Hefang Street (Near West Lake)吴山广场河坊街
Qinghefang is the most representative historic quarter of Hangzhou, hard by West Lake and long the commercial heart of the old city. The district keeps its Ming-and-Qing streetscape, with century-old shops such as Hu Qingyu Tang and Fang Huichun Tang still trading. Hefang Street connects with the Southern Song Imperial Street and is the best place to experience Hangzhou's traditional culture.
Hangzhou · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Hefang Street (Near West Lake) worth visiting?
Qinghefang is Hangzhou's most famous old street — 1,000-plus years since the Southern Song, free to enter, a 10-minute walk from Metro Line 1, lined with century-old shops like Hu Qingyu Tang.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free admission |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open all day; shops roughly 09:00-22:00 |
| Recommended duration | 2-3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Year-round; the evening lights are the highlight |
| How to get there | Hangzhou Metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road station, then a 10-minute walk |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Partial |
| Location | Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, next to West Lake |
| History | Southern Song dynasty (over 1,000 years) |
| Claim to fame | Century-old time-honored shops |
| Famous stores | Hu Qingyu Tang, Fang Huichun Tang |
| Southern Song Imperial Street | Connected |
| Food | Zhiweiguan, Louwailou |
What to expect
Qinghefang is the oldest and best-known old street in Hangzhou, taking shape in the Southern Song era and flourishing because the dynasty's imperial street ran through it. Laid out in a fork pattern, the district's main artery, Hefang Street, runs about 1 km, flanked by large stretches of traditional Ming-and-Qing architecture — the classic expression of the old city's commercial culture.
On Hefang Street stands Hu Qingyu Tang, the Chinese pharmacy founded in the late Qing by the famed "red-topped merchant" Hu Xueyan. It still honors its founding motto against adulterating medicine and remains one of the city's most storied brands. Fang Huichun Tang is another pharmacy Hangzhou locals trust — every winter they come here to have their herbal tonic pastes blended.
Hefang Street links up with West Lake Avenue, and Wushan Square is a favorite leisure spot for locals. Food abounds: Zhiweiguan and Louwailou, two storied names, serve proper Hangzhou cooking. After dark the street glows under rows of lights, shops packed shoulder to shoulder and crowds out in force.
How to get there
Hangzhou Metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road station, Exit B, then a 10-minute walk along Hefang Street
Best photo spots
- The memorial archway at the entrance to Hefang Street
- The facade of the Hu Qingyu Tang pharmacy
- The Southern Song Imperial Street
- The evening lights
Tips
- Come at dusk to catch both the daytime scene and the night lights
- The xiaolongbao at Zhiweiguan is worth a try
- Pairs easily with a West Lake visit
- Weekends get crowded — weekdays are calmer
Scams to avoid
- Watch out for fake "time-honored brand" shops
- Don't pay inflated prices for supposedly "authentic" goods
Frequently asked questions
How does Hefang Street relate to West Lake?
They are neighbors — the street sits at the foot of Wushan Hill, about a five-minute walk from the lake.
Can I eat proper Hangzhou cuisine here?
Yes. Zhiweiguan and Louwailou are both authentic, long-established names.
How long does a visit take?
About 2-3 hours.
Read next
Other things to do in Hangzhou
Grand Canal (Hangzhou Section)
The 1,776 km Grand Canal's southern terminus — a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014 — runs through Hangzhou as a working waterway past the 1631-built Gongchen Bridge and free museums.
Hangzhou Museum
Hangzhou's local-history museum, holding nearly 30,000 relics and the Warring States crystal cup (15.4 cm) as its treasure; free, 09:00-16:30, closed Mondays.
Hefang Street
Hangzhou's most historic antique-style shopping street, about 1800 m of Ming, Qing and Republican buildings; free entry, shops 09:00-22:00, 10 minutes from Ding'an Road metro.
Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow, one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake and home of the White Snake legend. CNY 40 buys the climb for sweeping lake views and the excavated underground palace.
Lingyin Temple
Hangzhou's oldest temple, founded in the Eastern Jin dynasty, still thronged with worshippers and rich in precious stone carvings. Combo ticket for Feilai Peak and Yongfu Temple CNY 75.
Longjing Tea Plantation
The heartland of West Lake Longjing tea, home to the 18 Imperial Tea Trees honored by Emperor Qianlong. Wander the tea fields free of charge and taste tea at the source.
Meiling Tunnel Trail
A classic Hangzhou hiking route linking Lingyin with Meijiawu by way of the Meiling Tunnel — about 8 km of quiet woodland and fine tea-terrace scenery.
Putuoshan Island
Buddhist island sacred to Guanyin — 3 major temples, 33 m golden statue. Ferry ¥160 round-trip from Zhoushan. Half-day minimum. Pilgrimage site with a serene coastal atmosphere.
Gongchen Bridge & Grand Canal
The Grand Canal's signature three-arch stone bridge in Hangzhou, built in 1631, with the Xiaohe Straight Street heritage quarter just west — free, and best explored on foot.
Six Harmonies Pagoda
A 60-meter Song-era pagoda on Yuelun Hill above the Qiantang River — 7 interior floors hiding behind 13 exterior eaves, climbable in about 90 minutes for a river-and-bridge view.
Southern Song Imperial Street
The central artery of the Southern Song capital Lin'an, carrying 1,000 years of history and a preserved underground road layer. Free to stroll, linked to Hefang Street, loveliest lit up at night.
Su Dongpo Memorial Hall
Memorial hall to poet Su Dongpo in Hangzhou, built in 2003 with about 2500 sqm of exhibits; free entry 09:00-16:30, closed Mondays, at the south end of the 2.8-km Su Causeway.
West Lake
Hangzhou's defining lake — 6.38 sq km ringed by 15 km of shore, free to all, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011. Boats from CNY 55; Metro Line 1 to Longxiang Bridge. Allow 4-8 hours.
Xiang Lake Park
Hangzhou's second great lake and West Lake's 'sister' — about 5 sq km of water and a 15 km cycling loop. Free entry; the Kuahuqiao museum covers an 8,000-year-old culture. Allow 3-5 hours.
West Lake Musical Fountain
Free nightly shows at 19:30 and 20:30 at the Hubin gardens on West Lake in Hangzhou; the 126-m fountain has 333 jets, so arrive early for a spot.
Xixi National Wetland Park
China's first national wetland park — 11.5 sq km of reed beds, lotus ponds, and persimmon groves threaded by water lanes, about 20 minutes west of West Lake.
Museums in Hangzhou
China National Silk Museum
The world's largest silk museum. Live silkworms, weaving demonstrations on 19th-century looms, and 2,000-year-old Silk Road textiles. Free. Hangzhou's most underrated museum.
China National Tea Museum
China's only national-level tea museum, set among actual Longjing tea plantations in Hangzhou. Tea ceremony demonstrations, 1,000+ tea artifacts, and fresh Longjing at the source. Free.
Hangzhou Museum
West Lake cultural history from Neolithic Liangzhu through Southern Song imperial glory. Free entry near Hefang Street. Celadon ceramics and Song Dynasty urban life. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
National Archives of Publications and Culture — Hangzhou Branch (Wenrun Ge)
China's newest national "version" repository, opened July 2022 in a 100,000 sqm hillside complex beside the Liangzhu Ancient City ruins in Hangzhou's Yuhang district.
Zhejiang Museum of Natural History
Hangzhou's natural history museum at West Lake Culture Square — dinosaurs, fossils, minerals, and the biology of Zhejiang's unique ecosystems. Free. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
West Lake Museum
China's first museum devoted to a single lake — West Lake's geology, 2,000 years of dredging and poetry, the Ten Scenes, and the 2011 UNESCO inscription. Free. On the lake's south shore.
Zhejiang Museum
Zhejiang's premier museum at the foot of West Lake — Neolithic archaeology (Hemudu, Liangzhu), Longquan celadon, and Hangzhou's Southern Song history. Free; 3–4 hours.
Zhejiang Provincial Museum
Liangzhu Neolithic jade (5,000-year-old ritual cong and bi), the world's finest celadon ceramics, and Southern Song imperial artifacts — on the shore of West Lake. Free.