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Grand Canal a cultural magnet
By Xu Wenwen |
October 17, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE cultural landscape of West Lake is considered part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. Now Hangzhou wants to put its section of the Grand Canal on the UNESCO list as well.
Since 2006, the city has been carrying out a comprehensive protection project.
The 1,750-kilometer-long man-made Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was a major transport artery in ancient China, and the Hangzhou section was vital to the city's economy. Hangzhou enjoyed a rich canal culture, but as water transport was superseded by rail and other transport, the canal zone gradually lost popularity.
Hangzhou has revived its canal section, ending pollution, adding spectacular night-time illumination, building a commercial street, food street and nearby creative parks.
This month the city launched a campaign to promote a new museum, a creative and cultural center and commercial block.
Arts and Crafts Museum
The Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum on Xiaoxi Block used to be an old silk factory on the Grand Canal. It is next to several other museums - China Fan Museum, China Knife, Scissors and Sword Museum, and China Umbrella Museum.
The new landmark has collected nearly 600 works of arts and crafts, including a three-story-high bronze "plum blossom" - all mural made by local master Zhu Binren.
The first floor contains shops selling artistic crafts; the second floor is an exhibition hall and studio space for several crafts masters; the third floor is a permanent exhibition hall displaying ceramics, sculpture, embroidery and other artistic crafts.
A dozen of folk artists have studios on the second floor. Visitors are welcome to try their hand at various crafts and purchase them directly from the studio.
Tanseisha Co, a Japanese design firm, has created interesting interior space. In the exhibition hall for stone sculptures, the floor is marble and the exhibition booths are made of stone; in the hall of wooden sculpture, the floor is wooden; in the hall of ceramics, the walls feature classic blue-and-white porcelain motifs.
The fourth floor is the Hangzhou Youth and Children's Cultural and Creative Center, containing 34 classrooms where young people study language, dance, music, art and crafts.
Grand Canal Tiandi
At the intersection of Xiaohe and Huzhou streets is the newly opened Grand Canal Tiandi that includes a cinema, a KTV, two fashion stores, a photo studio and several restaurants.
The new 31,600-square-meter complex is a converted boat yard with nine workshops that have been retained and renovated.
The largest workshop, covering more than 3,000 square meters, is occupied by Hangzhou Bingo Cinema, which is invested by Hong Kong movie actor Stephen Chow. It contains 10 screening halls and a total of 12,000 seats. It features Dolby digital sound reproduction equipment, projection facilities from Italy and wall-to-wall screens.
Tiandi also contains Lux1000 that sells luxury brands designed by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones and the late Michael Jackson. Its sister store Magic Power is located in another corner of the zone and sells fashion at affordable prices.
Since 2006, the city has been carrying out a comprehensive protection project.
The 1,750-kilometer-long man-made Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was a major transport artery in ancient China, and the Hangzhou section was vital to the city's economy. Hangzhou enjoyed a rich canal culture, but as water transport was superseded by rail and other transport, the canal zone gradually lost popularity.
Hangzhou has revived its canal section, ending pollution, adding spectacular night-time illumination, building a commercial street, food street and nearby creative parks.
This month the city launched a campaign to promote a new museum, a creative and cultural center and commercial block.
Arts and Crafts Museum
The Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum on Xiaoxi Block used to be an old silk factory on the Grand Canal. It is next to several other museums - China Fan Museum, China Knife, Scissors and Sword Museum, and China Umbrella Museum.
The new landmark has collected nearly 600 works of arts and crafts, including a three-story-high bronze "plum blossom" - all mural made by local master Zhu Binren.
The first floor contains shops selling artistic crafts; the second floor is an exhibition hall and studio space for several crafts masters; the third floor is a permanent exhibition hall displaying ceramics, sculpture, embroidery and other artistic crafts.
A dozen of folk artists have studios on the second floor. Visitors are welcome to try their hand at various crafts and purchase them directly from the studio.
Tanseisha Co, a Japanese design firm, has created interesting interior space. In the exhibition hall for stone sculptures, the floor is marble and the exhibition booths are made of stone; in the hall of wooden sculpture, the floor is wooden; in the hall of ceramics, the walls feature classic blue-and-white porcelain motifs.
The fourth floor is the Hangzhou Youth and Children's Cultural and Creative Center, containing 34 classrooms where young people study language, dance, music, art and crafts.
Grand Canal Tiandi
At the intersection of Xiaohe and Huzhou streets is the newly opened Grand Canal Tiandi that includes a cinema, a KTV, two fashion stores, a photo studio and several restaurants.
The new 31,600-square-meter complex is a converted boat yard with nine workshops that have been retained and renovated.
The largest workshop, covering more than 3,000 square meters, is occupied by Hangzhou Bingo Cinema, which is invested by Hong Kong movie actor Stephen Chow. It contains 10 screening halls and a total of 12,000 seats. It features Dolby digital sound reproduction equipment, projection facilities from Italy and wall-to-wall screens.
Tiandi also contains Lux1000 that sells luxury brands designed by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones and the late Michael Jackson. Its sister store Magic Power is located in another corner of the zone and sells fashion at affordable prices.
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