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Gems on busy Tianmushan Road worth visit
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Tianmushan Road, a cultural, business and political hub in Hangzhou, is the home of the municipal government, Alipay (the equivalent of Paypal) and Zhejiang University. There are high-end shopping malls, stores of well-known fashion brands and crowds of vehicles and pedestrians. Phoenix trees along the roadside make it a pleasant place to walk or bike.
But it was not always so.
Tianmushan Road, which connects with Huancheng Road E. in the east and Xixi Road in the west, got its name as a way to get to Tianmu Mountain in the west of Hangzhou. Shan means mountain in Chinese.
In the Wuyue Kingdom of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), the present-day Tianmushan Road was in the outskirts and the home to dozens of horse stables.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), locals planted trees and flowers along the road and bred silkworms in the area. The famous Song Dynasty poet Zhu Shuzhen wrote poems praising its pastoral beauty.
Shanghai Daily rented a bicycle and rode along the road, discovering three of its gems: a restaurant, a cafe and a memorial hall. Burton Coffee
The cafe’s location in the Alipay office building and opposite Zhejiang University makes it a hangout for white-collar workers and college students.
The decor is Mexican, with dark green predominating. The walls are covered in abstract designs and film posters, and wooden tables and chairs are set in orderly rows. National flags are hung on lines and the lampshades include flags.
The cafe serves fruit pizza, tea, coffee, salads, omelets and desserts, comprised mostly of Western cuisine.
Address: 266 Tianmushan Road
Tel: (0571) 8502-0690 Thousand Islands Lake Yuwei Restaurant
Fish from Thousand Islands Lake, a noted scenic area in Chun’an County of Hangzhou, is considered tastier and more tender because of the lake’s favorable and unpolluted environment. Eating fish from the lake is considered a treat.
The most famous restaurant in Chun’an County has opened a branch in Hangzhou, bringing the authentic Thousand Islands Lake fish and cuisine to Tianmushan Road.
Food from the Thousand Islands Lake area is influenced by Anhui Province due to its geography and tends to be much spicier than most Hangzhou delicacies. Chilies are a common ingredient used in the area’s food.
The signature dish is Thousand Islands Lake fish head soup. The fish head is taken from a large bighead carp. Salt is the only seasoning used in cooking the soup. After hours of braising, the soup turns white and gives off a mellow smell.
Another specialty is swim bladder stewed in soy sauce. Chefs use every organ of the fish, and the swim bladder is abundant in collagen, which is believed to have anti-aging properties. The swim bladder is al dente and smooth, without a fishy smell.
Address: 323 Tianmushan Road
Tel: (0571) 8502-7779 Lei Feng Memorial Hall
Lei Feng (1940-1962), a soldier of the People’s Liberation Army, has become a cultural icon characterized as a selfless and model citizen devoted to the Communist Party and the people of China.
Lei was not widely known until after his death.
In 1963, Lei’s diary was first presented to the public as part of many “Learn from Lei Feng” campaign. The diary was full of accounts of Lei’s selfless deeds and his desire to foment revolutionary spirit.
Today, the term “living Lei Feng” is used to describe anyone who helps others selflessly.
The memorial hall in Hangzhou was established by a man named Li Kexiao who joined the army and was taught about Lei Feng spirit in his younger days.
Li collected all the information in the displays, including historic documents, propaganda posters and books.
Address: 396 Tianmushan Road
Tel: (0571) 8672-2088
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