Hefang Street: Hangzhou Snacks, Museums & Nearby Attractions

Hefang Street, in the heart of Hangzhou, is a vibrant historic street famous for local snacks and unique cultural shops. It's close to several popular attractions, such as West Lake, Xixi Wetland, etc. We highly recommend visiting Hefang Street together with them.

In this article, we will introduce the essential things about Hefang Street you need to know before setting off on your trip, including what to do, a detailed list of nearby attractions, and how to get there.

Hefang Street in Hangzhou

Basic Information of Hefang Street

The street scenery of Hefang Street

• Location: Located in Shangcheng District of Hangzhou, about a 20-minute drive from West Lake
• Opening hours: open all day, but most shops and restaurants usually close by 10:00 p.m.
• Ticket Price: Free
• Time to Spend: 1-2 hours
• Best time of the year: all year round

Hefang Street has played an important role in Hangzhou's history. About a thousand years ago, it was part of the route that emperors took to reach their palace in Hangzhou. After restoration more than twenty years ago, it was opened to the public. Here, you can find many local Hangzhou snacks and fun souvenirs.

It's worth mentioning that Hefang Street has well-developed infrastructure, making the visiting experience very comfortable. There are pedestrian underpasses that allow people to cross the street safely without walking through traffic. If you need to use a wheelchair, you don't need to worry, as many buildings on Hefang Street are equipped with wheelchair ramps to make access easier for visitors with mobility challenges.

What to Do

Visiting Hefang Street is very relaxing. You can wander around at your own pace. Basically, there are two things you don't want to miss here: visiting traditional museums and browsing cultural and creative shops.

Explore Hu Qing Yu Tang (Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum

Hu Qing Yu Tang was founded in 1874 and is the largest and best-preserved traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy in Hangzhou. Here, you can admire historic architecture while also experiencing traditional Chinese medical consultations and purchasing herbal medicines.

The site houses a Chinese medicine museum, which displays a large collection of traditional pharmaceutical tools as well as thousands of plant, animal, and mineral specimens used in Chinese medicine.

Visit Zhu Bingren Bronze Sculpture Art Museum

Zhu Bingren art museum

This is a copper art museum built by the artist Zhu Bingren and his son. Apart from the walls and the floor, everything in the building is made of copper. The museum is open year-round and is free to enter with no reservation required. You can visit anytime during its opening hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Inside the museum, you can try a copper embossing experience. You can choose a mold you like, place a thin sheet of copper over it, and use a hammer to tap out the pattern from the mold.

Try Local Snacks

On Hefang Street, you can try lotus root starch soup, a porridge-like dessert made from finely ground lotus root with a light, delicate fragrance. You can also taste deep-fried lotus root strips, which look a bit like French fries. Some shops sell lotus root starch in small packaged bags, which are nice to buy as gifts. Because using lotus root to make snacks and desserts is one of Hangzhou's specialties.

You can find a traditional Hangzhou snack called Cong Bao Hui from snack stalls here. Locals love it as a breakfast food. There are also Hangzhou's traditional pastries, such as Ding Sheng Cake. Some are freshly prepared on the spot, while others are packaged for taking out.

A friendly tip: if you're planning to buy Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, we recommend visiting the Longjing tea plantations instead, as they are villages dedicated to producing authentic Longjing tea.

Buy Handmade Crafts

Souvenir shop near Hefang Street

Hefang Street has many souvenir shops selling a wide range of items. You can find decorations, keychains, and fridge magnets themed around West Lake or local temples. There are also plenty of handicraft stores selling items like handmade necklaces and earrings. You can spend about an hour strolling around and seeing if anything catches your eye.

Attractions Near Hefang Street

There are many worthwhile attractions around Hefang Street. For easier reference, the distances here are represented by the time it takes to travel from each location to Hefang Street. If you have plenty of time, consider visiting 2 to 3 of them.

West Lake

West Lake in Hangzhou

Distance: about a 20-minute drive

West Lake is a must-see attraction in Hangzhou. It is open all day, and exploring around the lake is free. Some attractions or activities require separate tickets, such as Leifeng Pagoda and boat cruises on the lake.

You can explore the area on foot, by bicycle, or by sightseeing boat, depending on your preference, and a full visit usually takes about 3 to 4 hours.

Xidi Wetland Park

Distance: about a 40-minute drive

Xixi Wetland is mainly made up of waterways, ponds, reed marshes, and ecological islands. It is divided into two main areas: a free-access area and a ticketed area.

We recommend taking a hand-rowed boat and choosing the 2-hour route, which allows you to see both free and ticketed areas without needing to buy an entrance ticket.

Hangzhou Museum

Distance: about a 10-minute walk

If you'd like to learn more about Hangzhou's history and culture, you will enjoy visiting the Hangzhou Museum. The collection of this museum is extensive, featuring ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, jade, bronze ware, and more, and it tells cultural stories from multiple Chinese dynasties.

The Hangzhou Museum is closed on Tuesdays for maintenance, and its opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our travel consultants will help you plan your visit at a suitable time.

Southern Song Imperial Street

Scenery of Southern Song Imperial Street

Distance: about a 10-minute walk

Southern Song Imperial Street was also a route that emperors traveled hundreds of years ago, and it still preserves many historical traces. This street intersects with Hefang Street, but the two have slightly different vibes. Hefang Street focuses more on food and cultural and creative things, while Southern Song Imperial Street has a stronger historical atmosphere.

We recommend visiting Hefang Street and Southern Song Imperial Street together, as they acontact-us.htmre all within walking distance.

How to Get There

Transportation around Hefang Street is quite convenient. If you're coming from West Lake, it takes about 20 minutes by car. You can also take Metro Line 7 and get off at Wushan Square Station, then walk for about five minutes to reach the street.

Since Hefang Street is close to many attractions, you can consider stopping by here to relax after sightseeing and enjoy some local food.

Travel to Hangzhou With Us

If you'd like a guide to accompany you on the Hangzhou tour, we can arrange an English-speaking guide to share interesting stories about the street and introduce you to Hangzhou's attractions and culture.

We can also do much more for you, helping to plan a personalized Hangzhou itinerary that fits your needs and budget. This can include private transfers, carefully selected hotels we've personally inspected, and more. Feel free to contact us or email trip@odynovotours.com to customize an exclusive trip to Hangzhou.