How did shops advertise in the days before LED screens?
Back in the Song Dynasty, merchants would set up a cailou huanmen—a festive, colorful archway—at their doorsteps. These versatile displays, with decorations swapped out for every occasion, are famously depicted in the Qingming Scroll and Dreams of Splendor in the Eastern Capital.
Now, Hangzhou’s Zhongshan South Road in Ziyang Street is reviving this tradition with its first cailou huanmen—a striking little piece of living history.
Rising about two stories high, the structure blends old and new: a mortise-and-tenon canopy up top is festooned with couplets, silk ribbons, and lanterns, with bamboo-woven art fixed to its outstretched eaves. Below, a corridor lined with movable-type printing panels frames a central doorway—perfect for stepping through and snapping a photo.
Its open, latticed design offers peekaboo views of the water and a Su Dongpo stone statue behind it. The printed panels honor local legends like Yue Fei, Yu Qian, and Chu Suiliang, lending the archway a rich cultural weight.
The canopy’s made from compressed bamboo—a modern, eco-friendly twist that’s fireproof, waterproof, and looks like classic bamboo poles, ensuring it stands the test of time and weather.
Why here? In the early 2000s, Shangcheng District gave Zhongshan South Road a major glow-up. Today, its dense, thriving commercial scene mirrors the bustling energy of Song-era markets, making it the perfect spot for this nod to the past.
More than just a photo op, this archway lets you feel the Song Dynasty’s commercial buzz, the architectural grace of Yingzao Fashi, and the poetic spirit of history’s icons. Swing by and step into a slice of ancient Hangzhou!