Heavenly Charm: Hangzhou Nightlife Map

Author: Bi Lugu / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: This series of books targets fashion-conscious young professionals aged 18-30, "cool travelers," and others, with the writing philosophy of "stylish and practical." Organized by individual cities, it provides a panoramic view of each city's nightlife while highlighting various aspects of nightlife through themed sections, such as snacks, bars, cafes, dancing, entertainment, and more. The books are richly illustrated and beautifully designed. This volume is the "Heavenly Charm" edition, a practical guide to Hangzhou's nightlife. The book is divided into several parts: "Getting Closer to Hangzhou," "Nightlife Hotspots," "Themed Nightlife Tours," and "Travel Information," offering a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of Hangzhou's nightlife. It is the classic guide for exploring Hangzhou at night!...
● Qianjiang Tide Watching: The time-honored folk leisure activity
On the 18th day of the eighth lunar month, the Qiantang River's tidal bore rises dramatically, a phenomenon recorded as early as in Zhuangzi's Nanhua Jing. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the custom of watching the tide flourished, with "joy shared by both rulers and people" and "the entire city coming out to witness it." Since the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the spectacle of Qianjiang Tide has remained a cherished annual tradition in Hangzhou. The best spots for watching the tide have changed frequently over the centuries. After the 1960s, due to the Qiantang River's dredging and coastal reclamation, new viewing spots emerged, including the Yanguan viewing point, Bабо (8 km east of Yanguan), Laoyanchang (12 km west of Yanguan), and Yangzhou Town in Xiaoshan. In the 1980s, with the rise of tourism, "Qianjiang Tide Watching" became one of Hangzhou's signature tourist attractions. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, crowds of domestic and international visitors gather at Yanguan to watch the tide, with queues for tide-watching buses stretching for miles. The tourism department has even set up special viewing seats for foreign tourists at Yanguan. Travel agencies in Shanghai and Hangzhou, along with Hangzhou's transportation department, operate special tour buses on the 16th, 17th, and 18th days of the eighth lunar month to transport visitors.
● The Bustling Temple Fair – Wushan Temple Fair
Wushan Temple Fair is the largest and longest-running temple fair in the vicinity of West Lake. The fair runs year-round, each season offering unique attractions. It is most vibrant from the first day of the first lunar month to the 18th day, when locals ascend the mountain to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, seeking good fortune by "visiting the mountain for auspicious blessings." In February and March, pilgrims from the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou region also visit Wushan for religious ceremonies. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the Lixia Festival, and other solar terms, people from all trades ascend Wushan for temple fairs, hoping for prosperous business and abundant wealth. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Wushan Temple Fair was temporarily suspended but was revived in 1992.
● The Custom of Arranging Marriages with Tea
In the wedding customs of Hangzhou's tea farmers, tea served as the medium for arranging marriages. The folk saying goes, "Whoever drinks whose tea becomes part of their family." A girl who accepts a man's betrothal gift of tea is said to have "received tea" or "accepted the tea," also known as "eating tea." Since tea trees must be planted from seeds rather than transplanted, this custom symbolized the unbreakable commitment and the hope for offspring in marriage. The entire wedding ceremony was referred to as the "Three Teas and Six Ceremonies." The "Three Teas" included the betrothal tea ("lowering the tea"), the wedding tea ("settling the tea"), and the wedding night tea ("combining the tea").
● Tea Houses for Leisure and Blessings – The Three Teas and Auspicious Tea
The surrounding mountains of Hangzhou are rich in famous teas, and the locals have a strong tea-drinking culture. During the Southern Song Dynasty, tea houses were densely scattered in the city, serving as important recreational venues. After the Qing Dynasty, drinking tea while listening to storytelling became a common pastime and form of entertainment for the middle and lower classes in Hangzhou. Large tea houses offered books, Pingtan (storytelling), and chess, while merchants came in the mornings and evenings to discuss business, gather market information, and even settle disputes.
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