# Hefang Street, Hangzhou > Hefang Street is old Hangzhou’s pedestrian shopping street at the foot of Wushan Hill: stone paving, two-storey wooden shophouses, a working 19th-century pharmacy museum and plenty of street snacks. It’s free and open 24 hours; most shops close around 22:00. An hour is enough — come late afternoon. Metro: Wushan Square, Line 7. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street - City: [Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou), China - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — it’s a public street, no ticket - Hours: Street always open; shops and stalls roughly 9:00–10:00 to 22:00 - Metro: Wushan Square (吴山广场), Line 7, Exit D for the west end; Ding'an Road (定安路), Line 1, 10 min walk - From the airport: Line 7 from Xiaoshan International Airport runs direct to the Wushan Square terminus, about 45 min - Hu Qing Yu Tang museum: 8:30–17:00, last entry 16:30; about ¥10 (some guides say ¥5) - City God Pavilion on Wushan: ¥30, 8:00–20:00 - Zhu Bingren Copper House: Free, roughly 9:00–22:00 - Payment: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard; carry small yuan notes - Time needed: ≈ 1 hour to stroll and snack; 2–3 hours with the museums and Wushan - Coordinates: 30.24260, 120.16769 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Free** — to walk, 24 hours a day — you only pay for food, shopping and museums (source: Chinatripedia; China Discovery) - **Line 7** — Wushan Square station — Exits C and D come up right on the street’s south side (source: Chinese Wikipedia (吴山广场站); Chinatripedia) - **1874** — merchant Hu Xueyan founded the Hu Qing Yu Tang pharmacy, still trading today (source: English Wikipedia: Hu Qing Yu Tang; Hangzhou Daily) - **≈ 1,800 m** — the whole street; the stone-paved pedestrian stretch by Wushan Square is 13 m wide (source: Hangzhou city portal (ehangzhou.gov.cn); Chinatripedia) - **1987** — China’s first museum of traditional Chinese medicine opened inside the pharmacy (source: Hangzhou Daily; Chinatripedia) - **Qinghefang** — the district is named after the title Prince of Qinghe, given in the 12th century to Zhang Jun, who lived here (source: Hangzhou Daily; China Discovery) - **Southern Song** — when Hangzhou was China’s capital, Hefang was one of its main trading streets (source: Chinese Wikipedia (河坊街); Chinatripedia) - **1999** — conservation of the block began, instead of the planned demolition and road-widening (source: Hangzhou Daily (hznews.hangzhou.com.cn)) - **Crossroads** — with the Southern Song Imperial Street (Zhongshan Middle Road) — the old “four corners” (source: Chinese Wikipedia (河坊街, 南宋御街); Chinatripedia) - **Free** — Zhu Bingren’s Copper House, a museum of cast-copper art on the street (source: Ctrip; Chinese media) ## Hefang Street opening hours and entry Hefang Street is a public pedestrian street, so there’s **no ticket and no closing time** — you can walk it at midnight. Shops, tea houses and snack stalls open around 9:00–10:00 and wind down by about **22:00**; that’s guidebook information rather than an official timetable, and each shop keeps its own hours. The paid stops have shorter days. The **Hu Qing Yu Tang** pharmacy museum is open 8:30–17:00 with last entry at 16:30, about ¥10. The **City God Pavilion** (Chenghuang Ge) on Wushan Hill above the street opens 8:00–20:00 for ¥30, while the hill itself is free. Zhu Bingren’s **Copper House** is free. > **Come at 15:00–16:00 and stay for dusk** The street is at its best after dark, when the lanterns go on and every stall is cooking. But the pharmacy museum stops letting people in at 16:30. Arrive mid-afternoon, see Hu Qing Yu Tang first, then graze your way along the street as the lights come on. ## How to get to Hefang Street 1. The nearest station is **Wushan Square** (吴山广场), the western terminus of **Metro Line 7**. **Exit D** brings you up at the west end of the street, by Wushan Hill; Exit C is for Wushan Square itself. 2. **From the Hubin lakefront** on [West Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake), it’s a 15–20 minute walk south-east. Or ride Line 1 one stop from Longxiangqiao to **Ding'an Road** (定安路) and walk about 10 minutes south down Zhongshan Middle Road. 3. **From Hangzhou East** railway station, take Line 1 direct to Ding'an Road, then walk 10 minutes. 4. **From Xiaoshan Airport** (HGH), Line 7 runs from Xiaoshan International Airport station straight to Wushan Square — around 45 minutes, no change. 5. **Buses** stop at Qinghefang (清河坊) and Wushan Square (吴山广场); route numbers change, so check a local map app such as Amap or Baidu Maps. 6. **By taxi or DiDi**, show the driver “河坊街” or “吴山广场”. Cars can’t enter the pedestrian section, so you’ll be dropped at the square or a side street. 7. Paying for the metro: the simplest option is Alipay’s transport QR code with a foreign card linked — scan in and out at the gates. Ticket machines also sell single-journey tokens. ## What is Hefang Street? Hefang Street (河坊街) is the spine of the **Qinghefang** historic block in Shangcheng district, Hangzhou’s old town, tucked under **Wushan Hill** a short walk from West Lake. The full street runs about 1.8 km east–west, but the part visitors want is the stone-paved pedestrian stretch running east from Wushan Square across the **Southern Song Imperial Street**. Expect grey flagstones, two-storey timber shophouses, red lanterns and signboards of century-old brands. Trade here goes back to the **Southern Song dynasty**, when Hangzhou was China’s capital. The most common story behind the district’s name points to **Zhang Jun**, who was made Prince of Qinghe in the 12th century and had his residence here. Later, the crossroads with the Imperial Street was famous for four shops, one on each corner. Be clear about what you’re getting: in 1999 the block was slated for demolition and road-widening, and was instead restored — then refreshed again in the 2020s. The buildings now look late Qing and early 20th-century. It’s a carefully rebuilt shopping street, not an untouched old quarter, though several genuine historic businesses still trade inside it. ## Things to do on Hefang Street - **Hu Qing Yu Tang** (胡庆余堂, 95 Dajing Lane) — the pharmacy merchant Hu Xueyan founded in 1874. A carved Jiangnan-style courtyard building with a working dispensary, a famous “No cheating” plaque, and a museum of traditional Chinese medicine: tools, herbs, minerals. About ¥10. - **Zhu Bingren’s Copper House** (江南铜屋) — a building finished almost entirely in copper, from walls to eaves, now a free museum of cast-copper art. - **The Imperial Street crossing** — Zhongshan Middle Road, the main avenue of the Southern Song capital, now also pedestrianised. Turn north here for quieter old shops and tea houses. - **Old-brand shops**: Zhang Xiaoquan scissors, fans, tea, silk, calligraphy brushes and ink — many of these firms have been trading for over a century. - **Wushan Hill and the City God Pavilion** (城隍阁) above the west end — a short climb by steps for views over old-town rooftops towards West Lake. The hill is free; the pavilion is ¥30. - **Street craftsmen** making sugar paintings, dough figurines and carved name seals while you wait. ## What to eat on Hefang Street Hefang is one of Hangzhou’s best-known streets for snacking. The local classic is **cong bao hui** (葱包桧) — a thin pancake with spring onion rolled around a fried dough stick and pressed on a griddle. Look out too for **dragon’s beard candy** (龙须糖), pulled by hand into fine sugar threads around a nutty filling, and **dingsheng cake** (定胜糕), soft pink rice cakes with a sweet filling. Tea shops sell Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea, grown in the hills just outside town — see [Longjing Tea Village](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/longjing-tea-village) if you want to visit the plantations. For a proper sit-down meal, head for the noodle houses and Hangzhou-cuisine restaurants around the Imperial Street crossing. Almost every stall takes Alipay or WeChat Pay by QR code, and both work with a foreign Visa or Mastercard once linked. Sellers must accept cash yuan, but small stalls may not have change — keep some ¥10 and ¥20 notes. ## Is Hefang Street worth visiting? Yes, as a free evening outing if you have more than a day in Hangzhou. In an hour you can try local snacks, step inside a 19th-century pharmacy and pick up tea or a fan, all a short walk from West Lake. It pairs naturally with the lake and [Leifeng Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/leifeng-pagoda) on the same day. Not if you’re hoping for an authentic old town. The houses are rebuilt, many shops sell the same souvenirs, and the “antiques” are nearly always new. YesGo’s take: a good evening, but not worth reshaping your plans for — Hangzhou’s real highlights are the lake and the temples in the hills. ## Hefang Street’s paid stops compared | | Hu Qing Yu Tang | Copper House | City God Pavilion | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | 1874 pharmacy and Chinese medicine museum | Cast-copper art museum | Pavilion on Wushan Hill | | Entry | ≈ ¥10 | Free | ¥30 | | Hours | 8:30–17:00 | ≈ 9:00–22:00 | 8:00–20:00 | | Time needed | 30–40 min | 20–30 min | ≈ 1 h with the climb | Prices and hours are from Hangzhou media and guides and may differ on the day. Short on time? Pick Hu Qing Yu Tang — it’s the most genuinely historic building on the street. > **Crowds and “antiques”** Weekend evenings get packed, so keep your phone and wallet in a closed bag. Jade, “ancient” coins and paintings are often overpriced and rarely old — buy what you like, not an investment. Haggling is normal in small shops; the pharmacies and old-brand stores have fixed prices. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to my foreign card — or small yuan notes - [ ] Offline map or a local app — Google Maps doesn’t work in China - [ ] I’ll reach Hu Qing Yu Tang before 16:30 - [ ] “河坊街” or “吴山广场” saved to show a taxi driver - [ ] Camera translation app for menus and signs - [ ] Comfortable shoes — stone paving, and steps up Wushan ## Hangzhou markets and shopping streets compared Places in Hangzhou for shopping and street food, rated by YesGo. - [Hefang Street](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## West Lake, a pagoda and an evening on Hefang West Lake’s shore and Leifeng Pagoda by day, then dinner and a stroll along Hefang Street. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks. 1. [West Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; island boat ¥55 2. [Leifeng Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/leifeng-pagoda) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥40 3. [Hefang Street](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Good to know Hefang Street and Qinghefang are the same place: Hefang is the street, Qinghefang the historic block around it — signs and maps use both. The Southern Song Imperial Street is a separate pedestrian street that crosses it. Shenzhen has a street with a similar name; don’t mix them up when booking. ## Tips - See Hu Qing Yu Tang before 16:30, then eat your way along the street after sunset. - Climb Wushan from the west end — the hill is free and the rooftop views don’t need the pavilion ticket. - Buy cong bao hui and dragon’s beard candy from stalls cooking in front of you; they’re best fresh. - Use Exit D at Wushan Square and you’re at the start of the pedestrian stretch. - After Hefang, wander north along the Southern Song Imperial Street — also car-free, and calmer. - Walk here from West Lake towards evening; from Leifeng Pagoda a taxi is quicker. ## Questions ### Is Hefang Street free? Yes. It’s a public pedestrian street with no ticket. You pay only for the Hu Qing Yu Tang museum (about ¥10), the City God Pavilion (¥30), food and shopping. ### What are Hefang Street’s opening hours? The street is open 24 hours. Shops and stalls run roughly 9:00–10:00 until about 22:00; the Hu Qing Yu Tang museum is open 8:30–17:00. ### Which metro station is closest to Hefang Street? Wushan Square on Line 7 — use Exit D. Ding'an Road on Line 1 is about a 10-minute walk away. ### How do I get to Hefang Street from West Lake? Walk 15–20 minutes south-east from the Hubin lakefront, or take Line 1 one stop from Longxiangqiao to Ding'an Road and walk south. ### Is Hefang Street worth it? As a free evening stroll with street food, yes. As historic architecture, less so — most buildings are restored, and the shops lean heavily towards souvenirs. ### What food should I try on Hefang Street? Cong bao hui (spring-onion pancake around a fried dough stick), dragon’s beard candy, pink dingsheng rice cakes and a cup of Longjing tea. ### Is Hefang Street the same as Qinghefang? Yes. Hefang is the street; Qinghefang is the historic block around it, and both names are used on maps and signs. ### How long do you need at Hefang Street? About an hour to walk and snack. With Hu Qing Yu Tang and the climb up Wushan, allow 2–3 hours. ### When is the best time to visit Hefang Street? A weekday from late afternoon into the evening: the museums are still open, and after dark the lanterns and food stalls come alive. ## How we checked Free entry and 24-hour access are confirmed by two guides; there is no official timetable for the shops, so the 22:00 closing is marked unofficial. Metro station and exits come from Chinese Wikipedia and a guide. The Hu Qing Yu Tang fare differs between sources — Hangzhou Daily says ¥10, Chinatripedia ¥5 — so we show both and mark it as verifying. The City God Pavilion fare and hours come from the provincial outlet Tide News; several Chinese media report the Copper House as free. The Zhang Jun origin of the Qinghefang name is the most common of several versions. ## Sources - Hangzhou city portal (ehangzhou.gov.cn): Hefang Street — length, width, historic shops - Hangzhou Daily (hznews.hangzhou.com.cn): Hu Qing Yu Tang museum hours and fares; conservation of the Qinghefang block - Tide News (tidenews.com.cn): City God Pavilion on Wushan — fare and hours - Chinese Wikipedia: 河坊街, 吴山广场站, 杭州地铁7号线, 南宋御街; English Wikipedia: Hu Qing Yu Tang; Wikidata Q11141961 - Chinatripedia: Hefang Street; Huqingyu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum - China Discovery: Hefang Street — name history, Copper House, shop hours - Wanderin China: Hangzhou Metro — payment and fares --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.