As the largest theme park based on the culture of the Song Dynasty (960–1279) in China, Song Dynasty Town is situated to the southwest of West Lake Scenic Area with Five-Cloud (Wuyun) Mountain to the north and the Qiantang River to the south. All the architectural styles of the park are modeled after those of the Song Dynasty.
- Chinese: 杭州宋城 Hángzhōu Sòng Chéng /hung-joh song-chnng/ 'Hangzhou Song Dynasty Town'
- Location: 148 Zhijiang Road, Xihu District
- Best times: all year
- Highlights: Culture Performance Area, Hi-Tech Experience Area, Recreational Area
- Suited to: everyone
- Suggested length of stay: 2–3 hours
Hangzhou's Song Dynasty Town Overview
As a theme park, Song Dynasty Town combines the culture of the Song Dynasty and the natural scenery of West Lake. It displays a prosperous scene of the Song Dynasty by employing a combination of realistic and romantic techniques.
It comprises three areas: the Culture Performance Area, the Hi-Tech Experience Area, and the Recreational Area.
Night view of Song Dynasty TownThe Culture Performance Area includes some theaters, streets, Buddha caves, and some shops where you can learn about what Hangzhou was like in the Southern Song Dynasty. The Hi-Tech Experience Area provides many special experiences. The Recreational Area has many recreational programs for children.
The Song River flows through the town. The 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) long Song River is suitable for boating. Its banks are lined with archaistic hostels, pavilions, pagodas, bars, and teahouses, and it's more beautiful during the night.
Highlights of Song Dynasty Town
The Cultural Area
The attractive performances in theaters, squares, and old streets are the highlights in the area.
The large-scale singing and dancing performance of Thousand-Year Love in Song Dynasty Town is the main highlight in Song Dynasty Town. It uses advanced hi-tech to display the glory of the Song Dynasty and it attracts thousands of visitors each day.
With a 26-meter (85 feet) tall mountain as its background, Culture Street is where large-scale celebratory activities, such as the Torch Festival and the Water-Splashing Festival, are held. As the fire on the mountain is lit during festivals, the locals bow to it to pray for happiness and peace.
As the most magnificent square in Song Dynasty Town, Rostrum Square is a wonderful place for visitors to experience the lifestyle of the Song Dynasty, where you can dress in typical Song-style clothes and even an emperor's robe.
Shijing Street is lined with stores, pavilions, terraces, and towers. Many performances, such as throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband, and puppet shows are available.
The 120-meter (394 feet) long stone Southern Song Imperial Stone Slate Street stretches from Song Dynasty Town's gate to Shijing Street. It served as the imperial street used solely for emperors during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279).
Fairy Hill and Buddha Caves: Hangzhou was once the Buddhist center of the Northern Song Dynasty, during which a number of Buddhist temples were built successively. You can explore Buddhist caves, see a statue of Sakyamuni, and visit the Temple of the God of Wealth, the Memorial Hall of the Matchmaker, and the Kwan Yin Pavilion.
The Hi-Tech Area
This area offers recreational programs with hi-tech features, such as the Live Riverside Scene of Pure Brightness, Frightening Spooky House, the Phantom of the Jungle, the Song Residence, and Cricket Fighting.
The Recreational Area
It's a favorite place for children, where the most popular recreational activities are the Merry-Go-Round, Pirate Ship, Treasure Hunt on a Sandy Beach, Adventure Isle, Brave Fire Brigade, Free Falling Body, Big Pendulum, Chairoplane, and Big Frog Jumping.
Hangzhou in the Song Dynasty
In the history of China, the Song Dynasty consisted of two eras: the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127) and the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279). After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Gou established the Southern Song Dynasty and set up the capital in Hangzhou. During the Southern Song Dynasty's 150-year rule, Hangzhou, as the political, economic, and cultural center, became the largest metropolis in the world and was extremely prosperous.
Travel Essentials
- Opening hours: 10am to 9pm each day
- Entrance fee: 300 yuan (including a performance of Thousand-Year Love in Song Dynasty Town)
- Transportation: Bus 308, 514, K504, Y4, Y5, or K658 can take you there. Taking a taxi or booking a private tour is more convenient.
- Dining: There is a food street there where many local dishes are served.
- Accommodation: There are hotels both inside and outside the scenic area. It's close to West Lake. You can also choose to book a hotel near West Lake.
Nearby Attractions
Meijiawu Tea Plantation is about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) away, which is 10 minutes' drive from Song Dynasty Town. Meijiawu is a good place to experience Chinese tea culture.
West Lake is the highlight in Hangzhou. It is about 24 minutes' drive from Song Dynasty Town.
Tour Song Dynasty Town with Us
See what Hangzhou was like during the Southern Song Dynasty.Are you interested in what Hangzhou was like during the Southern Song Dynasty?
Explore Song Dynasty Town with us, and your local guide will be happy to share the history and stories of the Song Dynasty with you. We will arrange your accommodation, transportation, and anything else according to your requirements. Feel free to make an inquiry and tailor-make your hassle-free tour with us.
