Stroll Through Sipailou Lane to Discover the Historical Tracks of Hangzhou

The streets and alleys of every city seem to best showcase the unique charm of that city. When it comes to the ancient streets of Hangzhou, most people would first think of the Southern Song Imperial Street and Hefang Street. However, there is a small lane that is particularly quiet yet exhibits the ancient charm of Jiangnan, filled with rich historical and cultural heritage – that is Sipailou Lane.

Sipailou Lane stretches from Zhongshan North Road in the east to Xihu Avenue in the west, with a total length of 380 meters. According to historical records, Sipailou Lane was first built during the Southern Song Dynasty and is one of the earliest residential areas within the city of Hangzhou. Inside Sipailou Lane, the road is paved with blue slab stones, and on both sides are quaint wooden structures that exude a strong ancient atmosphere. Here, you can also see folk performances such as Hangzhou storytelling and Hangzhou traditional music. In addition, Sipailou Lane is also a gathering place for Hangzhou cuisine, where you can taste authentic local delicacies, including West Lake Vinegar Fish, Longjing Shrimp, and Stir-Fried Eel Noodles.

It is worth mentioning that the cooling spot at Sipailou Lane is very popular among the local residents. It is built within the mountains and is not only one of the most vibrant cooling spots in Hangzhou but also serves as the Hangzhou Civil Air Defense (People's Air Defense) Experience Museum.

The Sipailou Air Defense Tunnel consists of five parts: a picture area, a physical objects area, a movie-watching area, an interactive area, and an experiential area. It showcases major battles during World War I, World War II, and modern air raids. It also presents the basic characteristics, important events, and major achievements during the periods of initial development, recovery and reconstruction, nationwide construction, adjustment and reform, and innovative development of civil air defense in Hangzhou, as well as the major achievements made by Hangzhou Civil Air Defense (People's Air Defense) since entering the new era. Furthermore, there is a 600-meter-long early tunnel experience area on-site, where an authentic air defense tunnel scene is set up, including a command post, wartime warehouse, and underground hotel, etc., vividly demonstrating the state of deep excavation during that period.

Perhaps, in the process of urban development, Sipailou Lane has been given a brand-new appearance. However, at its core, it still carries the bloodline of an ancient city. Every tree, every brick, every piece of culture, and every segment of history here are deeply embedded in the memories of the old residents of Hangzhou.