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Taking in the sights on historic Royal Street
By Wu Huixin |
August 20, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
When Hangzhou, then called Lin'an, was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the emperor officiated at a three-day ceremony every three years to worship heaven. A street connected the palace and the altar where offerings were made.
That street was turned into a majestic avenue, Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty, today's Zhongshan Road. It was the principal axis of ancient Hangzhou.
It was paved with more than 10,000 bricks and stones and most government buildings, businesses and residents were located along the way.
The original Royal Street extended for 10 kilometers and was divided into three parts. The southern part was the political center where government departments were located. The middle part was the commercial center containing around 120 major businesses. The northern part was the entertainment center containing what was then the largest beiwa (±±í?), a recreation space for operas, acrobatics, story telling and shadow play day and night.
Two years ago, the Hangzhou government appointed Wang Shu, 2012 winner of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, as chief designer to renovate a 4.3-kilometer section of the street.
That segment is home not only to time-honored brands, such as Baozhilin TCM Pharmacy, but also modern brands, such as Dairy Queen, and fashionable shops of all kinds.
Today, Shanghai Daily presents the second part of a guide to sites along Royal Street.
Darco Porcelain(大可瓷器)
The shop is filled with porcelain of all kinds, from exquisitely fashioned teapots to more durable, brightly colored garden stools.
Pickle jars, salt containers, wine pots, Western tableware and many crafts are on offer. The porcelains range from 30 yuan (US$4.70) to 1,000 yuan.
There's plenty of blue and white porcelain.
Some porcelains come from Jingdezhen, "China's porcelain capital" in Jiangxi Province, and from Yixing, famous for zisha, purple clay teapots from Jiangsu Province.
Brands such as Rose & Roman and Hankook are imported.
Address: 107 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: (0571) 8791-0956
One Life One Belief(一生一信)
Infeel.Me is China's biggest brand of original postcards, and One Life One Belief is its first flagship store in Hangzhou.
The postcards are created by 20 to 30 designers, including Xia Da, Yao Feila and Zhu Letao, three famous contemporary cartoonists. They are displayed on walls, stables, desks and shelves.
The first and second floors display 120 kinds of postcards, from scenery to animation figures. Each post card costs 5 yuan; in sets, the cost is 2 yuan per card.
The third floor is for coffee and relaxation. Coffee is free for visitors donating three books.
The store also offers mailing service for customers.
Address: 129 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: 139-8945-7491
Flowering Story Coffee & Bar (花事咖啡馆)
The name is poetic in Chinese and the owner aims to create pleasant surroundings behind the Western-style facade.
The interior is cozy, featuring orange gauze curtains, crystal hanging lamps, green sofas and custom-made wooden tables.
Paintings on the walls come from the China Academy of Art and books on the shelf come from the owner's home.
Every day from 12pm to 5pm, except weekends, it serves two kinds of afternoon tea, containing milk tea, cakes and other snacks, at 46 yuan to 49 yuan per person.
The peppered beef pasta and Thai-style seafood udon are recommended.
Many kinds of red wine are on offer.
Address: 170 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: (0571) 8704-7798
Exhibition Hall of Relics of Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty(南宋御街遗址陈列馆)
In 2008, an old residence on Zhongshan Road was destroyed by fire. In clearing the debris, evidence of the ancient Royal Street came to light after nearly 800 years.
The old portions of the road are protected by glass; visitors can walk on ancient paving stones.
A map of the old Royal Street is on the wall and a model depicts the various buildings and bustling scenes from the past.
Address: 112-114 Zhongshan Rd M.
That street was turned into a majestic avenue, Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty, today's Zhongshan Road. It was the principal axis of ancient Hangzhou.
It was paved with more than 10,000 bricks and stones and most government buildings, businesses and residents were located along the way.
The original Royal Street extended for 10 kilometers and was divided into three parts. The southern part was the political center where government departments were located. The middle part was the commercial center containing around 120 major businesses. The northern part was the entertainment center containing what was then the largest beiwa (±±í?), a recreation space for operas, acrobatics, story telling and shadow play day and night.
Two years ago, the Hangzhou government appointed Wang Shu, 2012 winner of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, as chief designer to renovate a 4.3-kilometer section of the street.
That segment is home not only to time-honored brands, such as Baozhilin TCM Pharmacy, but also modern brands, such as Dairy Queen, and fashionable shops of all kinds.
Today, Shanghai Daily presents the second part of a guide to sites along Royal Street.
Darco Porcelain(大可瓷器)
The shop is filled with porcelain of all kinds, from exquisitely fashioned teapots to more durable, brightly colored garden stools.
Pickle jars, salt containers, wine pots, Western tableware and many crafts are on offer. The porcelains range from 30 yuan (US$4.70) to 1,000 yuan.
There's plenty of blue and white porcelain.
Some porcelains come from Jingdezhen, "China's porcelain capital" in Jiangxi Province, and from Yixing, famous for zisha, purple clay teapots from Jiangsu Province.
Brands such as Rose & Roman and Hankook are imported.
Address: 107 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: (0571) 8791-0956
One Life One Belief(一生一信)
Infeel.Me is China's biggest brand of original postcards, and One Life One Belief is its first flagship store in Hangzhou.
The postcards are created by 20 to 30 designers, including Xia Da, Yao Feila and Zhu Letao, three famous contemporary cartoonists. They are displayed on walls, stables, desks and shelves.
The first and second floors display 120 kinds of postcards, from scenery to animation figures. Each post card costs 5 yuan; in sets, the cost is 2 yuan per card.
The third floor is for coffee and relaxation. Coffee is free for visitors donating three books.
The store also offers mailing service for customers.
Address: 129 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: 139-8945-7491
Flowering Story Coffee & Bar (花事咖啡馆)
The name is poetic in Chinese and the owner aims to create pleasant surroundings behind the Western-style facade.
The interior is cozy, featuring orange gauze curtains, crystal hanging lamps, green sofas and custom-made wooden tables.
Paintings on the walls come from the China Academy of Art and books on the shelf come from the owner's home.
Every day from 12pm to 5pm, except weekends, it serves two kinds of afternoon tea, containing milk tea, cakes and other snacks, at 46 yuan to 49 yuan per person.
The peppered beef pasta and Thai-style seafood udon are recommended.
Many kinds of red wine are on offer.
Address: 170 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: (0571) 8704-7798
Exhibition Hall of Relics of Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty(南宋御街遗址陈列馆)
In 2008, an old residence on Zhongshan Road was destroyed by fire. In clearing the debris, evidence of the ancient Royal Street came to light after nearly 800 years.
The old portions of the road are protected by glass; visitors can walk on ancient paving stones.
A map of the old Royal Street is on the wall and a model depicts the various buildings and bustling scenes from the past.
Address: 112-114 Zhongshan Rd M.
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