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March 5, 2014

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Win prizes in contest while enjoying city

By Wu Huixin | March 5, 2014, Wednesday | Print Edition

The Hangzhou Tourism Commission has launched tourist programs for three seasons, and all the activities can be completed on the website hxz.gotohz.com.

The theme of the first season is “Honeymoon.” It started last month and runs to April 30. If you find your parents’ old photos related to Hangzhou, especially those snapped during their honeymoon, you can post them on hxz.gotohz.com (Chinese only) or Sina weibo and mention Hangzhou Tourism Commission in the weibo content.

People who share old pictures could win prizes offered by the Hangzhou Tourism Commission.

The second season is from May 1 to July 31, and the theme is “Grand Canal Travel.” Hangzhou government started the preparation for the Grand Canal’s application for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006, and this year, the application will be officially submitted to UNESCO.

If you write down your impression of the Grand Canal and post a tour plan for traveling along the waterway at hxz.gotohz.com, you could win a seven-day free vacation in Hangzhou.

The last season is from August 1 to November 30. Its theme, “Hangzhou DNA,” refers to cafes, restaurants, cultural and creative parks and other elements of the city. People can snap photos of what Hangzhou’s DNA is in their eyes and share them on hxz.gotohz.com. Also, a seven-day free vacation in Hangzhou will be awarded to a lucky participant.

Shanghai Daily has picked its own three recommended sightseeing routes corresponding to the three themes. They are, as follows.

Honeymoon tour

Watertowns with a romantic ambience are always considered an ideal place for lovers. Hangzhou also boasts an old town dubbed “little Venice.”

Tangxi, a town in Yuhang District, may be less famous than other watertowns like Zhouzhuang and Tongli in Jiangsu Province, but its views and historic relics are comparable.

Like many towns in southern China, houses in Tangqi are made of wood and stone with white walls and black eaves. Years ago, the local government launched a facelift to renovate its centuries-old houses and lanes.

Sightseeing spots in Tangxi contain Plum Blossoms in Chaoshan Mountain, the Guangji Bridge, the Guopu Ancient Well, the Qianlong Imperial Stele, the Qixi School Stele and the Shuinan Temple.

We recommend during your visit to Tangxi, starting at Shuibei Street, then going to Ju Yuan Chang and then to the town’s narrow lanes.

Shuibei, meaning “at the north of the water,” is a newly paved old street featuring two-story old houses along the bank, while Ju Yuan Chang is an old confectionery store selling Tangqi’s traditional pastry.

When strolling in Tangxi, you should not miss the narrow lanes — the most popular are Taishidi Lane, Yujia Lane and Shenjia Lane.

How to get there: Get on Bus No. 131 at Hangzhou North Bus Station and get off on Gongkang Road Bus Station. Switch to Bus No. 342 and get off at Tangqi Town.

Hangzhou DNA tour

We recommend a fashion hub with galleries, fashion boutiques and cafes.

Ideal Silian 166 Loft, covering 6,600 square meters, is the best-known loft in Hangzhou.

It is situated 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.

The factory was transformed into a creative park when Hangzhou decided to develop its cultural and creative industry. Designers and artists have turned its distinctive architecture and industrial equipment into a complex of modern creativity. Today, the old mill is a rendezvous of hipsters and trendsetters.

Address: 166 Lishui Rd

Admission: Free

How to get there: Take Bus No. K23 to the junction of Lishui and Zijing roads.

Grand Canal travel

There are a couple of historical blocks and food streets adjacent to the Grand Canal, but we recommend Qiaoxi Historical Block, Shengli River Food Street, Xinyifang Street and Dadou Road. 

Qiaoxi Historical Block is made of a great number of intact folk houses from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) that are now home to restaurants, stores and museums. Qiaoxizhi Street, a stone-paved roadway, cuts through the block with attractions including Tao Yi Tian Ceramic Studio, Shu Yu Cafe, Happy Tea House and several restaurants.

Shengli River Food Street, Xinyifang Street and Dadou Road adjoin each other and allure diners with tasty fare.

The three used to be lined with warehouses before being transformed into food streets, and now have restaurants serving everything from chicken feet and seafood to Sichuan food and Hangzhou local cuisine.

How to get there: Via ferry, go from the Wulin stop (across from Hangzhou Tower) and get off at the Gongchen Bridge stop.

Hangzhou


 

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