Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
Where to while away a weekend
By Shi Xiaohan |
May 26, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HANGZHOU enjoys a reputation of being "the city of quality life." Scenic destinations with distinct architecture and unique concepts are filled with teahouses, restaurants and bars, ready to turn an ordinary weekend into a quality experience.
Afternoon tea in the Slow Life Community
Situated near the north gate of the vast Xixi National Wetland Park, the Slow Life Community enjoys scenic views and bucolic peacefulness.
Opened earlier this year, the neighborhood is the perfect place for a walk in an ecological paradise that brings people closer to nature.
With a small number of bars, restaurants and hotels, the community is more like a private neighborhood than a tourist destination.
Every local business owner has his own interpretation of the slow life. Free 19 Bar is divided into small rooms featuring different themes and what is branded as China's smallest swing bar room with a capacity of only a dozen. "Smaller rooms bring people closer to each other," said the bartender, "so they can enjoy a real talk."
On the opposite side of the street, Royal Tea House, which looks more sedate, offers an ancient Chinese tea ceremony with a zither, a string instrument, providing musical accompaniment.
"Four Sisters," a Japanese restaurant and bar, features Hokkaido-styled decoration and service. Light Japanese desserts and delicate matcha (a popular green tea) are available for an exotic taste in the afternoon.
Just a stone's throw away is the Hezhu shopping street where local products such as tea, silk and homemade desserts are on sale.
Brunch at China Gourmet Garden
There's nothing more exciting to start a lazy and sunny weekend by embarking on a trip back through history with a refreshingly delicious brunch. As the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) for more than 150 years, Hangzhou has a lot to offer.
The Southern Song Imperial Street on Zhongshan Road, once the axis of the empire capital, is a promising start. At the southern end of Imperial Street, the recently opened China Gourmet Garden is a group of restaurants providing a heaven for foodies.
Before being introduced to the delicious food, visitors might first notice the distinct street style that unifies all the two-story restaurants. Cascade windows are decorated with wooden grids and small courtyards built in between the buildings are all connected by a lively creek running through the street. This is the first Southern Song-styled group of buildings in Hangzhou. As few examples of ancient Song architecture have been preserved throughout the centuries, the designers had to refer to ancient encyclopedias when designing the street landscape.
Chinese cuisines of almost all flavors including spicy dishes from the southwest, seafood from the southeast and nomadic barbecues from the northwest can all be found on the street. Time-honored restaurants such as Yongheyuan from Nanjing in Jiangsu Province and Shen Dacheng from Shanghai, which date back more than 100 years, are always busy with curious and hungry visitors.
Dinner and after at Shuguang Road
The majestic roadside greenery and off-street precincts cloak Shuguang Road with a sense of peace and quiet. Here lie the best restaurants and bars in the city.
Near the intersection of Shuguang and Qiushi roads, Baishaquan is a secluded lane filled with a bunch of fine restaurants. In a stand-alone villa is Provence Restaurant. Opened by a French native, the restaurant enjoys a reputation brought about by its strict principle of using the freshest ingredients available.
Shuguang Road has a variety of bars to suit all tastes - rich and poor, loud and quiet, old and young, locals and expats. The road comes alive at night as the crowds mingle among the area's minimal lighting, thick exposed beams and stone walls.
Maya Bar, where laughter is louder than music, is always full of expats. A magazine rack bearing old copies of The Economist, National Geographic and everything in between gives them a sense of home.
If you want to get away from the crowd and simply enjoy a drink with some music playing in the background, Traveler's Bar is an ideal choice. The bar, which features quality bands and rustic decoration, attracts both locals and expats. What's most famous about the bar, however, is its wall painting featuring caricatures of world-known politicians.
A glimpse of local nightlife is available at You To Bar. With cheap local beer and a homey atmosphere, the bar is packed from 6pm until 1am every day without fail. The bands playing in this venue vary from bad to awful, but musicians and patrons alike always seem to have a good time.
Afternoon tea in the Slow Life Community
Situated near the north gate of the vast Xixi National Wetland Park, the Slow Life Community enjoys scenic views and bucolic peacefulness.
Opened earlier this year, the neighborhood is the perfect place for a walk in an ecological paradise that brings people closer to nature.
With a small number of bars, restaurants and hotels, the community is more like a private neighborhood than a tourist destination.
Every local business owner has his own interpretation of the slow life. Free 19 Bar is divided into small rooms featuring different themes and what is branded as China's smallest swing bar room with a capacity of only a dozen. "Smaller rooms bring people closer to each other," said the bartender, "so they can enjoy a real talk."
On the opposite side of the street, Royal Tea House, which looks more sedate, offers an ancient Chinese tea ceremony with a zither, a string instrument, providing musical accompaniment.
"Four Sisters," a Japanese restaurant and bar, features Hokkaido-styled decoration and service. Light Japanese desserts and delicate matcha (a popular green tea) are available for an exotic taste in the afternoon.
Just a stone's throw away is the Hezhu shopping street where local products such as tea, silk and homemade desserts are on sale.
Brunch at China Gourmet Garden
There's nothing more exciting to start a lazy and sunny weekend by embarking on a trip back through history with a refreshingly delicious brunch. As the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) for more than 150 years, Hangzhou has a lot to offer.
The Southern Song Imperial Street on Zhongshan Road, once the axis of the empire capital, is a promising start. At the southern end of Imperial Street, the recently opened China Gourmet Garden is a group of restaurants providing a heaven for foodies.
Before being introduced to the delicious food, visitors might first notice the distinct street style that unifies all the two-story restaurants. Cascade windows are decorated with wooden grids and small courtyards built in between the buildings are all connected by a lively creek running through the street. This is the first Southern Song-styled group of buildings in Hangzhou. As few examples of ancient Song architecture have been preserved throughout the centuries, the designers had to refer to ancient encyclopedias when designing the street landscape.
Chinese cuisines of almost all flavors including spicy dishes from the southwest, seafood from the southeast and nomadic barbecues from the northwest can all be found on the street. Time-honored restaurants such as Yongheyuan from Nanjing in Jiangsu Province and Shen Dacheng from Shanghai, which date back more than 100 years, are always busy with curious and hungry visitors.
Dinner and after at Shuguang Road
The majestic roadside greenery and off-street precincts cloak Shuguang Road with a sense of peace and quiet. Here lie the best restaurants and bars in the city.
Near the intersection of Shuguang and Qiushi roads, Baishaquan is a secluded lane filled with a bunch of fine restaurants. In a stand-alone villa is Provence Restaurant. Opened by a French native, the restaurant enjoys a reputation brought about by its strict principle of using the freshest ingredients available.
Shuguang Road has a variety of bars to suit all tastes - rich and poor, loud and quiet, old and young, locals and expats. The road comes alive at night as the crowds mingle among the area's minimal lighting, thick exposed beams and stone walls.
Maya Bar, where laughter is louder than music, is always full of expats. A magazine rack bearing old copies of The Economist, National Geographic and everything in between gives them a sense of home.
If you want to get away from the crowd and simply enjoy a drink with some music playing in the background, Traveler's Bar is an ideal choice. The bar, which features quality bands and rustic decoration, attracts both locals and expats. What's most famous about the bar, however, is its wall painting featuring caricatures of world-known politicians.
A glimpse of local nightlife is available at You To Bar. With cheap local beer and a homey atmosphere, the bar is packed from 6pm until 1am every day without fail. The bands playing in this venue vary from bad to awful, but musicians and patrons alike always seem to have a good time.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
