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Go for a hike and learn the secrets of silk
By Wu Huixin |
May 6, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIANHUAFENG Road is a secluded road hidden in the mountains of southern Hangzhou. It was named after the nearby Lianhua Mountain and connects Yuhuangshan Road and Hupao Road, and cottages are scattered about the area.
Lianhua means lotus in Chinese and implies the area is filled with meaning for Buddhists since the flower is the symbol of Buddhism in the Oriental world.
Those interested in Buddhism will find Sansheng Stone. Sansheng means three lives - past, present and future. The 10-meter-high stone is engraved with the Chinese characters "三生石" together with other stone inscriptions made during the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
About 1,500 years ago, Hermit Li Yuan encountered Monk Yuanze in a temple and they became friends. At the end of the monk's life, Li agreed to meet his reincarnation beside Sansheng Stone. They met 12 years later, according to the legend.
The stone is the only "proof" of the tale, which appeared in numerous ancient documents and novels, including the literary masterpiece "A Dream of Red Mansions."
Today, the stone is considered a symbol of karma although some view it as a symbol of love.
The road is tranquil and the air fresh, making it a nice place for a stroll or hike. Shanghai Daily drops by and uncovers three gems in the area.
China National Silk Museum
Unlike other Chinese museums that feature a grandiose building with grand facades, the silk museum is more like a garden with ivy crawling on its outer walls, small waterfalls gurgling away and fish ponds.
The ambience echoes the ancient history of China's silk industry. As the world's largest silk museum, it covers an area of 8,000 square meters.
China's history of breeding silkworms dates back to the Neolithic Period. Almost every period and dynasty throughout the country's history made strides in silkworm cultivation and textile production.
The museum uses antiques such as pieces of textile fragments, unearthed cultural relics and more to showcase the development of the silk industry.
One highlight is a hat and some clothing excavated from Xiaohe tomb complex in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Both had been buried for about 3,800 years, but it's still clear today the craftsmanship was of extraordinary quality.
Other highlights are gathered in the Exhibition Hall of Mysterious Silk and Heavenly Loom. Here various old wooden looms originating from Jiangnan (regions in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) can be seen.
Silk-making techniques, a variety of silk threads, silk printing and dyeing, and looms found across China are also on display in the exhibition hall.
Address: Intersection of Lianhuafeng and Yuhuangshan roads
Tel: (0571) 8779-4395
Half-bottle Restaurant and Hostel
Diners approaching the restaurant may be approached by a cute and friendly Dalmatian. The hotel is popular with backpackers from around the world while the restaurant serves local, home-style dishes that are simple and tasty.
Owner Xiao Rui renovated two cottages last year to create the restaurant and hotel.
Xiao says she chose the name Half-bottle because she believes "half is life and half is art."
Address: 17 Lianhuafeng Road
Tel: (0571) 8779-4178
Half-bottle Pottery Cafe
This cafe is also run by Xiao Rui and was converted from an old warehouse on Baiyun Road.
The cafe features a pottery theme and customers can make a piece with some guidance by instructors. The instructors fire and glaze each piece after you've completed it.
The cafe's backyard is on a slope with many trees and plants. It's a nice place for a quiet cup of tea with close friends or family.
Take note of the rectangular table made of gold phoebe, a rare wood, as it is valued at 1 million yuan (US$162,075).
Address: 23 Baiyun Road
Tel: (0571) 8655-7635
Lianhua means lotus in Chinese and implies the area is filled with meaning for Buddhists since the flower is the symbol of Buddhism in the Oriental world.
Those interested in Buddhism will find Sansheng Stone. Sansheng means three lives - past, present and future. The 10-meter-high stone is engraved with the Chinese characters "三生石" together with other stone inscriptions made during the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
About 1,500 years ago, Hermit Li Yuan encountered Monk Yuanze in a temple and they became friends. At the end of the monk's life, Li agreed to meet his reincarnation beside Sansheng Stone. They met 12 years later, according to the legend.
The stone is the only "proof" of the tale, which appeared in numerous ancient documents and novels, including the literary masterpiece "A Dream of Red Mansions."
Today, the stone is considered a symbol of karma although some view it as a symbol of love.
The road is tranquil and the air fresh, making it a nice place for a stroll or hike. Shanghai Daily drops by and uncovers three gems in the area.
China National Silk Museum
Unlike other Chinese museums that feature a grandiose building with grand facades, the silk museum is more like a garden with ivy crawling on its outer walls, small waterfalls gurgling away and fish ponds.
The ambience echoes the ancient history of China's silk industry. As the world's largest silk museum, it covers an area of 8,000 square meters.
China's history of breeding silkworms dates back to the Neolithic Period. Almost every period and dynasty throughout the country's history made strides in silkworm cultivation and textile production.
The museum uses antiques such as pieces of textile fragments, unearthed cultural relics and more to showcase the development of the silk industry.
One highlight is a hat and some clothing excavated from Xiaohe tomb complex in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Both had been buried for about 3,800 years, but it's still clear today the craftsmanship was of extraordinary quality.
Other highlights are gathered in the Exhibition Hall of Mysterious Silk and Heavenly Loom. Here various old wooden looms originating from Jiangnan (regions in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) can be seen.
Silk-making techniques, a variety of silk threads, silk printing and dyeing, and looms found across China are also on display in the exhibition hall.
Address: Intersection of Lianhuafeng and Yuhuangshan roads
Tel: (0571) 8779-4395
Half-bottle Restaurant and Hostel
Diners approaching the restaurant may be approached by a cute and friendly Dalmatian. The hotel is popular with backpackers from around the world while the restaurant serves local, home-style dishes that are simple and tasty.
Owner Xiao Rui renovated two cottages last year to create the restaurant and hotel.
Xiao says she chose the name Half-bottle because she believes "half is life and half is art."
Address: 17 Lianhuafeng Road
Tel: (0571) 8779-4178
Half-bottle Pottery Cafe
This cafe is also run by Xiao Rui and was converted from an old warehouse on Baiyun Road.
The cafe features a pottery theme and customers can make a piece with some guidance by instructors. The instructors fire and glaze each piece after you've completed it.
The cafe's backyard is on a slope with many trees and plants. It's a nice place for a quiet cup of tea with close friends or family.
Take note of the rectangular table made of gold phoebe, a rare wood, as it is valued at 1 million yuan (US$162,075).
Address: 23 Baiyun Road
Tel: (0571) 8655-7635
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