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'Kilometer zero' still center of attention
By Xu Wenwen |
May 13, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
In 1913, a copper cross was raised in Ziwei Garden Mansion in Hangzhou by the government, marking "kilometer zero" of Hangzhou and the entire Zhejiang Province.
Since then, every centimeter of land of Hangzhou City and Zhejiang Province has been measured and mapped from "kilometer zero."
Though the mansion, a private house of an official during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was demolished, the copper cross was discovered in 2007.
And at the beginning of the month, Ziwei Plaza opened to the public to mark its centenary as "kilometer zero."
Also Ziwei Street was named - the entire Yan'an Road S. and part of Yan'an Road, which starts from the "kilometer zero," north to Wushan Square at Hefang Street, to Qingchun Road.
The plaza and street reopened after a major renovation, which included a Metro stop being created.
Currently, a shop window design exhibition is being held along the road, on the theme "Ziwei" - which means crape myrtle - and there are many interesting places that merit a visit. Shanghai Daily took a stroll along Ziwei Street.
Shop window design and other art
A curved pipe with a purple flash inside runs through the street in every large store's windows, as if connecting them. Large paper crape myrtle blooms lie scattered in several glass structures along the road, installation works of designers.
The landmark of the street is the two-floor Ruler sculpture which stands above "kilometer zero," consisting of bricks from every district of the city. It was built two years after the copper cross was rediscovered.
More than 100 shop window are decorated by fans, scissors, silk and stone seals - typical Hangzhou souvenirs - as part of the shop window design exhibition.
Two large displays are at West Lake Intime Department Store, next to the Ruler, and Hubin Intime Department Store, featuring flowers, balloons and paper sculptures, in purple and pink crape myrtle tones.
A folk installation, City Memory, is located at the junction of Jiefang Road and Ziwei Street, the location of the old Xinfeng Snack Restaurant, the first branch of the local chain founded in the 1990s.
The installation takes the original restaurant as its inspiration. Three walls showcase the scene: one is the takeaway window; one is the cashier's; and third features tables and chairs. But unlike the real restaurant, all the objects in the installation look as though they are half embedded in the wall.
Work is ongoing on a red-brick European-style building. This will be Hangzhou Restaurant, when completed in autumn. And another red house, at the junction of Qingchun Road and Ziwei Street, is Hangzhou City Establishment Exhibition Hall.
The exhibition hall tells the story of the urban development of the city in both ancient and modern times. It is open every day (except Mondays) from 9am to 4:30pm.
Sound Town
Sound Town opened last year and is a fashionable store that mainly sells audio products, from CDs and vinyl to headphones and voice boxes. Other items sure to attract hipsters include portable bikes and vintage mobile phone shells.
Despite being hidden away between two large buildings, the music from its garden entices passersby to seek out Sound Town.
Headphones are available for listening to potential purchases, while in the background vinyl records play.
Not just aimed at hi-fi enthusiasts, Sound Town has earplugs and headphones available from just tens to thousands of yuan.
As the store is an authorized dealer for several leading audio companies, new product launch events take place from time to time. Usually, a band plays, while models promote the product.
There is also a small cafe.
Address: 121 Yan'an Road
Tel: (0571) 8718-9139
Silk Shopping Center
A paper installation highlights the store gate - a man and woman in silk clothing embracing among clusters of crape myrtle. The center, which covers 15,000 square meters, offers a huge range of silk products, from fashions and scarves to bags and bedclothes.
There is also a silk exhibition center for tourist groups.
Hangzhou has been home to the silk industry for thousands of years, and it remains an important industry.
Address: 89 Yan'an Road
Since then, every centimeter of land of Hangzhou City and Zhejiang Province has been measured and mapped from "kilometer zero."
Though the mansion, a private house of an official during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was demolished, the copper cross was discovered in 2007.
And at the beginning of the month, Ziwei Plaza opened to the public to mark its centenary as "kilometer zero."
Also Ziwei Street was named - the entire Yan'an Road S. and part of Yan'an Road, which starts from the "kilometer zero," north to Wushan Square at Hefang Street, to Qingchun Road.
The plaza and street reopened after a major renovation, which included a Metro stop being created.
Currently, a shop window design exhibition is being held along the road, on the theme "Ziwei" - which means crape myrtle - and there are many interesting places that merit a visit. Shanghai Daily took a stroll along Ziwei Street.
Shop window design and other art
A curved pipe with a purple flash inside runs through the street in every large store's windows, as if connecting them. Large paper crape myrtle blooms lie scattered in several glass structures along the road, installation works of designers.
The landmark of the street is the two-floor Ruler sculpture which stands above "kilometer zero," consisting of bricks from every district of the city. It was built two years after the copper cross was rediscovered.
More than 100 shop window are decorated by fans, scissors, silk and stone seals - typical Hangzhou souvenirs - as part of the shop window design exhibition.
Two large displays are at West Lake Intime Department Store, next to the Ruler, and Hubin Intime Department Store, featuring flowers, balloons and paper sculptures, in purple and pink crape myrtle tones.
A folk installation, City Memory, is located at the junction of Jiefang Road and Ziwei Street, the location of the old Xinfeng Snack Restaurant, the first branch of the local chain founded in the 1990s.
The installation takes the original restaurant as its inspiration. Three walls showcase the scene: one is the takeaway window; one is the cashier's; and third features tables and chairs. But unlike the real restaurant, all the objects in the installation look as though they are half embedded in the wall.
Work is ongoing on a red-brick European-style building. This will be Hangzhou Restaurant, when completed in autumn. And another red house, at the junction of Qingchun Road and Ziwei Street, is Hangzhou City Establishment Exhibition Hall.
The exhibition hall tells the story of the urban development of the city in both ancient and modern times. It is open every day (except Mondays) from 9am to 4:30pm.
Sound Town
Sound Town opened last year and is a fashionable store that mainly sells audio products, from CDs and vinyl to headphones and voice boxes. Other items sure to attract hipsters include portable bikes and vintage mobile phone shells.
Despite being hidden away between two large buildings, the music from its garden entices passersby to seek out Sound Town.
Headphones are available for listening to potential purchases, while in the background vinyl records play.
Not just aimed at hi-fi enthusiasts, Sound Town has earplugs and headphones available from just tens to thousands of yuan.
As the store is an authorized dealer for several leading audio companies, new product launch events take place from time to time. Usually, a band plays, while models promote the product.
There is also a small cafe.
Address: 121 Yan'an Road
Tel: (0571) 8718-9139
Silk Shopping Center
A paper installation highlights the store gate - a man and woman in silk clothing embracing among clusters of crape myrtle. The center, which covers 15,000 square meters, offers a huge range of silk products, from fashions and scarves to bags and bedclothes.
There is also a silk exhibition center for tourist groups.
Hangzhou has been home to the silk industry for thousands of years, and it remains an important industry.
Address: 89 Yan'an Road
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