"TRAVEL!!! Before You Run Out Of Time"
HeFang Street (河坊街)
HeFang Street, also known as QingHeFang Street a historic and vibrant street located in the old city area of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty and has been a commercial and cultural hub for centuries.
Visitors can explore traditional Chinese medicine culture, enjoy delicate handicrafts, taste local snacks, and visit museums. It's a great place to experience the historical charm and local culture of Hangzhou.
The street is lined with well-preserved buildings from various periods, offering a glimpse into the architectural styles of ancient China. You can explore traditional Chinese architecture, with intricate wooden carvings and beautifully tiled roofs.
There are numerous stores specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, where you can learn about ancient remedies and even purchase some herbal products.
The near 500m walking street is a great place to buy unique handicrafts and souvenirs. You can find items like silk products, paper cuttings, fans, and tea set. Many of these shops have artisans working on-site, so you can watch them create their crafts.
Hefang Street is a paradise for food lovers. You can try a variety of local snacks such as Dingsheng cake, lotus root starch, and Longjing tea. The street food vendors offer delicious and authentic Hangzhou delicacies.
Hefang Street and Southern Song Imperial Street (Nansongyujie) are really close to each other in Hangzhou's historic center. They are within walking distance, making it easy to explore both during your visit.
HeFang San Chen Lou (河坊三层楼饭庄)
This is a food court that selling various local food, we choose this place for our lunch.
The building itself - traditional Chinese architecture is such an attraction.
This food court itself is known for serving Hangzhou-style dishes (杭帮菜), which are famous for their delicate flavors and emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Just go to you desire stall and place order and paid directly and staff will prepare the food for you.
This stall is pretty stood out of the exotic products ... worms, scorpions, bugs and etc.
These are what we ordered for lunch: Handmade fish balls soup - they are all in different shapes, so this is definitely handmade.
It is full of fish taste and the texture is smooth. I like it very much as a fish balls lover.
Mini Fried Buns - they are really very tiny, one mouth-piece size that are easy to eat that are perfect with the vinegar and chili.
Bamboo Tube Rice (竹桶饭) is a traditional dish where rice, along with other ingredients like meat, vegetables, or spices, is cooked inside a hollow bamboo tube. The bamboo imparts a unique aroma and flavor to the rice, making it an enjoyable and fragrant dish.
DongPo Pork (东坡肉 )is a famous Chinese dish named after the legendary poet and statesman Su Dongpo from the Song Dynasty. It is a type of braised pork belly dish that is rich, flavorful, and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
The pork belly is usually cut into large cubes, marinated, and then slow cooked with ingredients like soy sauce, sugar, rice wine, and spices. The result is a glossy, caramelized dish with layers of soft, juicy meat and fat. It’s typically served with rice or steamed buns (mantou) to soak up the flavorful sauce.
The dish is said to have originated in Hangzhou, where Su Dongpo is celebrated for his contributions to literature, as well as his culinary creativity. This is one of the favorite foods of my MR therefore he is very particular of the taste. My MR is pretty disappointed that the texture of this pork from this stall is pretty tough, it should be soft that are easily break by chopsticks.
Proud to present - this is my version of DongPo Pork, my MR said mine is much better.
After a hearty meal, it's time to walk around this street that is full of live and so much to see.
Hefang Street is truly a treasure trove of history, culture, and local flavor. Beyond its bustling shops and eateries, it also carries the charm of ancient traditions and stories.
Street vendors and specialty shops often put on live demonstrations, like candy sculpting or dough figurine crafting, which are entertaining and educational.
Hefang Street also serves as a venue for cultural performances and festive events throughout the year. During celebrations like the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Lunar New Year, the area becomes even more lively, with lantern displays, traditional music, and lion dances.
I saw 3 ChaGee here, all housed in these old building.
Hefang Street perfectly blends the old with the new, making it an unforgettable stop for tourists and a cherished spot for locals.
The architecture of the street preserves the classical style of the Song Dynasty, giving you the feeling of stepping back in time as you wander through its alleys.
This brand is something I need to highlight: MengDeCheng Snuff (孟德成鼻烟)Those who ever watched ancient periodic dramas always see the character sniffing something nice from a very pretty bottle.
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| Samples of snuff bottles from goggle. |
MengDeCheng Snuff (孟德成鼻烟) first opened their door during the 49th year of Emperor KangXi's era of 1710. Since the current year is 2025, the time span from 1710 to 2025 is 315 years. That's quite a stretch of history!
It is a traditional snuff brand that has a long history and cultural significance in China. It is often associated with Hefang Street in Hangzhou, where you can find shops selling this unique product. Snuff, a powdered tobacco product, was introduced to China during the Qing Dynasty and became popular among the elite and scholars.
The brand "孟德成" is known for its high-quality snuff, which is often infused with various fragrances like floral or herbal scents. The preparation of snuff involves meticulous craftsmanship, and it is stored in beautifully designed snuff bottles, which are collectible items in their own right.
Another interesting point to highlight when I saw this street vendor selling baked biscuit by WuDaLang (武大郎) who is a fictional character from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin (水浒传), also known as Outlaws of the Marsh. He is portrayed as a short, unattractive, and humble man who sells baked goods for a living. Despite his modest and kind-hearted nature, his life takes a tragic turn due to his wife, 潘金莲 (Pan Jinlian), and her affair with 西门庆 (Ximen Qing). Together, they conspire to poison 武大郎, leading to his untimely death.
Xiao A Mei Chopped Chilli (小阿妹剁椒)offers a variety of spicy condiments made from fresh chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and other ingredients. The sauce is prepared using traditional methods, ensuring a rich and authentic flavor that pairs well with many dishes.The shop is known for its vibrant atmosphere and live demonstrations of chili chopping, which attract visitors with the tantalizing aroma of freshly prepared sauces.
If you're a fan of spicy food, this spot is definitely worth checking out! They offer free tasting to the sauces for patron to find their perfect taste.
This is my selected one - it is spicy seafood sauce.
HuQingYuTang Chinese Medicine Museum (胡庆余堂中药博物馆)
The Hu QingYuTang Chinese Medicine Museum is located on Hefang Street in Hangzhou. It was originally founded in 1874 by Hu Xueyan, who was known as the "Medicine King in the South of the Yangtze River". The museum showcases the history and development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), featuring exhibits on the origins, forms, and applications of TCM.
The museum is housed in a beautifully preserved historical building, offering visitors a glimpse into the traditional practices and architecture of a Chinese medicine shop. It also continues to function as a pharmacy, providing traditional Chinese medicines to the public.
I visited to see the traditional designs of the old building, I agreed it does stands out and "kudos" to all the preservation works！
BaoHeTang (保和堂) - look out for the bronze statue at the store who is Xu Xian ever worked in medicine shop.
This is a traditional chinese medicine shop, we are here just to snap this photo of this bronze statue which depict as Xu Xian(许仙) who ever worked in a Chinese Medicine Shop in the Legend of the White Snake.
Good Me Tea (古茗)
This is a popular tea chain in China. Established in Zhejiang province in 2010, it has grown to become one of the largest mid-priced tea brands in the country. The chain offers a variety of beverages, including milk tea, fruit tea, and even coffee, catering to a wide range of tastes.
We are here to take a break and rest our legs.
HuangFanEr (皇饭儿)
皇饭儿 (Huang Fan Er) is a well-known restaurant in Hangzhou, China, celebrated for its traditional Hangzhou cuisine (杭帮菜). The restaurant has a rich history and is located near Hefang Street, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
The name "皇饭儿" translates to "Imperial Meal," and it is said to have a connection to Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. According to legend, during one of his visits to Hangzhou, Emperor Qianlong dined at a humble eatery and was so impressed by the food that he bestowed the name "皇饭儿" upon it. This story adds a touch of historical charm to the restaurant.
The restaurant is known for its authentic flavors and traditional ambiance, making it a great place to experience the essence of Hangzhou's culinary heritage.
We are delighted to visit this 250 years old name for our dinner, the servers are very polite and really serves us well.
"Dragon Well Shrimp (龙井虾仁)," is a famous dish from Hangzhou, China, and a highlight of Zhejiang cuisine. It combines fresh river shrimp with the delicate aroma of Dragon Well (Longjing) tea, one of China's most renowned green teas. The dish is believed to have originated during the Qing Dynasty when Emperor Qianlong visited Hangzhou on one of his southern tours. Impressed by the combination of fresh river shrimp and the delicate aroma of Dragon Well tea, the emperor praised the dish, elevating it to royal status.
The dish is prepared by marinating the shrimp and then stir-frying them lightly. Dragon Well tea leaves, often picked before the Qingming Festival for their premium quality, are added during cooking. The result is a dish that is light, fragrant, and visually appealing, with the shrimp's tender texture complemented by the tea's subtle flavor.
This dish is not only a culinary delight but also a cultural symbol, often served at banquets and even featured in state dinners.
This cabbage is tasty too, we need more fiber!
Great soup to warm our stomachs on such cold weather!
Abalone with DongPo pork - I take the abalone, and he take the pork!
The abalone is well cooked, soft and tender BUT... my MR rejected the DongPo pork to his disappointment again. He just ate a small mouth and just leave it aside because it tasted "tough" again! He is really very particular to this dish.
Osmanthus lotus root powdered thick soup is a traditional Chinese dessert made from lotus root starch and flavored with osmanthus flowers. This dish is known for its smooth, starchy texture and fragrant aroma. The lotus root powder is mixed with water to create a paste, then cooked with boiling water until it thickens into a translucent, pudding-like consistency. Osmanthus flowers, often sweetened, are added to enhance the flavor and aroma.
This soup is not only delicious but also considered nutritious, as lotus root is believed to have cooling properties in traditional Chinese medicine.
February is one of the coldest months in Shanghai, it was even much colder in Hangzhou. We have come to the end of this blog on HeFang Street, coming up next will be on "The Legendary HangZhou".
Here are the links of the blogs from this trip to Shanghai & Hangzhou:
6) HeFang Pedestrian Street @ HangZhou - coming soon
7) The Legendary HangZhou of China - coming soon
Here below are some of the trips we have done in 2024:
Feel free, you are most welcome to browse through my other blogs to France, Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia and cruises etc.
Thanks, and Cheers
"I travel because seeing photos in books and brochures was not good enough for me, To be there, that was everything"
