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The city's two prize destinations
June 30, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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SINCE Shanghai Daily launched its quest to find Hangzhou's lesser-known scenic sites on weibo (China's equivalent of Twitter) last month, we've received many suggestions of interesting destinations. Xu Wenwen and Shi Xiaohan visit the two winning recommendations.
Yuanyuan Folk Park
Hundreds of middle-aged people swarm at a park, posting profiles of their children on walls and trees, asking each other their children's gender, age, career and hobbies, and exchanging their phone numbers for further contact in an activity known as the "parents' blind date party."
They attempt to arrange blind dates for their sons or daughters who mostly fall into the "leftover" category (it refers to those highly-educated and well-paid successful people who have not found their Mr Right or Mrs Right at an age traditionally believed way past the best getting-married years), but feel too embarrassed to show up in the park by themselves.
Hangzhou was one of the first cities nationwide to kindle this activity and Yuanyuan Folk Park is a major venue for parental matchmaking.
Yuan in Chinese literally means predestined relationship, and Yuanyuan Folk Park is home to the Temple of the Matchmaking God, the main feature of the park and one of Hangzhou's lesser-known scenic spots recommended by Shanghai Daily reader Lu Qi.
The temple is dedicated to Yue Lao, the ancient matchmaking god, who was also in charge of marriages. According to Chinese myth, the deity ties an invisible red string around the ankles of men and women who are destined to be soul mates and will one day marry each other.
The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break.
Although the temple is quite small, it is said to be very effective and as a result it lures many to pray for relationships and marriage.
In the center of the temple stands a golden statue of the matchmaking god, who grins and holds a list of names of young single people. Under the statue there are several boxes containing different kinds of lots, for outcomes such as relationships, marriage, fortune and offspring.
From those boxes one can draw lots, which are respectively inscribed with a number. Explanations to the meaning of each number can be bought at a nearby counter.
On the temple's left side is a fresco depicting the love story of the famous historical personage Tang Yin and his lover Qiu Xiang, while a fresco to the right illustrates the love legend between the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) official, general and diplomat Guo Yuanzhen (AD 656-713) and his wife.
The fame of the temple inspired the formation of the "parents' blind date party" held at the gateway of Yuanyuan Folk Park on the last Saturday morning of each month. The activity organized by Hongniang.com, a blind-dating website, has been going for five years and has resulted in numerous couples coming together.
The landscape around the temple is quite pleasant as it is situated on Qixia Mountain. Red lanterns featuring the yuan character are everywhere, standing out against the lush green mountain.
And visitors should not miss the park's other attractions, such as Yellow Dragon Cave, the Garden of Square Bamboos and Huang Daxian (Celestial Being of Taoism) Cave.
Admission: 15 yuan
Lot explanation fee: 20 yuan
Address: 69 Shuguang Rd
Opening hours: 7:30am-6pm
Chenghuang Pavilion
It is said that West Lake is for tourists, but Wu Mountain is for local residents as it holds more native memories. Located at the top of the mountain, Chenghuang Pavilion, literally translated as "city god pavilion," is now an embodiment of the city's soul.
Our reader Shui Guang recommended this site.
With story-telling paintings, a perfect view and the Hangzhou Pavilion moved from the World Expo Shanghai site, the 41.6-meter-tall pavilion is home to the past, present and future aspirations of the city.
The seven-story building's first three floors are open to tourists. The first two floors are filled with relief paintings recalling Hangzhou's time as the ancient capital city of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
The wooden relief paintings on the first floor introduce old Hangzhou customs such as the tea ceremony and the royal dragon boat race on the West Lake. Most impressive of all is the 31.5 by 3.65 meters "The Landscape of Hangzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty," that depicts in detail the ancient city, including its architecture and lively scenes of people's busy life.
The 11 relief paintings on the second floor are made from mud and oil, a craftsmanship dating back 800 years. The paintings tell historical stories about ancient emperors, officials, businessmen, artists and monks in Hangzhou.
On the third-floor terrace, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the West Lake as well as the whole city. A night view is also available as the pavilion opens until 10pm. It is the best place to enjoy the view of the lake with a sip of tea and a mountain breeze on a weekend afternoon.
The exhibits from the Hangzhou Pavilion at World Expo Shanghai 2010 have added a modern touch to the historical pavilion. There is also a World Expo-themed exhibition hall on the second floor of the Chenghuang Pavilion, featuring different Expo pavilions.
In April 2008, Hangzhou's water control project, "To harness five waters, to create a quality Hangzhou," was selected for display at the Urban Best Practices Area of the Expo. The exhibition shows how the city harmoniously co-exists with its surrounding water systems such as the West Lake, Qiantang River and Grand Canal.
Admission: 30 yuan
Address: No. 3, Wu Mountain
Opening hours: 7:30am-10pm
Yuanyuan Folk Park
Hundreds of middle-aged people swarm at a park, posting profiles of their children on walls and trees, asking each other their children's gender, age, career and hobbies, and exchanging their phone numbers for further contact in an activity known as the "parents' blind date party."
They attempt to arrange blind dates for their sons or daughters who mostly fall into the "leftover" category (it refers to those highly-educated and well-paid successful people who have not found their Mr Right or Mrs Right at an age traditionally believed way past the best getting-married years), but feel too embarrassed to show up in the park by themselves.
Hangzhou was one of the first cities nationwide to kindle this activity and Yuanyuan Folk Park is a major venue for parental matchmaking.
Yuan in Chinese literally means predestined relationship, and Yuanyuan Folk Park is home to the Temple of the Matchmaking God, the main feature of the park and one of Hangzhou's lesser-known scenic spots recommended by Shanghai Daily reader Lu Qi.
The temple is dedicated to Yue Lao, the ancient matchmaking god, who was also in charge of marriages. According to Chinese myth, the deity ties an invisible red string around the ankles of men and women who are destined to be soul mates and will one day marry each other.
The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break.
Although the temple is quite small, it is said to be very effective and as a result it lures many to pray for relationships and marriage.
In the center of the temple stands a golden statue of the matchmaking god, who grins and holds a list of names of young single people. Under the statue there are several boxes containing different kinds of lots, for outcomes such as relationships, marriage, fortune and offspring.
From those boxes one can draw lots, which are respectively inscribed with a number. Explanations to the meaning of each number can be bought at a nearby counter.
On the temple's left side is a fresco depicting the love story of the famous historical personage Tang Yin and his lover Qiu Xiang, while a fresco to the right illustrates the love legend between the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) official, general and diplomat Guo Yuanzhen (AD 656-713) and his wife.
The fame of the temple inspired the formation of the "parents' blind date party" held at the gateway of Yuanyuan Folk Park on the last Saturday morning of each month. The activity organized by Hongniang.com, a blind-dating website, has been going for five years and has resulted in numerous couples coming together.
The landscape around the temple is quite pleasant as it is situated on Qixia Mountain. Red lanterns featuring the yuan character are everywhere, standing out against the lush green mountain.
And visitors should not miss the park's other attractions, such as Yellow Dragon Cave, the Garden of Square Bamboos and Huang Daxian (Celestial Being of Taoism) Cave.
Admission: 15 yuan
Lot explanation fee: 20 yuan
Address: 69 Shuguang Rd
Opening hours: 7:30am-6pm
Chenghuang Pavilion
It is said that West Lake is for tourists, but Wu Mountain is for local residents as it holds more native memories. Located at the top of the mountain, Chenghuang Pavilion, literally translated as "city god pavilion," is now an embodiment of the city's soul.
Our reader Shui Guang recommended this site.
With story-telling paintings, a perfect view and the Hangzhou Pavilion moved from the World Expo Shanghai site, the 41.6-meter-tall pavilion is home to the past, present and future aspirations of the city.
The seven-story building's first three floors are open to tourists. The first two floors are filled with relief paintings recalling Hangzhou's time as the ancient capital city of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
The wooden relief paintings on the first floor introduce old Hangzhou customs such as the tea ceremony and the royal dragon boat race on the West Lake. Most impressive of all is the 31.5 by 3.65 meters "The Landscape of Hangzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty," that depicts in detail the ancient city, including its architecture and lively scenes of people's busy life.
The 11 relief paintings on the second floor are made from mud and oil, a craftsmanship dating back 800 years. The paintings tell historical stories about ancient emperors, officials, businessmen, artists and monks in Hangzhou.
On the third-floor terrace, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the West Lake as well as the whole city. A night view is also available as the pavilion opens until 10pm. It is the best place to enjoy the view of the lake with a sip of tea and a mountain breeze on a weekend afternoon.
The exhibits from the Hangzhou Pavilion at World Expo Shanghai 2010 have added a modern touch to the historical pavilion. There is also a World Expo-themed exhibition hall on the second floor of the Chenghuang Pavilion, featuring different Expo pavilions.
In April 2008, Hangzhou's water control project, "To harness five waters, to create a quality Hangzhou," was selected for display at the Urban Best Practices Area of the Expo. The exhibition shows how the city harmoniously co-exists with its surrounding water systems such as the West Lake, Qiantang River and Grand Canal.
Admission: 30 yuan
Address: No. 3, Wu Mountain
Opening hours: 7:30am-10pm
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