Xiaohe Street: The ordinary life of Hangzhou locals
The houses on Xiahe Street are all original and authentic old houses, rarely renovated. They have white walls, black tiles, wooden doors and windows, and a strong sense of life. The houses with white walls and black tiles stand quietly. There are not many tourists coming and going, nor are there flashy lights and bustling streets. 80% of the residents here are old Hangzhou people, enjoying tranquility in this lost place. The famous "Old Soy Sauce Garden" in Hangzhou is also located on this street. The well-known Fang Zengchang Soy Sauce Factory was once very famous locally for making soy sauce, old wine, and pickled vegetables. According to local elderly people's memories, there is a high counter at the entrance of the soy sauce garden, and on the right half of the storefront, there are three or four tables for local residents and passers-by to drink old wine. The soy sauce garden is open from morning until 10 pm, and older local people like to come here to drink and chat at night.
Historic Qiaoxi Street | Cultural Heritage of the Grand Canal of China
The area around Qiaoxi is a water town with ancient architecture in the south of the Yangtze River. During the Ming and Qing Dynasty, this area was called "Beiguan Night Market" because of the convenient transportation of the canal. Six business lines (rice, fish, paper, wine, firewood, foreign goods) and six establishments (tobacco, tea, theater, restaurant, gambling, brothel) were built along the river, known as "Little Shanghai", attracting various crowds.
End of the South of the Grand Canal at Gongchen Bridge
The Gongchen Bridge was built 370 years ago and was known as the "Number One Bridge in Jiangnan" at that time. For over a thousand years before its construction, there was no specific landmark to indicate the entry of merchant ships into Hangzhou. The appearance of the Gongchen Bridge finally provided a geographical landmark at the southern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It is a bridge with great cultural significance, standing on it gives a sense of history flowing like a river. It is also the starting point of the southern section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
Xiangji Temple | A thousand-year-old ancient monastery where the Food God often appears
The only temple in China that enshrines the Food God, where devout pilgrims would bow down during the "Head Incense" ritual. It is also a must-visit place for believers heading to Lingyin and Tianzhu to pay their respects. It holds a high position in the canal and Hangzhou Buddhist community. The temple may not appear large from the outside, but once inside, it is quite spacious, with many lay Buddhists reciting scriptures and free incense available for everyone. It is worth mentioning their vegetarian noodles, which are famous in Hangzhou. As soon as they are served, the aroma fills the air, and with just one bite, they are devoured.
Dadoulou | Historic neighborhood with remaining charm after the bustling fades
Dadou Road used to be an important trade center in the north of Hangzhou. It still preserves Xiangji Temple pagoda, the former site of the National Silk Reserve Warehouse, and a large number of late Qing and early Republican residential buildings.
Fu Yi Warehouse | The wealthiest grain warehouse in the world
In the Qing Dynasty, the rice and grains used in Hangzhou were stored in the Fuyi Warehouse. The warehouse complex consists of 13 buildings, and it has a history of over a hundred years.
