Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is one of the oldest canals in the world and is still flowing after a thousand years. It starts in Hangzhou in the south and ends in Beijing in the north, linking the south-north trades for hundreds of years. The southern end, the section in Hangzhou has the most abundant historical relics.
Route one:
Xiaohe Road (小河路) — Huzhou Street (湖州街) — Lishui Road (丽水路) — Dengyun Road (登云路)
Cycling along the canal, you can enjoy the unique scenery of the canal and feel its distinctive charm.
Route Two:
Wulinmen Wharf (武林门码头) — the Grand Canal — Beixing Bridge (北星桥)
The route starts at Wulinmen Wharf and runs northwards along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The route features neon lights along the way at night, suitable for those in for leisure and wanting to enjoy a slow-paced life. On the way north, you will pass by historical museums, resplendent and magnificent skyscrapers, awe-inspiring modern architectures, water taxis and barges. The modernity and primitive simplicity of Hangzhou are there for all to see.
Tourist Attractions
Xiangji Temple 香积寺
Located along Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Xiangji Temple has dated back to over 1,000 years ago. Back then, it was the most famous temple in Gongshu District (拱墅区) of Hangzhou and played an important role in the communication of Buddhism. As the distribution center of pilgrims to Lingyin Temple and Tianzhu Temple, Xiangji Temple also contributed greatly to the prosperity of business in Hushu Region (湖墅).
Address: No.1 Dadou Road, Hangzhou (杭州市大兜路1号)
China Umbrella Museum 中国伞博物馆
China Umbrella Museum is situated on the western bank of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the millennium-old Gongchen Bridge. It ranks as one of the three national themed museums in China, and the first umbrella-themed museum in the world.
This unassuming haven houses a constellation of exhibitions depicting the variants, culture, history, stories, craftwork, and art of umbrellas. You can not only feast your eyes on a kaleidoscope of fans accumulated over various dynasties and throughout the country, but also exotic fans from all over the world, such as Spain, Japan and Britain.
Address: No. 336, Xiaohe Road, Hangzhou (杭州市小河路336号)
Hangzhou Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion 杭州手工艺活态展示馆
Opened to the public in 2011, this pavilion is dedicated to showcasing a number of China's traditional crafts. Listed as an important cultural site under protection, the pavilion allows you to witness at first hand the many detailed procedures involved in making these crafts, which include paper cutting, eggshell carving, silk knitting, west lake parasols, scissors and many more.
Address: No. 450 Xiaohe Road, Hangzhou (杭州市小河路450号)
Fuyi Granary 富义仓
Fuyi Granary is located beside the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the intersection of Shengli River and the ancient canal and covers an area of about 2.36 hectares.
Fuyi Granary was initially built by Tan Zhonglin, governor of Zhejiang at that time with 11,000 Liang(50 grams) of silver in the 6th year during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1880), from which the tribute grain to the royal court was also transported to North China.
Address: No. 8 Xiawan Lane, Hangzhou (杭州市霞湾巷8号)