Hefang Street (Hangzhou)

Last updated: March 2026. Business hours depend on individual shops.

Hefang Street is a restored commercial strip in old Hangzhou—grey brick, tiled roofs, signs everywhere. Dingsheng cake, lotus-root starch, Longjing tea and souvenir shops sit side by side. It links north–south with Southern Song Imperial Street; you can walk both. Free, no ticket, very touristy and commercial, but snacks and gifts are concentrated. Good as “half a day of strolling and eating” or a wind-down after West Lake or Lingyin. Don’t expect an untouched old street—treat it as a supply stop and souvenir street.

What Makes it Worth It

Hefang packs Hangzhou snacks and souvenirs into one pedestrian strip: Dingsheng cake, lotus-root starch, Longjing, beggar’s chicken, Zhang Xiaoquan scissors and the like. Good if you want to try a few things and buy something to take home in a short time. It fits into a “lake–temple–street” day: morning at West Lake or Lingyin, afternoon or evening on Hefang. Free and easy to reach—metro Ding’an Road, Wushan Square and others. Set expectations right—it’s a commercial street, not a museum—and the experience is fine.

What to Expect

Don’t Miss

Practical Information

Getting There

Common mistake: expecting an “authentic” old street—Hefang is a restored commercial strip; shops and snacks are aimed at visitors. Set expectations and enjoy it as a stroll and souvenir run.

Hefang is an easy-to-reach snack and souvenir street in old Hangzhou—free, no ticket, good for half a day or as the closing part of a day with West Lake and Lingyin. Dingsheng cake, lotus-root starch, Longjing and Southern Song Imperial Street can be done in one walk; don’t expect a hidden gem.

If you want an "authentic" old street, Hefang is a restored commercial strip and tourist-oriented. If you want a short snack and souvenir run, it's concentrated and convenient; livelier from late afternoon into evening.

• Hangzhou City Guide — Complete city guide