Hangzhou
Qinghefang Old Street (Hefang Street), Hangzhou
Qinghefang, centred on the pedestrian Hefang Street, is the best-preserved historic quarter in Hangzhou, tucked beneath Wu Hill (Wushan) near the southern end of West Lake. For more than eight centuries this was the city's commercial heart, and today its restored Ming- and Qing-style timber shopfronts make it the liveliest place to feel old Hangzhou.
Restored Qing-style shopfronts and lanterns along Qinghefang
Highlights
Wander past time-honoured brands: the grand Huqingyutang Chinese Medicine Museum, a working Qing-dynasty pharmacy and one of China's finest traditional dispensaries; old tea houses, fan and silk shops, scissors and seal carvers, and stalls of local snacks from dingsheng cakes to sugar-figure blowing. Street performers, calligraphers and a small folk-craft scene give the lane a festive buzz from morning to night.
A quiet historic alley lined with traditional buildings off Hefang Street
Opening Hours
The street is open and free to stroll 24 hours; individual shops and museums generally trade from about 09:00 to 22:00, busiest in the evening.
Tickets
Walking the street costs nothing. Some attractions, such as parts of the Huqingyutang museum, may charge a small admission.
Getting There
Buses 8, 38 and 60 stop nearby; the closest metro is around Ding'an Road on Line 1, a short walk away. It is an easy 15-minute taxi from most West Lake hotels.
Best Time to Visit
Late afternoon into the evening, when lanterns glow and snack stalls fire up. Weekdays are calmer than weekends and holidays, when crowds swell.
Visitor Tips
Come hungry and graze the snack stalls. Pair the visit with a climb up Wu Hill to the City God Pavilion for rooftop views over the old town, or continue to the nearby Southern Song Imperial Street.
Highlights
- Hangzhou's best-preserved old quarter beneath Wu Hill
- Huqingyutang, a working Qing-dynasty traditional medicine hall and museum
- Time-honoured shops for tea, silk fans, scissors and seal carving
- Street snacks from dingsheng cakes to blown sugar figures
- Calligraphers, folk crafts and lively evening lantern atmosphere
Travel Tips
Visit Huqingyutang
Step into the Huqingyutang medicine hall: a stunning Qing courtyard pharmacy that still fills prescriptions today.
Come hungry
The street is a snack paradise; arrive with an empty stomach and graze your way along the stalls.
Climb Wu Hill
From the street's west end, climb Wu Hill to the City God Pavilion for a rooftop panorama over old Hangzhou.
