[2025 Hangzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Shiwukui Alley (Updated Mar)

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Having traversed the Citywalk of Hangzhou, one can truly claim to have seen the essence of this city! Here, half is an old city imbued with the charm of everyday life🏙, while the other half is a verdant wonderland🌿. Moreover, it's a hidden gem with fewer crowds and breathtaking scenery! Located at ✔️Shi Wu Kui Lane, this walking path stretches from Shi Wu Kui Lane to Cheng Huang Pavilion. It transitions from quaint alleyways reminiscent of the hustle and bustle of human life to a green haven shaded by trees🌿. You can also ascend the Cheng Huang Pavilion to overlook the stunning view of West Lake✨. Here, you won't find the bustling crowds common to the lakeside, but rather a tranquility and charm that even locals adore! 📷Tips: 1️⃣My route was Da Ma Lane - Shi Wu Kui Lane - Xiao Xia Lane - Wu Gong Temple - Cheng Huang Pavilion - Jiang Hu Hui Viewing Pavilion. You can return the same way or head towards Hu Xueyan's former residence or Nan Song De Shou Palace! 2️⃣The best photo spots are mainly at ✔️Xiao Xia Lane (Picture 1, the alley and Wang Xian Pavilion in the same frame, capturing the full charm of the alley) ✔️Wu Gong Temple and the path beside the temple (Pictures 6, 7, 10 - a serene hillside temple with a view of He Fang Street below. The maple courtyard here is also beautiful in autumn!) ✔️Cheng Huang Temple and its surroundings (Pictures 8, 9 - the large trees around the Cheng Huang Temple are truly beautiful~ On a clear day, you can also overlook West Lake) 3️⃣This walking path is really simple! Many Hangzhou locals climb it every morning! It's suitable for all ages and not tiring at all! 🚗Exit at Jiangcheng Road subway station or Wushan Square station, then walk or take a 🚗 to Shi Wu Kui Lane. Turn into Xiao Xia Lane to find the starting point of the walking path.

If you are tired of the fast-paced city life, you must go to the old streets in the city to see, this is where life originally looked like. 【Three of Hangzhou's most atmospheric old streets】 1⃣️Shiwuku Alley: Authentic life and the strongest sense of fireworks, very suitable for street photography, basically no tourists, only local residents walking and chatting, a leisurely and comfortable life scene, you can also find a great photo spot beyond the ordinary, the popular photo spot of Wangxian Pavilion, just navigate to 'Balkan Inn (Drum Tower Store)' and look back to see it. 2⃣️Wuliuxiang Historical Street District The quiet bridges and flowing waters, old streets and alleys, and the feeling of childhood memories come flooding back, there is always a phenomenon that can outline the past. There are also many popular cafes to check in, like ghost funky soul, Bamboo Coffee 3⃣️Binjiang Xixing Ancient Town Really did not expect, Hangzhou's bustling internet company gathering place Binjiang, there is still a low-key and niche ancient town - Xixing Ancient Town. This place is not a tourist attraction, there is no commercial development, the great hidden in the city only has the original life breath of ordinary families.

When you come to Hangzhou, don’t just know the crowded West Lake. 1️⃣Gushan Take the romantic bus No. 1314 and get off at Gushan Station, where you can watch the sunset over the West Lake on a sunny day. There are many persimmon trees in Zhongshan Park, so it’s a good time to go there in the near future. 2️⃣Fifteen Kui Lane It is full of the heritage of old Hangzhou and is full of old shops. Navigate to "Balkan Inn" and you can take photos of Wangxian Pavilion, giving you a sense of seeing Kyoto. 3️⃣Xiaohezhi Street & Xiangji Temple Baobao Old Street by the canal, Canal Park + Xiaohe Zhi Street + Xiangji Temple can be connected together. It’s more beautiful to come here on a rainy day, with the interplay of light and shadow, and the charm of a Jiangnan water town. 4️⃣Smell the Orioles in the Willow Waves Navigating "New Henghe Bridge", there is a bridge hole, just like the Wizard of Oz , few people know. 5️⃣Faxi Temple As one of the three scenic spots, Faxi Temple is stunning on a rainy day, shrouded in mist and full of Zen. 6️⃣Majiawu The observation deck on the mountain overlooks half of Hangzhou, and the West Lake is amazing from here. 7️⃣7 North Peak If you don't like climbing, you can take the cableway up the mountain. The top platform overlooks the beautiful West Lake. 8️⃣8Botanical Garden A favorite place for locals, remember to check in at the "Han Meilin Art Museum" inside. The Buddha head at the door is very eye-catching. 9️⃣Yunqi Bamboo Path It's a perfect place to come here on a rainy day. The green bamboo forest is quaint and there are very few people. 🔟Yuwan Bay Lixi Lake has beautiful scenery and few people. You can take a boat ride and feel as if you are entering a painting. ✅「About Hangzhou Transportation」 Don't drive yourself when you come to Hangzhou during holidays. Parking fees are very expensive and there are traffic jams. It is recommended to take the high-speed rail to "Hangzhou Station" or "Hangzhou East Station". "Hangzhou West Station" is far away from the core scenic spots. Take the plane to "Xiaoshan Airport" and take Metro Line 1 to "Longxiang Bridge", which is the core scenic spot of West Lake. ✅"Some tips to pay attention to" 1 Hangzhou has a lot of greenery, so be careful to prevent mosquitoes 2. Autumn is here and sunny days are quite sunny, so wear sunscreen and remember to check the “UV Index” before going out.

This route is amazing! It has both beautiful scenery and delicious food, and is perfect for a city walk! You can also experience the culture and history of Hangzhou's old streets! 📍Wuliu Port - Deshou Palace - Shiwukui Lane - Drum Tower - Hefang Street 📍Wuliu Lane This is an old residential area built along the river. You can experience the local culture here. There are not many tourists, and the streets are very quiet, making it perfect for a city walk. 📍Deshou Palace A popular red wall check-in spot. Many people come here to take photos📷. Be sure to come on a sunny day, or it will affect your photos. 📍Shiwukui Lane A popular check-in spot. Turn into a small alley and you'll find it. There is a small shop selling vegetables. 📍Drum Tower A cultural district. There is a very beautiful bookstore here. You can take photos inside, but be quiet so as not to disturb others. Zhongshan South Road in front of the Drum Tower is also a commercial street. It is very beautiful and has a lot of food. I personally think it is more interesting to visit than Hefang Street. 📍Hefang Street Walk a little further from the Drum Tower and you'll reach Hefang Street. It has a strong commercial atmosphere. I am not very interested in this kind of commercial street, as they are everywhere and have no special features. But it is quite large.

1️⃣ During the May Day holiday, avoid visiting the West Lake area during the day as it's extremely crowded. It's recommended to go early in the morning when there are fewer people and the morning light is soft, which is great for photography. During the day, you can visit the areas around West Lake, such as Nine Creeks in Misty Forest, Yunqi Bamboo Pathway, and Longjing Tea Village. The scenery deeper in West Lake is more beautiful, the paths are quiet, it's not crowded, and you can listen to the sound of springs and the chirping of birds and cicadas, gaze at the vast tea plantations, savor the fragrance of Longjing tea, and enjoy a lovely time walking or cycling. 2️⃣ You can take a bus directly to Nine Creeks in Misty Forest and start hiking up the mountain. Take the bus down from Longjing Village, or you can walk all the way up, which takes about four to five hours round trip. We once rode bikes from Leifeng Pagoda all the way up, and halfway, we had to push our bikes for a bit. Going downhill was like lightning with continuous braking, and it only took 20 minutes to get back to Leifeng Pagoda, haha. 3️⃣ If it's a sunny day, don't miss the sunset over West Lake; it's incredibly beautiful. The tourist boats and painted boats on the lake are dyed red by the sunset, resembling an oil painting. You can bargain for the price of a manually rowed boat, and in the evening, you can cut the price in half, which is much cheaper than in the morning. 4️⃣ For internet-famous streets like Hefang Street, it's best to casually stroll around in the evening or early morning. It's not a big deal if you don't go, as it's commercialized and crowded, making it less comfortable to visit. Instead, I recommend visiting old streets like Wuliu Lane, Chengtou Lane, Dama Lane, and Shiwuku Lane to see Hangzhou's old buildings, full of local life and authentic local snacks, which are especially wonderful. 5️⃣ The scallion pancakes in Dama Lane cost five yuan each, which is much more authentic than the internet-famous ones that cost ten or twenty yuan. The Bao Mei pastries in Chengtou Lane, Pian Er Chuan, water-fried buns, wontons, and tofu pudding from time-honored brands cost only a few yuan and are delicious. Su Qin's home-cooked dishes like white-cut chicken and braised bamboo shoots are authentic Hangzhou cuisine, and you can get several dishes for just a few dozen yuan, which is tasty and a great value. The green dumplings, osmanthus cakes, and zongzi in Shiwuku Lane are so good that they make my mouth water just thinking about them. 6️⃣ As for accommodation, it depends on your budget. If you're looking for something nicer, you can stay near West Lake at places like Dahua or Xinxin. If you want to visit Lingyin Temple, you can stay nearby. In the city center, I recommend Zancheng Hotel, an old brand, which is convenient for eating, playing, and taking public transport. Additionally, Hupao is a great location for a holiday, quiet and elegant, with an excellent surrounding environment, suitable for friends who like peace and quiet. 7️⃣ When visiting Hangzhou during the holiday, especially if it's your first time, don't go to the internet-famous shops. You won't get the essence of Hangzhou's cuisine, which is all in the residential areas. Just wander around the residential areas, and you can't go wrong with inconspicuous shops with many locals sitting inside. There are no price traps, so go ahead and eat boldly. For a big meal, you can choose famous time-honored brands like Ziyi Hall, Jinsha Hall of Four Seasons, Xin Rong Ji, or more ordinary places like Xin Bailu and Grandma's Home. 8️⃣ Hangzhou's pastries are also very good, suitable for personal enjoyment or as gifts for friends and family. Zhi Wei Guan, Cai Zhi Zhai, and Nan Song Hu Ji are all good choices, with a wide variety, and quality assurance. I've bought from them many times and have rarely been disappointed. 9️⃣ A special reminder for those coming to Hangzhou during May Day: do not drive to the scenic spots. Do not drive, do not drive, as parking is very hard to find. By the time you find a parking spot, it might be two hours later. It's recommended to take a taxi or the subway. You can drive in the suburbs, but it's highly discouraged to drive to urban scenic spots.

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Accommodation: It is recommended to stay near West Lake Yintai, close to West Lake, convenient transportation, and there are many delicious foods. Route arrangement: Day1 Faxi Temple--Lingyin Temple--Southern Song Imperial Street--Fifteen Kuixiang 🌈Faxi Temple Tickets: 🈚️ You can take the 1314 bus to the "Upper Tianzhu" station 🌈Lingyin Temple Tickets: Lingyin Temple is included in Feilai Peak, so you need to buy a ticket for Feilai Peak to enter. After entering, you need to buy another ticket to go to Lingyin Temple 🌈Southern Song Imperial Street Day2 West Lake tour around the lake--Wulin Night Market 🌈West Lake route arrangement: Three Pools Mirroring the Moon--Flower Harbor Watching Fish--Su Causeway--Quyuan Fenghe--Xiling Bridge--Bai Causeway--Broken Bridge Remaining Snow West Lake is very large, it is recommended to ride a bicycle or rent a sightseeing car. 🌈Wulin Night Market Wulin Night Market is the most exquisite night market I have ever visited. It is very lively inside, but it is not as noisy as other night markets, full of barbecue smoke, and it is very comfortable to stroll around here. The dinner was at a barbecue restaurant on Wulin Night Market, called Le House Barbecue. The store is quite large, with a theme of local tyrants, which is very interesting. It's quite cozy to eat barbecue inside. The dishes are good, I will continue to eat! Hangzhou·Zhejiang

🌟🌟🌟 Exclusive recommendation: Hangzhou In-depth Tour Guide 🌟🌟🌟 🍃This is a travel route interwoven with natural scenery and historical culture, taking you to deeply explore the charm of Hangzhou.🏞️ 1️⃣ Huagang Guanyu The first stop is Huagang Guanyu, where you can appreciate different flowers in four seasons and freely shuttling fish. The scenery here is poetic and picturesque, making people feel relaxed and happy.😍 2️⃣ Fifteen Kui Lane Then come to Fifteen Kui Lane to feel the old street style of Hangzhou. This place seems to be a miniature of Hangzhou's history, every brick and tile seems to be telling an ancient story. 3️⃣ Life Viewfinder Then is the Life Viewfinder, a place full of artistic atmosphere. You can find those beautiful moments about life here, and feel the blend of art and life.🎨 4️⃣ Leifeng Tower in the same frame (Jingci Zen Temple) Next is Leifeng Tower in the same frame, through the lens you can see the perfect fusion of Leifeng Tower and the surrounding scenery. The scenery here is poetic and picturesque, as if you are in a beautiful painting. 5️⃣ Cuiguang Pavilion Cuiguang Pavilion is a quiet and leisurely place, the scenery here is fresh and pleasant, it is a good place to relax. Here you can temporarily forget the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature.🍃 6️⃣ Beishan Street Then is Beishan Street, an old street full of historical charm. You can taste the historical culture of Hangzhou here and feel the unique charm of this city. 7️⃣ Solitary Hill Next is Solitary Hill, a small island full of mysterious colors. Here you can appreciate the beautiful lake and mountain scenery, and also visit those ancient temples and gardens.🛕 8️⃣ Liulang Wenying Then is Liulang Wenying, a place full of vitality and vitality. The beautiful scenery here is poetic and picturesque, making people linger. Here you can fully appreciate the natural scenery and cultural style of Hangzhou.🌳 9️⃣ Quyuan Fenghe Finally come to Quyuan Fenghe, one of the most representative gardens in Hangzhou. You can appreciate the exquisite garden landscape and different flowers in four seasons here, and feel the perfect fusion of nature and art.🌸 🎁Highlights of the trip: This route will take you to appreciate the natural scenery and historical culture of Hangzhou, and let you deeply understand the unique charm of this city. Here you can appreciate different flowers in four seasons, ancient streets and temples, and beautiful lake and mountain scenery. In addition, there are many good places for photo check-in, allowing you to easily capture those beautiful moments.📸 🔍Travel suggestions: This route is suitable for strolling in, slowly tasting the charm of Hangzhou. It is recommended to choose a comfortable pair of shoes, bring a camera and a water bottle, and a good mood, and start your Hangzhou in-depth tour!👟📷A water bottle with good sports performance and long-lasting battery life is also essential.🔋 Hope this guide can help you! Wish you have a pleasant holiday in Hangzhou!🎉🎉🎉