West Lake Street, or Hefang Street, is a revitalized version of the imperial street of the Southern Song Dynasty in Hangzhou. It’s a bustling commercial street blending ancient and modern elements, with winding ancient stone pavements and a collection of meticulously arranged traditional buildings that exude the vibrant, everyday atmosphere of a thousand-year-old capital. Within the district, numerous historic shops line the street, including Hu Xueyan’s pharmacy, a remnant of the Qing Dynasty’s “red top” merchants, where the lingering scent of traditional Chinese medicine hangs in the air. The silver workshops of Zhang Xiaquan, famous for his scissors, chime with the sound of hammering, while the shimmering silk fabrics in the Hangzhou Silk Museum seem to capture the echoes of the Silk Road’s camel bells. Don’t miss the freshly baked Ding Sheng cakes, golden and crispy pastries that embody the bravery of Yue Fei, a Southern Song Dynasty general who led northern campaigns. One bite offers a taste of history’s sweetness.
Strolling along the street allows you to experience a microcosm of the prosperous city of Lin'an during the Southern Song Dynasty. Hefang Street is not just a shopping paradise; it’s a living museum of non-material cultural heritage – the scent of woodblock printing ink, the refreshing aroma of Longjing tea, and the interwoven sounds of Hangzhou-style brocade looms create a vibrant urban symphony. In a tea shop at the corner, a storyteller is reciting the legend of White Snake in a soft, melodic dialect, while hidden in the narrow alleys, century-old shops continue to craft traditional sweets like supan sugar and Ding Sheng cakes using inherited skills. This street is like a time tunnel, allowing modern people to encounter the everyday life of the Southern Song Dynasty amidst the interplay of neon lights and lanterns.
Returning to the street, you can find a snapshot of the prosperous city of Lin'an during the Southern Song Dynasty.
