The Thematic Exhibition Hall of Guotanghang Wharf. [Photo/dskb.cn]

As Guotanghang Wharf boasts almost half of the 1,000-year history of Xixing town, the Thematic Exhibition Hall of Guotanghang Wharf is undoubtedly the best place to learn about the town.

Guohangtang, which means a transshipment warehouse, was mainly responsible for the transshipment of goods and personnel when direct navigation between the Grand Canal and the Qiantang River was impossible in ancient times.

The Guohangtang Wharf in Xixing town, which took shape in the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316), gradually brought the nearby areas to prosperity, where the flow of boats and carts, as well as crowds of merchants transshipping tea, tobacco, herbal medicine, and silk products was a common scene.

The exhibition hall offers visitors a thorough exploration into the rise and fall of local industries, the rich culture of the Grand Canal, the beautiful lyrics and poems created since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), as well as the sages and family traditions that have been long honored.

Outside the exhibition hall is another renowned tourist site – the source of the Grand Canal. [Photo/dskb.cn]

Outside the exhibition hall is another renowned tourist site, the source of the Grand Canal, where visitors can walk through the rocky alleys, enjoy ancient architecture, and observe the remains of the ancient canal.

Free of charge.

Address: No 35 Gutang Road, Binjiang district, Hangzhou

Opening hours: 8:30 to 16:30 on Tuesdays to Sundays