Hangzhou Changhe Old Street Guide | A "Mini Wuzhen" Hidden in Binjiang!

♛♛→_→ Who says Hangzhou only has West Lake and Lingyin Temple? Hidden in Binjiang is a gentle expanse of black-tiled and white-walled buildings — Changhe Old Street! 🌿 Here, you'll find 800-year-old Ming and Qing dynasty architecture alongside trendy cafes and creative markets! 📍Why should you visit Changhe Old Street? "Lanterns shine bright on Shangyuan Festival, bustling villages, everyone's busy" — this describes the place perfectly! ✔️Hangzhou's "Mini Wuzhen": Fewer crowds than Xitang, more pristine than Wuzhen ✔️Rows of Ming and Qing dynasty houses: "Nine halls and thirteen rooms," every photo is a masterpiece 🏯 ✔️Half poetic, half down-to-earth: Watch grandmas washing clothes by the river in the morning, sip coffee and stroll through the market in the afternoon ☕ 🚶♂️Must-See Itinerary First Stop: Zhe Street Morning Market 🌅 Head to [Youbu Doujiang] at 8 am! Savory soy milk + crispy fried dough sticks + steamed buns, experience the joy of old Hangzhou for just 20 yuan. Walk along the bluestone road of Zhe Street, and touch the mottled brick walls — only a layer of time separates your palm from the Ming dynasty bricks. Second Stop: Huai Street Stroll 🌸 ✔️Take photos of the reflections at [Caishen Bridge]. Legend says touching the stone lions at the bridgehead brings good fortune 💰 ✔️Check out the intangible cultural heritage pastries at [Zhang Da Su]. A bite of the sweet-scented osmanthus cake will fill your mouth with fragrance ✔️Visit [Xiyan Wenzipu] for seal collecting. It's not complete until you've filled your notebook with free stamps! Third Stop: Climbing Guanshan Mountain ⛰️ Spend 20 minutes climbing to Guanshan Temple for a bird's-eye view of the black-tiled and white-walled waves of the old street. If you're lucky, you'll hear the temple bell. Standing on the mountaintop, listening to the echoing bell, you'll feel transported back to the Southern Song dynasty! 🍜Foodie Alert! Traditional Must-Eats: ▸[Caishen Restaurant]'s Chicken with Large Intestine: Chewy large intestine + tender chicken, the sauce is so good you can eat three bowls of rice with it! ▸[Xiaoman Han] Quzhou Duck Heads: Spicy enough to make you cry but you can't stop licking your fingers. Buy a cup of iced bayberry juice from the cart outside to cool down Trendy Treats: ▸[Sparrow Coffee] Osmanthus Latte: Sit by the wooden window and watch the people come and go on the old street. The aroma of coffee mixed with osmanthus is divine ▸[Xiaoxi Jiejie Snail Noodles] The new top pick! The broth is incredibly flavorful, the bamboo shoots are crispy and not stinky, enjoying snail noodles can be refreshing too 🌟Local Insider Tips Evening Cycling Plan: 🚲 Rent a bike and ride from Baima Lake Park to the old street. The lake breeze might mess up your hair, but it's pure joy! Hidden Night Adventure:🌙 Changhe Old Street after 7 pm is magical! The moment the lanterns light up, the aroma of wine starts drifting from the [Yu Jian Shan Cheng Li] tavern. Sichuan cuisine paired with signature cocktails, strolling past closed antique shops with a slight buzz is incredibly atmospheric Market Blind Box Experience: 🎪 Themed markets change every month! In April, it happened to be the "Huaihua Book Fair." Secondhand book stalls + author signings + traditional live music, a literature lover's paradise! 🚗Transportation Tips Take Metro Line 5 to [Jucailu Station Exit A]. It's about a 2 km walk, so taking a taxi is recommended. For drivers, navigate to [Changhe Old Street Parking Lot]. Don't wear high heels! 😭 Finally, the most touching thing about Changhe Old Street isn't the sights, but the vibrant, "living" atmosphere — an 80-year-old grandpa basking in the sun in his family's hall, the aroma of snail noodles from a newly opened shop wafting to century-old houses... This is the true soul of a Jiangnan water town! ❤️