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Old 'garbage street' a trendy Shangri-La
By Xu Wenwen |
December 10, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
QING Zhi Wu was once known as "garbage street" and "dark food street," because it was a bumpy byway leading to a mountain and lined with shabby restaurants and food booths. Students flocked to the area in Xihu District because of the cheap food.
But, thanks to the government, there's been a big transformation and now the street is home to dozens of fancy restaurants, hostels and cafes. It has increasingly become a chic place to meet for locals and travelers.
Renovation was initiated by the government. A river channel was created, bamboo and trees were planted, pavilions were built in an appealing, landscaped area. Work was completed at the end of last year.
It's now a place of fresh air, mountain scenery and small, well-spaced houses. The old "garbage street" has become a "Shangri-La."
Shanghai Daily takes a stroll along the street, which is less than a kilometer long, and visits four hotels and hostels. Next Monday we will report on restaurants and on the following Monday our subject will be cafes and bars.
Blue Lotus Hostel
From a look at the small, narrow check-in lobby, the Blue Lotus Hostel seems like a small, mom-and-pop hostel, but it contains 39 rooms in three buildings behind the lobby building.
In fact, it is homey and family-run. The mother, father, son and grandmother can be found in the lobby with pastoral, rustic decor. The boy sometimes plays the piano and his grandmother watches TV. Mac computers are available in the lobby.
The rooms are pleasantly furnished. Each room costs more than 180 yuan (US$29) per night. The mattresses are more than 28 centimeters thick; the average for a hostel is 15cm to 22cm. On each bed is a doll or large cushion. The wash basins are shaped like flowers; some are decorated with patterns.
The hostel consists of four buildings, each with a lobby containing comfortable sofas. Rooms range from single to four-person.
The decor is mixed. "This is like my home, I just decorate the way I like," says owner Zhang Ting.
Address: No. 108, Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: (0571) 8973-8808
Redwood Inn
Redwood Inn is the only hostel/hotel serving food in Qing Zhi Wu. The first floor is a Western restaurant managed by a chef who studied cuisine in the UK for four years.
The specialty is steak, made with imported Australian grain-fed beef that is shipped by air. Mexican pie, spaghetti and desserts are served.
In good weather, guests can relax in a garden where there are rattan chairs, tables and a swing.
The owners are two women who rented the building for a restaurant and then decided to turn it into a hostel and restaurant.
The upper two floor contains eight rooms that are not large but pleasantly decorated in Oriental or rustic style; high-quality bedding is used. Each room contains 32-inch televisions and Wifi.
Address: No. 73, Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: 153-9707-1687
The Green Youth Hostel
It has a spacious lobby bar and cafe that can seat around 100 people. It has 20 rooms.
The owners are friends who have traveled around the world and decided to open an eco-friendly hostel for other travelers.
The tables are old, the walls are paneled with old boards purchased at flea markets, the long wooden bar is made from a log. The floor and ceiling are cement and there's little actual decor.
But the warm yellow lighting makes the place inviting for tea and coffee. From time to time, there are book readings and film screenings.
Address: 88 Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: (0571) 8799-0755, 8799-0355
William Toffee Hotel
This 27-room hotel is all about toffee, a firm candy made with boiled sugar or molasses, butter and other ingredients. It's a mom-and-pop establishment, so named because their five-year-old son William says he wants to taste every kind of toffee in the world.
The couple designed this toffee-and-cream-colored hotel, naming each room after a brand that makes toffee (usually chocolate as well), such as Chocolair and Meiji. An information card in each room describes the brand and two toffees of the brand are placed in a container beside the bed; the container is always refilled.
The decor is vintage European. The lobby contains an ornamental fireplace with real logs. Guests can enjoy toffee coffee, as well, with chocolate and toffee syrup. It also features French windows that let in natural light. The owner, Xie Xiaolong, says she loves French architecture.
Address: No. 59, Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: (0571) 8799-9358
But, thanks to the government, there's been a big transformation and now the street is home to dozens of fancy restaurants, hostels and cafes. It has increasingly become a chic place to meet for locals and travelers.
Renovation was initiated by the government. A river channel was created, bamboo and trees were planted, pavilions were built in an appealing, landscaped area. Work was completed at the end of last year.
It's now a place of fresh air, mountain scenery and small, well-spaced houses. The old "garbage street" has become a "Shangri-La."
Shanghai Daily takes a stroll along the street, which is less than a kilometer long, and visits four hotels and hostels. Next Monday we will report on restaurants and on the following Monday our subject will be cafes and bars.
Blue Lotus Hostel
From a look at the small, narrow check-in lobby, the Blue Lotus Hostel seems like a small, mom-and-pop hostel, but it contains 39 rooms in three buildings behind the lobby building.
In fact, it is homey and family-run. The mother, father, son and grandmother can be found in the lobby with pastoral, rustic decor. The boy sometimes plays the piano and his grandmother watches TV. Mac computers are available in the lobby.
The rooms are pleasantly furnished. Each room costs more than 180 yuan (US$29) per night. The mattresses are more than 28 centimeters thick; the average for a hostel is 15cm to 22cm. On each bed is a doll or large cushion. The wash basins are shaped like flowers; some are decorated with patterns.
The hostel consists of four buildings, each with a lobby containing comfortable sofas. Rooms range from single to four-person.
The decor is mixed. "This is like my home, I just decorate the way I like," says owner Zhang Ting.
Address: No. 108, Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: (0571) 8973-8808
Redwood Inn
Redwood Inn is the only hostel/hotel serving food in Qing Zhi Wu. The first floor is a Western restaurant managed by a chef who studied cuisine in the UK for four years.
The specialty is steak, made with imported Australian grain-fed beef that is shipped by air. Mexican pie, spaghetti and desserts are served.
In good weather, guests can relax in a garden where there are rattan chairs, tables and a swing.
The owners are two women who rented the building for a restaurant and then decided to turn it into a hostel and restaurant.
The upper two floor contains eight rooms that are not large but pleasantly decorated in Oriental or rustic style; high-quality bedding is used. Each room contains 32-inch televisions and Wifi.
Address: No. 73, Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: 153-9707-1687
The Green Youth Hostel
It has a spacious lobby bar and cafe that can seat around 100 people. It has 20 rooms.
The owners are friends who have traveled around the world and decided to open an eco-friendly hostel for other travelers.
The tables are old, the walls are paneled with old boards purchased at flea markets, the long wooden bar is made from a log. The floor and ceiling are cement and there's little actual decor.
But the warm yellow lighting makes the place inviting for tea and coffee. From time to time, there are book readings and film screenings.
Address: 88 Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: (0571) 8799-0755, 8799-0355
William Toffee Hotel
This 27-room hotel is all about toffee, a firm candy made with boiled sugar or molasses, butter and other ingredients. It's a mom-and-pop establishment, so named because their five-year-old son William says he wants to taste every kind of toffee in the world.
The couple designed this toffee-and-cream-colored hotel, naming each room after a brand that makes toffee (usually chocolate as well), such as Chocolair and Meiji. An information card in each room describes the brand and two toffees of the brand are placed in a container beside the bed; the container is always refilled.
The decor is vintage European. The lobby contains an ornamental fireplace with real logs. Guests can enjoy toffee coffee, as well, with chocolate and toffee syrup. It also features French windows that let in natural light. The owner, Xie Xiaolong, says she loves French architecture.
Address: No. 59, Qing Zhi Wu
Tel: (0571) 8799-9358
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