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Running alongside the city's rivers
By Xu Wenwen |
August 1, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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JOGGING and hiking, which are believed to be effective in losing weight and toning the body, are very suitable exercises to pursue in the nearby city of Hangzhou, since tracks around waters, lawns and mountains abound.
To jog or hike around the West Lake is pretty special, but to follow the paths running alongside the city's rivers is even better. Rivers crisscrossing the city form another landscape of Hangzhou, especially since the city restored all of its riverways last year.
Shanghai Daily chooses six riverside paths featuring cozy air, a level surface and pleasant natural landscapes that are ideal for jogging, hiking and cycling.
Shangtang River
The river starts at Yingyue Bridge, and runs to Haining, a city to the east of Hangzhou. Its width varies from 30 meters to 70 meters.
Two ideal places to start jogging or hiking are the spot near the gate of Zhejiang University of Technology on Chaowang Road and the crossing of Huancheng Road and Zhonghe Elevated Road (near Hangzhou Tower).
Excavated more than 2,000 years ago, it's the first man-made river in Hangzhou's history. The river was expanded when the Grand Canal that links to it was built around 1,400 years ago.
As the main river connecting to the Grand Canal in Hangzhou, it has welcomed many important people throughout history, such as emperors, Marco Polo and ambassadors of foreign countries.
Yuhangtang River
The river begins in Yuhang, goes along Yuhangtang Road at the east of Hangzhou, crosses Moganshan Road and Hushu Road S., and empties into the Grand Canal.
The river is favored by residents as a great place to walk after dinner because of the abundance of beautiful scenery along it.
For example, Xinyifang Commercial Block by the river is a well-known place for sidewalk snacks, while Xiaohezhi Street, at the intersection of the Yuhangtang and Xiao rivers, is a newly opened quaint street boasting many traditional teahouses and restaurants.
At the section about 1 kilometer westward to the Zijinggang campus of Zhejiang University, the river embraces the smallest island of Hangzhou - an isle less than 100 meters long, on which trees and flowers are dotted while wooden paths, corridors and pavilions stretch.
Keep going westward to discover river paths comprised of huge cobblestones, the largest of which extends to as big as a table. With aquatic plants growing to the side, it is a great place to take photographs.
To challenge a demanding jogger or hiker, one can start from the section of Xiaohezhi Street and end at the Raocheng Expressway - the way extends 10 kilometers.
Guxin River
As the only river sourced from the West Lake, it starts at the crossing of Huancheng Road E. and Baisha Road (near Children's Palace), goes through Huancheng Road W. and Huancheng Road N., and ends as it joins the Grand Canal.
The plants and artificial scenery on each side of the river imitate those of Bai Causeway, which mainly consists of peach trees and willows, as well as typical southern China corridors, bridges and pavilions.
The river has always functioned as a sluice for the West Lake whose water level is 5 or 6 meters higher than that of Guxin River.
In ancient times, the flood discharge, as splendid as the tide of the Qiantang River, was listed as one of the "Eight Local Landscapes." Today the flood discharge is not as strong as before.
Yanshan River
Sharing some scenery with Xixi Wetland, Yanshan River is one of the best routes in the city to observe birds as its north side is the wetland, while its south side is Tianmushan Road.
Between the east bank of the river and the road, a wide green belt keeps the bustling world separated. Magpies, crows and egrets are frequently seen throughout the year.
Going along the river one will reach Hezhu Street, a newly restored commercial street containing bars, restaurants and tea houses, which, compared with its counterparts in urban areas, has fewer visitors but provides high-quality food and wine.
South Part of Zhong River
Even during the past century, Zhong River under the Zhonghe Elevated Road was the busiest river in the city, as it was used to transport wood.
Since it was resorted last year, the river is more beautiful as it features trees, pavilions and 10 arched bridges over a stretch of less than 4 kilometers.
Fuxin Street S. to the side is now renowned as a food street boasting many local restaurants, among them the most famous one is A'Qiang Noodle Restaurant.
Xintang River
Xintang River is the youngest river in Hangzhou as its predecessor was just an irrigation channel. Built in 2002, its purpose was to drain rainwater in Qianjiang New Town.
Extending 6 kilometers, it runs from the crossing of Yaojiang Road and Qiantang River, and empties into the Grand Canal.
The main section of the river goes through the core area of Qianjiang New Town, of which the landscape is not natural or traditional scenery but modern, lofty buildings, such as Hangzhou Grand Theater, Hangzhou International Conference Center, Citizen Center and MixC Mall.
To jog or hike around the West Lake is pretty special, but to follow the paths running alongside the city's rivers is even better. Rivers crisscrossing the city form another landscape of Hangzhou, especially since the city restored all of its riverways last year.
Shanghai Daily chooses six riverside paths featuring cozy air, a level surface and pleasant natural landscapes that are ideal for jogging, hiking and cycling.
Shangtang River
The river starts at Yingyue Bridge, and runs to Haining, a city to the east of Hangzhou. Its width varies from 30 meters to 70 meters.
Two ideal places to start jogging or hiking are the spot near the gate of Zhejiang University of Technology on Chaowang Road and the crossing of Huancheng Road and Zhonghe Elevated Road (near Hangzhou Tower).
Excavated more than 2,000 years ago, it's the first man-made river in Hangzhou's history. The river was expanded when the Grand Canal that links to it was built around 1,400 years ago.
As the main river connecting to the Grand Canal in Hangzhou, it has welcomed many important people throughout history, such as emperors, Marco Polo and ambassadors of foreign countries.
Yuhangtang River
The river begins in Yuhang, goes along Yuhangtang Road at the east of Hangzhou, crosses Moganshan Road and Hushu Road S., and empties into the Grand Canal.
The river is favored by residents as a great place to walk after dinner because of the abundance of beautiful scenery along it.
For example, Xinyifang Commercial Block by the river is a well-known place for sidewalk snacks, while Xiaohezhi Street, at the intersection of the Yuhangtang and Xiao rivers, is a newly opened quaint street boasting many traditional teahouses and restaurants.
At the section about 1 kilometer westward to the Zijinggang campus of Zhejiang University, the river embraces the smallest island of Hangzhou - an isle less than 100 meters long, on which trees and flowers are dotted while wooden paths, corridors and pavilions stretch.
Keep going westward to discover river paths comprised of huge cobblestones, the largest of which extends to as big as a table. With aquatic plants growing to the side, it is a great place to take photographs.
To challenge a demanding jogger or hiker, one can start from the section of Xiaohezhi Street and end at the Raocheng Expressway - the way extends 10 kilometers.
Guxin River
As the only river sourced from the West Lake, it starts at the crossing of Huancheng Road E. and Baisha Road (near Children's Palace), goes through Huancheng Road W. and Huancheng Road N., and ends as it joins the Grand Canal.
The plants and artificial scenery on each side of the river imitate those of Bai Causeway, which mainly consists of peach trees and willows, as well as typical southern China corridors, bridges and pavilions.
The river has always functioned as a sluice for the West Lake whose water level is 5 or 6 meters higher than that of Guxin River.
In ancient times, the flood discharge, as splendid as the tide of the Qiantang River, was listed as one of the "Eight Local Landscapes." Today the flood discharge is not as strong as before.
Yanshan River
Sharing some scenery with Xixi Wetland, Yanshan River is one of the best routes in the city to observe birds as its north side is the wetland, while its south side is Tianmushan Road.
Between the east bank of the river and the road, a wide green belt keeps the bustling world separated. Magpies, crows and egrets are frequently seen throughout the year.
Going along the river one will reach Hezhu Street, a newly restored commercial street containing bars, restaurants and tea houses, which, compared with its counterparts in urban areas, has fewer visitors but provides high-quality food and wine.
South Part of Zhong River
Even during the past century, Zhong River under the Zhonghe Elevated Road was the busiest river in the city, as it was used to transport wood.
Since it was resorted last year, the river is more beautiful as it features trees, pavilions and 10 arched bridges over a stretch of less than 4 kilometers.
Fuxin Street S. to the side is now renowned as a food street boasting many local restaurants, among them the most famous one is A'Qiang Noodle Restaurant.
Xintang River
Xintang River is the youngest river in Hangzhou as its predecessor was just an irrigation channel. Built in 2002, its purpose was to drain rainwater in Qianjiang New Town.
Extending 6 kilometers, it runs from the crossing of Yaojiang Road and Qiantang River, and empties into the Grand Canal.
The main section of the river goes through the core area of Qianjiang New Town, of which the landscape is not natural or traditional scenery but modern, lofty buildings, such as Hangzhou Grand Theater, Hangzhou International Conference Center, Citizen Center and MixC Mall.
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