Shangxia Hang Historical and Cultural Block

Shangxia Hang Historical and Cultural Block is an ancient block in Taijiang District of Fuzhou City, and the important birthplace of the "Min Business Spirit"（“闽商精神”）. It is known as the "Fuzhou Traditional Commercial Museum". You can visit ancient buildings, enjoy the beauty of Min River, taste delicious food, and experience the local life of Fuzhou here. If you have enough time, it is recommended that you arrange a day to visit Shangxia Hang scenic area.

Shang Hang Road （上杭路） and Xia Hang Road（下杭路） and their nearby blocks in Taijiang District of Fuzhou City are commonly known as "Shuang Hang". It refers to the two parallel horizontal streets between Xiaoqiaotou and Dadian Road, which used to be the commercial center and shipping port of Fuzhou. This ancient block, which was once famous for its commercial prosperity, has always been an important place for folklorists and historians to study the development of Fuzhou's commerce.

There are many well-preserved old guild halls, old buildings, old archways and old stone bridges from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period. You can feel the strong historical atmosphere and cultural charm here. You can also taste various authentic Fuzhou snacks, such as fish balls, meat swallows, litchi meat, Gulou chicken rice, etc. At night, you can also enjoy light shows, opera performances, folk displays, and experience the lively nightlife.

What to Do

Visit the old guild halls. Shangxia Hang used to be the place where Fuzhou's various business groups gathered, so there are many old guild halls distributed here. The old guild halls are places where the business group members carry out activities, exchanges, storage, accommodation and other functions, and the symbols of their wealth and status. The old guild halls generally consist of stages, restaurants, temples, gardens, etc. The architectural styles are different, with carved beams and painted buildings, and splendid. Some of famous old guild halls are Gutian Guild Hall, Yongde Guild Hall, Jianning Guild Hall, Nanjun Guild Hall, etc.

Appreciate the old buildings. In addition to the old guild halls, Shangxia Hang also has many other types of old buildings, such as shops, banks, bookstores, theaters, churches, temples, ancestral halls, villas, etc. These old buildings are witnesses of Fuzhou's modern history, and also representatives of Fuzhou's architectural style. Some of these old buildings are purely traditional Chinese buildings, some are modern buildings with Chinese and Western elements, some are Western-style buildings, and some are dwellings with local characteristics. The more famous old buildings are Yuanlong Money Shop, Caifeng Villa, Gao's Wenchang Pavilion, Zeng's Ancestral Hall, Huang Peisong's Former Residence, etc.

Taste snacks. Shangxia Hang is a gathering place for Fuzhou snacks. There are many old and popular shops here, offering a variety of delicacies. Here, you can taste the most famous fish balls and meat swallows in Fuzhou. The fish balls are fresh and chewy, and the meat swallows are smooth and delicate. They are served with soup and noodles, which are unforgettable. You can also taste litchi meat, Gulou chicken rice, braised noodles, Shaxian snacks, etc., each of which has its own characteristics and flavors. You can also taste some special desserts and drinks, such as eight-treasure porridge, taro paste, osmanthus cake, ginkgo soup, Rongcheng milk tea, etc., which are sweet but not greasy, refreshing and thirst-quenching. Here, you can walk and eat, eat and walk, and enjoy the fun of food.

Experience nightlife. After renovation and upgrading, Shangxia Hang also has many wonderful activities at night, making you feel a different atmosphere and charm. Here, you can see the light show, which turns the old buildings into colorful pictures. You can also see the opera performance, appreciate the traditional Liyuan art of Fuzhou, such as Fuzhou Opera, Gaojia Opera, Puppet Show, etc., making you refreshed. You can also see the folk display, experience the unique customs and habits of Fuzhou, such as iron flower, river lantern, grass man, etc. Here, you can play and relax as you wish, and enjoy the lively and romantic night.

Travel tips:

1. How to get there

Subway: Take subway line 1 to Dadao Station（达道站）, exit C, and walk for 7 minutes to get there.
Bus: Take bus 10, 20, 79, 320 to Zhongting Street（中亭街）, Youth Square（青年广场）, or Xuejun Road Station（学军路站）, get off and walk for 100 meters to get there.

2. Duration

It is recommended that you arrange 3-6 hours to visit Shangxia Hang, because there are many buildings and attractions worth seeing here, and the shops and restaurants in the block are also very distinctive, you can walk and shop and eat.

3. Recommended visiting route:

Route 1 | about 3 hours

Shangxia Hang Archway（上下杭牌坊）- Yongde Guild Hall（永德会馆）- Yongde Bridge（永德桥）- Sanjie River Bank（三捷河沿岸）- Xing'an Bridge（兴安桥）- Fuzhou Art Museum - Jinyinli Pedestrian Street（金银里步行街）- Xia Hang Road - Fuzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall - Jindian Hall（经典馆）- Tangfang Lane（汤房巷） - Fuzhou Business Association Former Site（福州商务总会旧址）- Longping Road - Cangxia Renjia Community Living Hall（苍霞人家社区生活馆）

Route 2 | about 1 hour

Shangxia Hang Archway（上下杭牌坊）- Lifa Lane No. 61 Exhibition Hall（利发巷61号展馆）- Yongde Guild Hall（永德会馆）- Yongde Bridge - Sanjie River Bank（三捷河沿岸）- Jinyinli Pedestrian Street - Xia Hang Road（下杭路）- Fuzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall（福州市非物质遗产展示馆）- Xia Hang Road Square