What Are the Best Snacks on Hefang Street in Hangzhou?

Last updated: May 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

Crowds: Weekends and holidays are very busy; weekdays a bit better. Late afternoon into evening is liveliest.

Commerce: Mostly snacks, souvenirs and crafts; prices are tourist-level. Taste and compare before buying; no need to buy everything.

Scale: Main street plus a stretch of Southern Song Imperial Street; 1–2 hours on foot. Longer if you stop to taste and shop.

Facilities: Public toilets and rest spots exist; may queue in peak season. Lots of snack stalls—watch what you eat.

Don’t Miss

Dingsheng cake and lotus-root starch — Classic Hefang snacks; Dingsheng is rice cake, lotus-root starch is drunk as a paste. Several shops; taste then choose.

Longjing tea and souvenirs — Tea, lotus-root starch, pastries and other gifts in one place. If you didn’t buy tea in Longjing village you can top up here; compare price and quality.

Southern Song Imperial Street — Runs north–south with Hefang; same style of buildings and shops. Walk it in the same visit; no need to plan separately.

Hu Qingyu Tang (optional) — Old-name traditional pharmacy; distinctive building. Worth a look if you’re interested in traditional medicine; not a must.

Practical Information

No single official site for the street; payment is mostly by scan. Have How to Pay in China ready.

Getting There

Metro: Line 1 Ding’an Road, then about 10 minutes on foot; or Wushan Square near the south end of Hefang. If using a taxi and the app has no English, ask the hotel to write “河坊街 Héfāng Jiē” or “吴山广场 Wúshān Guǎngchǎng” for the driver or show a map.

Bus: Several routes pass Hefang, Wushan Square, Drum Tower; get off and you’re there.

With West Lake / Lingyin: Morning at West Lake or Lingyin, afternoon at Hefang; Hefang is not far from the east shore and Drum Tower by taxi or metro.

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.

Related Guides:

• Hangzhou City Guide — Complete city guide