Gongchen Bridge & Grand Canal拱宸桥
Gongchen Bridge stands in Gongshu District at the northern end of the Grand Canal's Hangzhou reach — the section's historical landmark. At 92 m long, 6 m wide and 16 m high, built in 1631 (Chongzhen 4, Ming dynasty), it remains the tallest and longest stone arch bridge in Hangzhou. West of it lies the Xiaohe Straight Street historic block, which preserves the look of a Jiangnan water town from the late Qing and early Republic.
Hangzhou · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Gongchen Bridge & Grand Canal worth visiting?
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.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free admission (canal night-cruise tickets sold separately) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open all day (night cruises depart roughly 19:00-21:00) |
| Recommended duration | 1.5-3 hours recommended |
| Best time to visit | Best in spring and autumn; summer evening cruises beat the heat; winter is quiet |
| How to get there | Metro Line 5 to Grand Canal Station (Exit B), then about 10 minutes on foot; buses 79 or 98 to Gongchenqiaodong |
| English signage | Partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | Partial |
| Built | 1631 (Chongzhen 4, Ming dynasty) |
| Length | 92 m |
| Width | 6 m |
| Waterway | Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal |
| Status | Hangzhou municipal protected site |
What to expect
Gongchen Bridge spans the Grand Canal at the northern end of its Hangzhou reach. A three-arch stone bridge, its central arch is the largest and the side arches smaller, leaving room for boats to pass. Built of bluestone with carved balustrades and a pair of quaint stone lions at each bridgehead, it is one of the best-preserved Ming stone arch bridges on the canal and a pillar of the World Heritage bid — inscribed along with the Grand Canal in 2014.
The canal's story begins with the Hangou channel cut by the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period, then extended and perfected through the Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing — the world's earliest, largest and longest man-made waterway. Hangzhou is its southern terminus, and in Ming-Qing times the wharves around Gongchen Bridge throve on trade. West of the bridge, Xiaohe Straight Street preserves a wealth of late-Qing and early-Republic buildings — one of the city's most atmospheric heritage streets.
Practical notes: from the bridge, follow the canal west about 1 km to Xiaohe Straight Street and its historic houses and creative shops. Eastward, stroll the canal toward Canal Square. Night cruises board at the Gongchen Bridge or Wulinmen wharves and run about an hour past sights such as the Qianlong Pleasure Boat and Xiangji Temple. Teahouses and cafes line both banks — sit a while and watch the boat traffic.
How to get there
Hangzhou Metro Line 5 to Grand Canal Station, Exit B, then about 10 minutes west along Daguan Road to the bridge. Buses 79 and 98 stop at Gongchenqiaodong or Gongchenqiaoxi. From Hangzhou East Station, take Line 1 and transfer to Line 5 — about 40 minutes.
Best photo spots
- On the bridge (canal and stone-bridge panoramas)
- Xiaohe Straight Street entrance (whitewashed walls, dark tiles)
- Night cruise boats slipping under the arches
- The bridgehead stone lions (close-ups)
- The street's waterfront (reflections)
Tips
- Go at dusk: shoot Xiaohe Straight Street first, then wait for the 19:00 lights and the canal at night
- The street has plenty of creative shops and cafes for slow browsing
- Buy night-cruise tickets ahead — they sell out around holidays
- Walk from the bridge to Xiangji Temple (about 1.5 km west along the canal)
- Public toilets sit by the bridge, but fewer deeper into Xiaohe Straight Street
Scams to avoid
- Buy cruise tickets only through official channels; scalpers around the wharves add markups or sell fakes
- Some craft goods in the street are overpriced; similar items are cheaper online
Frequently asked questions
How do Gongchen Bridge and Xiaohe Straight Street relate?
The bridge is an ancient canal crossing; the street is the heritage block just west of it. They are contiguous, an easy walk, and usually visited together.
Can you walk across the bridge?
Yes. The deck is narrow, so watch for e-bikes and bicycles crossing from both directions.
Where do night cruises board?
Both the Gongchen Bridge and Wulinmen wharves run them. Gongchen Bridge has fewer departures — check times or book ahead.
Is there a ticket for Xiaohe Straight Street?
No — free and open all day. The museums along it (the umbrella museum and the knife-and-scissors museum) are free too.
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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 (Near West Lake)
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.
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.
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.