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Jewels along road to view city's 'beautiful lady'
By Wu Huixin |
April 1, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BAOCHU Road, which connects Beishan Road in the south and Tianmushan Road in the north, is a thoroughfare in Hangzhou leading to the West Lake Scenic Area. Like other roads in downtown, it is flanked by plane trees which provide summer shade.
A rendezvous for tourists, the road is dotted with eateries, where foodies can chow down, with options including noodles, hotpot, Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine.
The road is named after Baochu Pagoda on the Baoshi Hill. According to local history, the pagoda was originally built in the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907-979), aimed at blessing the Wuyue Emperor.
It has been destroyed several times over the years, with the most recent structure dating from 1933.
Today, the straight and elegant pagoda sitting on the peak of Baoshi Hill symbolizes the beauty of Hangzhou and is an impressive site greeting visitors at the West Lake.
According to an old saying, while Hangzhou's Leifeng Pagoda "looks like an old monk, Baochu Pagoda resembles a beautiful lady" - a testimony to Baochu's exquisite features.
Also, one of the 10 scenes of the West Lake - Precious Stone Hill Floating in Rosy Clouds -- is located on the Baoshi Hill. The hill glows beneath the setting sun due to minerals in its stones.
Nowadays, colorful landscape lights ensure that the hill sparkles like a huge gem at nights.
At the intersection of Baochu Road and Beishan Road, there is a plain building covered by lush vegetation. This inconspicuous structure named Shi Ta Er Tou serves as a reminder of dark times for Hangzhou more than 100 years ago.
After China was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan in 1895, Hangzhou became a port open to Japan. In order to control Hangzhou and south China better, Shi Ta Er Tou was built as the Japanese consulate, becoming a stronghold for the Japanese to gather intelligence on Zhejiang Province.
However, the house switched as Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office in the 1970s and hosted Richard Nixon's visit to Hangzhou on his historic trip to China. Today, it is the office of Zhejiang Province Tourism Bureau.
Baochu Road boasts another famous scenic spot, Wanghu Pavilion, which was frequently depicted in poetry through ages. This structure in the style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) provides an ideal setting for sipping tea while appreciating the panorama of the West Lake.
Shanghai Daily strolled along this historic road, lingering over coffee in two cafes and getting artistic sustenance at a gallery.
Little Secret Cafe
Entering this cafe, customers could be forgiven for thinking they've been transported to a vintage European villa. Fringed lamps, metal photograph frames with ornate swirls, plus oil paintings, an old typewriter and a vintage sewing machine fill the space - all genuine items collected around the world.
The boss Helen indulges in collecting such European-style knickknacks, saying she put her collections here to share them with guests.
Cupboards featuring a European pastoral style were designed by Helen and custom-made by local craftsmen. And the blue patterned tiles were imported from Spain.
Helen says two French fringed lamps on table are extremely rare, purchased by her brother-in-law in Europe.
The cafe has a conservatory, while floral sofas and cushions add to the relaxed vibe.
As a final touch, dried flowers decorate every corner of the cafe, adding a fragrant smell to the aroma of coffee.
Little Secret's coffee and pizza are recommended.
Address: 138 Baochu Road
Tel: (0571) 8993-9240
Jingle Cafe
As the cafe is hidden away in the second floor of a budget hotel and only has an entrance and a stair on the first floor, in order to attract more guests, the owner has posted many pictures of herself on her travels at the entrance to attract like-minded passers-by.
A vintage-style stair leads to the second floor - a space filled with sunshine. Laden bookshelves and arty toys guarantee a distinctive feel.
This cafe covers 300 square meters, and has a balcony. Booths are divided by stylish curtains and several walls serve as blackboards, where guests are free to write messages.
Tables and chairs are in Japanese minimalist style, while on the counter are piles of travel magazines and books. And numerous beautiful pictures of Tibet are hung on walls, reflecting the owner's hobby.
Address: 2/F, Home Inn, 150 Baochu Road
Tel: (0571) 5670-9551
Zhepai Gallery
The gallery was established by artist Wang Zhiliang in 2005. He and a group of painters from Xihu Academy of Fine Arts use it as a platform for display, selling and art investment.
All paintings on sale here are priced beyond 10,000 yuan (US$1,608).
After almost a decade of development, the gallery includes fields such as porcelain and ceramics, stamps, jade and bronze items.
Address: 650 Fengqi Road (alongside Baochu Road)
Tel: (0571) 8521-1275
A rendezvous for tourists, the road is dotted with eateries, where foodies can chow down, with options including noodles, hotpot, Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine.
The road is named after Baochu Pagoda on the Baoshi Hill. According to local history, the pagoda was originally built in the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907-979), aimed at blessing the Wuyue Emperor.
It has been destroyed several times over the years, with the most recent structure dating from 1933.
Today, the straight and elegant pagoda sitting on the peak of Baoshi Hill symbolizes the beauty of Hangzhou and is an impressive site greeting visitors at the West Lake.
According to an old saying, while Hangzhou's Leifeng Pagoda "looks like an old monk, Baochu Pagoda resembles a beautiful lady" - a testimony to Baochu's exquisite features.
Also, one of the 10 scenes of the West Lake - Precious Stone Hill Floating in Rosy Clouds -- is located on the Baoshi Hill. The hill glows beneath the setting sun due to minerals in its stones.
Nowadays, colorful landscape lights ensure that the hill sparkles like a huge gem at nights.
At the intersection of Baochu Road and Beishan Road, there is a plain building covered by lush vegetation. This inconspicuous structure named Shi Ta Er Tou serves as a reminder of dark times for Hangzhou more than 100 years ago.
After China was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan in 1895, Hangzhou became a port open to Japan. In order to control Hangzhou and south China better, Shi Ta Er Tou was built as the Japanese consulate, becoming a stronghold for the Japanese to gather intelligence on Zhejiang Province.
However, the house switched as Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office in the 1970s and hosted Richard Nixon's visit to Hangzhou on his historic trip to China. Today, it is the office of Zhejiang Province Tourism Bureau.
Baochu Road boasts another famous scenic spot, Wanghu Pavilion, which was frequently depicted in poetry through ages. This structure in the style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) provides an ideal setting for sipping tea while appreciating the panorama of the West Lake.
Shanghai Daily strolled along this historic road, lingering over coffee in two cafes and getting artistic sustenance at a gallery.
Little Secret Cafe
Entering this cafe, customers could be forgiven for thinking they've been transported to a vintage European villa. Fringed lamps, metal photograph frames with ornate swirls, plus oil paintings, an old typewriter and a vintage sewing machine fill the space - all genuine items collected around the world.
The boss Helen indulges in collecting such European-style knickknacks, saying she put her collections here to share them with guests.
Cupboards featuring a European pastoral style were designed by Helen and custom-made by local craftsmen. And the blue patterned tiles were imported from Spain.
Helen says two French fringed lamps on table are extremely rare, purchased by her brother-in-law in Europe.
The cafe has a conservatory, while floral sofas and cushions add to the relaxed vibe.
As a final touch, dried flowers decorate every corner of the cafe, adding a fragrant smell to the aroma of coffee.
Little Secret's coffee and pizza are recommended.
Address: 138 Baochu Road
Tel: (0571) 8993-9240
Jingle Cafe
As the cafe is hidden away in the second floor of a budget hotel and only has an entrance and a stair on the first floor, in order to attract more guests, the owner has posted many pictures of herself on her travels at the entrance to attract like-minded passers-by.
A vintage-style stair leads to the second floor - a space filled with sunshine. Laden bookshelves and arty toys guarantee a distinctive feel.
This cafe covers 300 square meters, and has a balcony. Booths are divided by stylish curtains and several walls serve as blackboards, where guests are free to write messages.
Tables and chairs are in Japanese minimalist style, while on the counter are piles of travel magazines and books. And numerous beautiful pictures of Tibet are hung on walls, reflecting the owner's hobby.
Address: 2/F, Home Inn, 150 Baochu Road
Tel: (0571) 5670-9551
Zhepai Gallery
The gallery was established by artist Wang Zhiliang in 2005. He and a group of painters from Xihu Academy of Fine Arts use it as a platform for display, selling and art investment.
All paintings on sale here are priced beyond 10,000 yuan (US$1,608).
After almost a decade of development, the gallery includes fields such as porcelain and ceramics, stamps, jade and bronze items.
Address: 650 Fengqi Road (alongside Baochu Road)
Tel: (0571) 8521-1275
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