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禄 Hangzhou
Road where rich history and the present meet
By Wu Huixin |
April 22, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HANGZHOU'S Jinhua Road - named after a city in the center of Zhejiang Province - connects Dahu Road in the south and Quzhou Street in the north.
It is most famous for the Ideal Silian 166 Loft, a cultural and creative industry rendezvous that has been compared to Beijing's 798 art space.
Ideal Silian 166 Loft is on the site of the former Hangzhou Silk Dyeing Factory, designed by architects of the former Soviet Union.
While production was moved to more remote areas, the mills - symbols of Hangzhou's industrial heritage - have been retained, together with a large amount of machinery.
Designers and artists have taken advantage of the distinctive architecture and industrial equipment, turning the site into a complex of modern creativity.
Today, creative studios, design companies, photography workshops and cafes are found at Ideal Silian 166 Loft, making it a gathering place for hipsters.
In addition to the loft, Jinhua Road is also home to historic ruins such the Jiangshu Railway Ruins Park and Ronghua Tea Garden Ruins.
Jiangshu Railway, established in 1906, was the earliest railway line in Zhejiang Province. During that age, it promoted the economic development of Hangzhou and until 1937 carried 600,000 passengers a year.
However, this railway was destroyed by Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945).
In order to restore a historic fragment, Hangzhou government reconstructed the railway ruins as a public park, with an old-style bell tower, rails and waiting room erected according to historic documents and locomotives displayed.
In past times, passengers took trains from Jiangshu Railway to Gongchen Bridge Station, and walked to Ronghua Tea Garden - actually a theater - to watch movies and local operas.
Built in 1894, Ronghua Tea Garden, featuring upturned eaves and old Chinese architecture style, was the first theater in Hangzhou where famous Peking Opera actors like Gai Jiaotian and Zhou Xinfang performed.
In 1925, it began to screen movies, becoming the birthplace of Hangzhou's film history.
Nowadays, it has been restored. Though it no longer stages opera performances, people can still imagine its prosperity through the splendid architecture.
Shanghai Daily rented a bicycle and rode along Jinhua Road last weekend, uncovering three gems - two cafes and a museum - along the way.
Metoo Cafe
Long considered one of the top Hangzhou cafes, the crew of TV series "Sealed with a Kiss" took a fancy to Metoo, making it a backdrop for the hit TV drama.
But before the show was broadcast, the cafe was already hugely popular in Hangzhou, by virtue of its unique style which combines mill machinery with a modern decor.
A huge piece of machinery in the lobby is juxtaposed with stylish cushions, sofas, a wooden table and ornaments, creating an atmosphere that's at once historic and trendy.
The owners retained the original coarse brick walls, just painting them white, creating a stripped-down feel.
Knick-knacks help create a vintage vibe, with old-school TVs, an abacus and old-fashioned light switches echoes of the building's past.
The sizeable lobby contains rows of tables and booths. Bands play every now and then.
Address: 75 Jinhua Road
Tel: (0571) 8801-9967
For further details go tohttp://site.douban.com/metoocafe/
Chezmarie Landas Cafe
All things Gallic are the inspiration for this cafe: the timber facade features French pastoral characteristics, while flowers on windowsills and beneath the roof give customers the impression that they're in Provence.
The interior adds to this extravaganza: there are maps of France, French oil paintings, French souvenirs and photographs taken in France.
And, not surprisingly, one of the owners is French.
The highlight of the cafe are the stained glass windows, lending a peaceful church-like ambience.
Also, the decor of the second floor is different from the first floor, conveying a more luxurious feel.
A set of carved redwood furniture, gorgeous paintings and a splendid fireplace evoke French palace style.
According to the comments of web users on Chinese review website dianping.com, Chezmarie Landas Cafe's desserts and salad are recommended.
Address: F6, Ideal Silian 166 Loft, 166 Lishui Road
Tel: (0571) 8830-9310
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum
This is China's first museum taking the culture of the Grand Canal as its theme. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was created between the 5th century BC and the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) and at 2,253 kilometers is the longest in the world.
The 5,500-square-meter exhibition space is divided into several parts. These cover the digging of the Grand Canal, changes over the years, its utilization, its preservation and the culture of the canal.
The museum is open from 9am to 4:30pm, except Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free.
Address: 34 Jinhua Road
Tel: (0571) 8816-2018
It is most famous for the Ideal Silian 166 Loft, a cultural and creative industry rendezvous that has been compared to Beijing's 798 art space.
Ideal Silian 166 Loft is on the site of the former Hangzhou Silk Dyeing Factory, designed by architects of the former Soviet Union.
While production was moved to more remote areas, the mills - symbols of Hangzhou's industrial heritage - have been retained, together with a large amount of machinery.
Designers and artists have taken advantage of the distinctive architecture and industrial equipment, turning the site into a complex of modern creativity.
Today, creative studios, design companies, photography workshops and cafes are found at Ideal Silian 166 Loft, making it a gathering place for hipsters.
In addition to the loft, Jinhua Road is also home to historic ruins such the Jiangshu Railway Ruins Park and Ronghua Tea Garden Ruins.
Jiangshu Railway, established in 1906, was the earliest railway line in Zhejiang Province. During that age, it promoted the economic development of Hangzhou and until 1937 carried 600,000 passengers a year.
However, this railway was destroyed by Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945).
In order to restore a historic fragment, Hangzhou government reconstructed the railway ruins as a public park, with an old-style bell tower, rails and waiting room erected according to historic documents and locomotives displayed.
In past times, passengers took trains from Jiangshu Railway to Gongchen Bridge Station, and walked to Ronghua Tea Garden - actually a theater - to watch movies and local operas.
Built in 1894, Ronghua Tea Garden, featuring upturned eaves and old Chinese architecture style, was the first theater in Hangzhou where famous Peking Opera actors like Gai Jiaotian and Zhou Xinfang performed.
In 1925, it began to screen movies, becoming the birthplace of Hangzhou's film history.
Nowadays, it has been restored. Though it no longer stages opera performances, people can still imagine its prosperity through the splendid architecture.
Shanghai Daily rented a bicycle and rode along Jinhua Road last weekend, uncovering three gems - two cafes and a museum - along the way.
Metoo Cafe
Long considered one of the top Hangzhou cafes, the crew of TV series "Sealed with a Kiss" took a fancy to Metoo, making it a backdrop for the hit TV drama.
But before the show was broadcast, the cafe was already hugely popular in Hangzhou, by virtue of its unique style which combines mill machinery with a modern decor.
A huge piece of machinery in the lobby is juxtaposed with stylish cushions, sofas, a wooden table and ornaments, creating an atmosphere that's at once historic and trendy.
The owners retained the original coarse brick walls, just painting them white, creating a stripped-down feel.
Knick-knacks help create a vintage vibe, with old-school TVs, an abacus and old-fashioned light switches echoes of the building's past.
The sizeable lobby contains rows of tables and booths. Bands play every now and then.
Address: 75 Jinhua Road
Tel: (0571) 8801-9967
For further details go tohttp://site.douban.com/metoocafe/
Chezmarie Landas Cafe
All things Gallic are the inspiration for this cafe: the timber facade features French pastoral characteristics, while flowers on windowsills and beneath the roof give customers the impression that they're in Provence.
The interior adds to this extravaganza: there are maps of France, French oil paintings, French souvenirs and photographs taken in France.
And, not surprisingly, one of the owners is French.
The highlight of the cafe are the stained glass windows, lending a peaceful church-like ambience.
Also, the decor of the second floor is different from the first floor, conveying a more luxurious feel.
A set of carved redwood furniture, gorgeous paintings and a splendid fireplace evoke French palace style.
According to the comments of web users on Chinese review website dianping.com, Chezmarie Landas Cafe's desserts and salad are recommended.
Address: F6, Ideal Silian 166 Loft, 166 Lishui Road
Tel: (0571) 8830-9310
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum
This is China's first museum taking the culture of the Grand Canal as its theme. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was created between the 5th century BC and the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) and at 2,253 kilometers is the longest in the world.
The 5,500-square-meter exhibition space is divided into several parts. These cover the digging of the Grand Canal, changes over the years, its utilization, its preservation and the culture of the canal.
The museum is open from 9am to 4:30pm, except Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free.
Address: 34 Jinhua Road
Tel: (0571) 8816-2018
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