The romance between the White Snake and her husband Xu Xian, a tale spanning a thousand years, is a unique cultural heritage of Hangzhou. To continue this, a theme street on the film White Snake: Afloat was opened at the historical Qinghefang area. Visitors will find it flawlessly reproducing the bustling alleyways, taverns, and tea houses depicted in the film, allowing them to experience the daily life back into the romance and feel the old-time vibes.
“I came all the way here because it was hot on social media,” said Ms. Zhang, a tourist from Jiangsu province. Into the area from the Drum Tower Square, you will immediately notice the layered yellow, red, and purple oil-paper umbrellas suspended above the water near the Southern Song Bookstore. The backdrop with the Chinese characters “White Snake” offers an orchestrated vibe of the Southern Song dynasty, making it feel as if you are traveling through a time warp.
To facilitate the opening of the theme street, the Urban Management Bureau of Shangcheng District, based on the new policy for outdoor business, provides one-stop service for urgent matters. Leveraging the characteristics and heritage of Qinghefang, the local authority encourage new business models with three event venues, i.e. Balazi Alley Square, Drum Tower Square, and Dajing Alley, covering a total area of 430 square meters.
“We’ve created great commercial vibes and envisioned the setup of more temporary promotional facilities. Themed settings, festive landmark installations, and displays are all good ways to help us widespread the culture of the Song dynasty. It’ll help gain foot traffic and enhance the business environment,” explained an official from the Urban Management Bureau of Shangcheng District. The three sites in the Qinghefang are featured with the wedding vows and peach trees covering 140 square meters, three poster walls, and more than 500 Neo-Chinese Style decorations such as oil-paper umbrellas, calligraphy works, and lanterns. They bring the Song-style aesthetics to life and hold back more travelers.
The bustling Song-style Street are dotted with distinctive scenic sites, forming a poetic view of white walls, black-tile roofs, and flying eaves that are typically Chinese. It is an ideal point for Instagram users. One could do cosplay for a street walk.
The theme street will remain open until August 31. It offers an eye feast that blends the Song aesthetics with classics. Why not? Come to get a hang of the thrills of Hangzhou and savor its timeless glory.