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Foodie paradise beckons along restored Dadou Road
September 14, 2010, Tuesday
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THE revamp of Dadou Road will create a new food scene in Hangzhou. The area promises to offer some famous local restaurants while emphasizing the scenic city's ancient charms, writes Xu Wenwen.The newly renovated Dadou Road will likely become one of Hangzhou's most talked about food destinations once it opens on September 28.
Along the Grand Canal, Dadou Road, a famous commercial strip in ancient times, will feature a bunch of noted local restaurants along the 1-kilometer stretch. The restaurants will be in renovated old houses to give the street a unique atmosphere.
So far, around 20 restaurants have agreed to set up on the road including several well-known eateries such as Green Tea Restaurant, Xiangzhang Yayuan Restaurant and Jiangnanyi Restaurant.
Retail stores will likely be added later this year.
To differ from two nearby food streets - Xiaohezhi Street and Gushui Street, which focus on local snacks - Dadou Road will concentrate on middle and high-end catering and the government estimates that spending will reach 100 yuan (US$14.78) per person.
The road is adjacent to Xiangji Temple, built in AD 978, which adds to the old-time atmosphere of the area. Planners of the new foodie paradise have been keen to take advantage of the temple - adding a vegetarian restaurant and a hotel themed with Buddhist culture.
In order to restore the road's old look, flagstones have been used to pave the street while houses now feature a traditional black-and-white look. Tall phoenix trees line the roadside to increase the area's charm.
The banks of the Grand Canal will be lined with red lanterns, which will illuminate the waterway at night.
Before the face-lift, Dadou Road had gone into disrepair and many young people were unaware of the street's colorful history.
Fortunately, the Hangzhou government has realized the area has strong potential to become a new attraction due to its past, Xiangji Temple and other old structures such as warehouses and homes.
Dadou Road Historical Block
The street's revamp is part of the renovation of Dadou Road Historical Block. Dadou Road is the axis of the block, which lies at the east bank of the Grand Canal from Daguan Bridge to Jiangzhang Bridge.
As renovation of the Grand Canal enters the ninth year, Dadou Road Historical Block has been improved step by step to revive its former reputation as the core of "Ten Li Silver Hushu".
"Ten Li Silver Hushu" referred to the area around Hushu Road, where stores, markets and temples were in abundance in ancient times due to convenient transport along the canal. Li is a Chinese linear measure with 1 li equaling 500 meters.
The Hushu Road area features Beixin Customhouse, Fuyi Warehouse and Xiangji Temple - all famous landmarks in old Hangzhou.
Since last year, renovations along the Grand Canal spread to Dadou Road Historical Block. The block has since then been divided into three parts: Culture and Religion Zone, Warehouse Culture Zone and Folk Living Zone.
In the Culture and Religion Zone, Xiangji Temple was reconstructed and opened last October. The temple is once again a hive of activity with plenty of shops around.
In the Warehouse Culture Zone, Dadou Road's most complete ancient complex, formerly a national silk warehouse that includes 10 buildings, will become a hotel combining both traditional Chinese health culture with ancient canal culture.
In the Folk Living Zone, the government rejuvenated a bunch of houses built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and during the Republic of China (1911-1949).
Along the Grand Canal, Dadou Road, a famous commercial strip in ancient times, will feature a bunch of noted local restaurants along the 1-kilometer stretch. The restaurants will be in renovated old houses to give the street a unique atmosphere.
So far, around 20 restaurants have agreed to set up on the road including several well-known eateries such as Green Tea Restaurant, Xiangzhang Yayuan Restaurant and Jiangnanyi Restaurant.
Retail stores will likely be added later this year.
To differ from two nearby food streets - Xiaohezhi Street and Gushui Street, which focus on local snacks - Dadou Road will concentrate on middle and high-end catering and the government estimates that spending will reach 100 yuan (US$14.78) per person.
The road is adjacent to Xiangji Temple, built in AD 978, which adds to the old-time atmosphere of the area. Planners of the new foodie paradise have been keen to take advantage of the temple - adding a vegetarian restaurant and a hotel themed with Buddhist culture.
In order to restore the road's old look, flagstones have been used to pave the street while houses now feature a traditional black-and-white look. Tall phoenix trees line the roadside to increase the area's charm.
The banks of the Grand Canal will be lined with red lanterns, which will illuminate the waterway at night.
Before the face-lift, Dadou Road had gone into disrepair and many young people were unaware of the street's colorful history.
Fortunately, the Hangzhou government has realized the area has strong potential to become a new attraction due to its past, Xiangji Temple and other old structures such as warehouses and homes.
Dadou Road Historical Block
The street's revamp is part of the renovation of Dadou Road Historical Block. Dadou Road is the axis of the block, which lies at the east bank of the Grand Canal from Daguan Bridge to Jiangzhang Bridge.
As renovation of the Grand Canal enters the ninth year, Dadou Road Historical Block has been improved step by step to revive its former reputation as the core of "Ten Li Silver Hushu".
"Ten Li Silver Hushu" referred to the area around Hushu Road, where stores, markets and temples were in abundance in ancient times due to convenient transport along the canal. Li is a Chinese linear measure with 1 li equaling 500 meters.
The Hushu Road area features Beixin Customhouse, Fuyi Warehouse and Xiangji Temple - all famous landmarks in old Hangzhou.
Since last year, renovations along the Grand Canal spread to Dadou Road Historical Block. The block has since then been divided into three parts: Culture and Religion Zone, Warehouse Culture Zone and Folk Living Zone.
In the Culture and Religion Zone, Xiangji Temple was reconstructed and opened last October. The temple is once again a hive of activity with plenty of shops around.
In the Warehouse Culture Zone, Dadou Road's most complete ancient complex, formerly a national silk warehouse that includes 10 buildings, will become a hotel combining both traditional Chinese health culture with ancient canal culture.
In the Folk Living Zone, the government rejuvenated a bunch of houses built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and during the Republic of China (1911-1949).
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