “a zigzag creek and a wisp of smoke”. It has the natural fun and beautiful scenery of a natural wetland and profound and ancient cultural connotations. If you say that water in other places is jumping musical notes, then water here is tranquil and peaceful.

The water of Hangzhou is far more than these. The broadness of Qiantang River, the tranquil and beautiful Fuchun River, the elegance of Qiandao Lake, the charming Xianghu Lake ... It’s the slow-flowing water that nourishes Hangzhou city and Hangzhou people, creating the gentle background color of the city.

Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialty”, the “Real Specialty” of Hangzhou City

When counting Hangzhou’s “true” specialties, you will find that there are so many that one doesn’t know which one to choose.

Longjing Tea 龙井茶

The reputation of Hangzhou’s Longjing green tea is widely spread and it was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Hangzhou is even praised as “the Capital of Tea”.

Longjing green tea is refreshingly green and translucent. With a sip of it, you will find it refreshing and sweet, and the fragrance lingers in between your teeth and mouth.

You can’t take home a cup of Longjing tea. Why not take with you a box of Longjing green tea leaves, so that, wherever you are, you can make a cup of Longjing green tea and feel the taste of Hangzhou in your mouth.

Lotus Root Starch

“West Lake Lotus Root Starch” is definitely on the list of the top three must-buy specialties of Hangzhou. In history, lotus root starch was consumed by imperial courts and was reputed to be “imperial starch”.

To make it, you only need to mix it with a small amount of cold water and then use boiling water to make it paste. The paste is transparent with slight redness and tastes fragrant, sweet and smooth.

West Lake Silk Umbrella 西湖绸伞

West Lake Silk Umbrella uses bamboo as umbrella ribs and silk as the fabric. It is light and pleasing to the eye, beautiful in style, and easy to carry. It has long enjoyed the praise of “West Lake Flower”.

The materials the West Lake Silk Umbrella uses are carefully chosen and the umbrellas themselves are exquisitely made.

Tianzhu Chopsticks 天竺筷

It’s probably that only the old Hangzhou natives know about Tianzhu Chopsticks.

The production area of the chopsticks is in Three Tianzhu’s, which is a blessed land of Buddhism, hence the chopsticks are believed to indicate good luck and blessing. Tianzhu Chopsticks are the Zhejiang intangible cultural heritage. The small Tianzhu Chopsticks, for its profound connection with Buddhism and solemn cultural connotation, even brilliantly concentrate the unique cultural heritage unique to Hangzhou and Jiangnan Region.

Lin’an Walnut 临安山核桃

The reputation of Lin’an Walnut is widely spread. They are big in size, have thin shells and taste crispy.

If you don’t want to go to the trouble to husk them, you can buy unshelled walnut directly. The freshly-made unshelled walnut is crispy.

There are also Hangzhou silk, West Lake water shield, Tianmushan dried bamboo shoots, Zhiweiguan dim sum ... An article isn’t enough to cover all Hangzhou’s “Treasure Specialties”.

Hangzhou is the kind of place that only when you come, can you get its beauty. Words are insufficient to describe its beauty.