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Rich cultural experience on city's 'Wall Street'
By Wu Huixin |
November 12, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AS the No. 1 financial street of Hangzhou, home to numerous banks and financial institutions, Qingchun Road is considered by many as the "Wall Street" of the city. This east-west avenue starts from the Sixth Garden alongside West Lake, ending in Qianjiang New Town, and connects Xiaoshan District through the Qingchun Tunnel under the Qiantang River.
Qingchun Road is also the dividing line of the upper and lower halves of Hangzhou and got its name as the ancient Qingchun City Gate was located on the thoroughfare.
Although Qingchun Road now features a booming financial environment, it has also witnessed the development of Hangzhou during different eras. Historical relics, such as the Salt Bridge, bear testimony to the long history of thriving businesses there.
The Salt Bridge spans the Zhong River at the intersection of Zhonghe Road and Qingchun Road. In ancient times, it was the focal point of the salt trading business. Nowadays, the still-intact bridge provides shelter for passersby on hot or rainy days.
Shanghai Daily took a walk along this bustling road and found an arts center and two exhibition halls among the commercial surroundings.
Hangzhou Ancient City Wall Exhibition Hall
This is located on the former site of Qingchun City Gate, at the intersection of Qingchun Road and Tiesha River. Its appearance is based on ancient city walls; the first floor includes an arched doorway constructed from gray bricks, while the second floor is a wooden structure with upturned-eaves.
The first floor has two parts.
The northern area focusing on the tales of the Hangzhou city walls and gates - such as when the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) passed through Yongjin City Gate to go sightseeing at the West Lake.
The southern section focuses on physical materials, minutely depicting the changes of the Hangzhou city walls from the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) through to the Republic of China (1911-1949).
A highlight of the exhibition hall is a 10-meter-long painting which portrays the 10 most famous ancient city gates, capturing the landscape of old Hangzhou and the daily lives of its people. This panoramic painting is reminiscent of the renowned hand scroll "Along the River during the Qingming Festival" by Song Dynasty (960-1279) artist Zhang Zeduan.
The exhibition explains how the Tiesha River was ancient Hangzhou's moat, overlooked by more than 10 city gates. While most of the city gates and walls were ruined in time, their bricks and mortar long gone, the names remain. Places such as Qingchun, Genshan and Wulin keep alive memories of those ancient city fortifications.
Address: intersection of Qingchun Road and Tiesha River
Renke Art Center
Sculptures outside Renke Art Center are sure to catch the eye of passersby. These are made by professors from the China Academy of Art and portray street entertainers from ancient times, including acrobats, storytellers, musicians and singers.
The inside space contains three parts: a furniture exhibition room; an art display room and a coffee bar.
The coffee bar decor combines European and Shanghai style with artistic flourishes. The south-facing wall is made entirely of glass, water flows from the top to create a fantastic water feature. Booths and sofas feature Western characteristics, but the screens and lamps are in the traditional Shanghai style of the Republic of China era.
The art display room is, appropriately enough, where exhibitions are held. Renke has signed contacts with several artists to display their work here.
A major part of the center is the furniture exhibition room. This houses a harmonious match of furniture, decorations and knick-knacks, from home and abroad in different styles. All items are available to buy.
Address: 172 Qingchun Rd
Hangzhou City Construction Exhibition Hall
This red-brick structure, in a Western classical architectural style with a baroque building facade, looks conspicuous among the surrounding concrete buildings.
The so-called "Red Building" was constructed in 1910 as Zhejiang High Court of the Qing Dynasty, becoming the Zhejiang High Court during the Republic of China period. After 1949, it became Hangzhou People's Court.
Now, the red building is the exhibition hall displaying the construction history of Hangzhou.
Early in the Kingdom of Wuyue, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Hangzhou was a small county surrounded by hills, but after millennia of development, it was elected capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and entered a boom time in construction.
The exhibition hall displays in detail the expansion of the city over the years, from its humble beginnings, through imperial grandeur to the modern Hangzhou.
Exhibits also include tiles and carved wooden pillars from ancient times, the level of craftsmanship showing the sophistication of old Hangzhou.
Address: 258 Qingchun Rd
Qingchun Road is also the dividing line of the upper and lower halves of Hangzhou and got its name as the ancient Qingchun City Gate was located on the thoroughfare.
Although Qingchun Road now features a booming financial environment, it has also witnessed the development of Hangzhou during different eras. Historical relics, such as the Salt Bridge, bear testimony to the long history of thriving businesses there.
The Salt Bridge spans the Zhong River at the intersection of Zhonghe Road and Qingchun Road. In ancient times, it was the focal point of the salt trading business. Nowadays, the still-intact bridge provides shelter for passersby on hot or rainy days.
Shanghai Daily took a walk along this bustling road and found an arts center and two exhibition halls among the commercial surroundings.
Hangzhou Ancient City Wall Exhibition Hall
This is located on the former site of Qingchun City Gate, at the intersection of Qingchun Road and Tiesha River. Its appearance is based on ancient city walls; the first floor includes an arched doorway constructed from gray bricks, while the second floor is a wooden structure with upturned-eaves.
The first floor has two parts.
The northern area focusing on the tales of the Hangzhou city walls and gates - such as when the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) passed through Yongjin City Gate to go sightseeing at the West Lake.
The southern section focuses on physical materials, minutely depicting the changes of the Hangzhou city walls from the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) through to the Republic of China (1911-1949).
A highlight of the exhibition hall is a 10-meter-long painting which portrays the 10 most famous ancient city gates, capturing the landscape of old Hangzhou and the daily lives of its people. This panoramic painting is reminiscent of the renowned hand scroll "Along the River during the Qingming Festival" by Song Dynasty (960-1279) artist Zhang Zeduan.
The exhibition explains how the Tiesha River was ancient Hangzhou's moat, overlooked by more than 10 city gates. While most of the city gates and walls were ruined in time, their bricks and mortar long gone, the names remain. Places such as Qingchun, Genshan and Wulin keep alive memories of those ancient city fortifications.
Address: intersection of Qingchun Road and Tiesha River
Renke Art Center
Sculptures outside Renke Art Center are sure to catch the eye of passersby. These are made by professors from the China Academy of Art and portray street entertainers from ancient times, including acrobats, storytellers, musicians and singers.
The inside space contains three parts: a furniture exhibition room; an art display room and a coffee bar.
The coffee bar decor combines European and Shanghai style with artistic flourishes. The south-facing wall is made entirely of glass, water flows from the top to create a fantastic water feature. Booths and sofas feature Western characteristics, but the screens and lamps are in the traditional Shanghai style of the Republic of China era.
The art display room is, appropriately enough, where exhibitions are held. Renke has signed contacts with several artists to display their work here.
A major part of the center is the furniture exhibition room. This houses a harmonious match of furniture, decorations and knick-knacks, from home and abroad in different styles. All items are available to buy.
Address: 172 Qingchun Rd
Hangzhou City Construction Exhibition Hall
This red-brick structure, in a Western classical architectural style with a baroque building facade, looks conspicuous among the surrounding concrete buildings.
The so-called "Red Building" was constructed in 1910 as Zhejiang High Court of the Qing Dynasty, becoming the Zhejiang High Court during the Republic of China period. After 1949, it became Hangzhou People's Court.
Now, the red building is the exhibition hall displaying the construction history of Hangzhou.
Early in the Kingdom of Wuyue, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Hangzhou was a small county surrounded by hills, but after millennia of development, it was elected capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and entered a boom time in construction.
The exhibition hall displays in detail the expansion of the city over the years, from its humble beginnings, through imperial grandeur to the modern Hangzhou.
Exhibits also include tiles and carved wooden pillars from ancient times, the level of craftsmanship showing the sophistication of old Hangzhou.
Address: 258 Qingchun Rd
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