Hefang Street (河坊街)

Hefang Street (河坊街, Hé Fāng Jiē) is a restored Song Dynasty street in the heart of Hangzhou. The street is lined with traditional shops selling everything from silk and tea to medicine and calligraphy brushes. It's a living museum of old Hangzhou.

What to See

Traditional Shops — Dozens of shops sell traditional Hangzhou products: silk, tea, medicine, calligraphy brushes, and fans. Many have been in business for generations.

Teahouses — Sit on wooden stools and drink Longjing tea while watching the street go by. Some teahouses have traditional music performances.

Street Food — Sample Hangzhou specialties: Dongpo pork, West Lake fish, Longjing shrimp, and osmanthus rice cakes.

Herbal Medicine Shop — A traditional Chinese medicine shop that has been in business for over 300 years. The wooden drawers and scales are beautiful.

Practical Tips

• Free to visit
• The street is about 1km from West Lake
• Best visited in the evening when the lanterns are lit
• Bargaining is expected at most shops
• The street can be crowded on weekends — visit on weekdays if possible