Qi Long Alley, the 'internet-famous' street in Chun'an, is known as the 'Little Chongqing' by Qiandao Lake

In 1959, when the Xin'an River Hydropower Station closed its gates for water storage, the ancient cities of Chun'an and Sui'an, which had existed for a thousand years, were submerged under dozens of meters of water. The two counties merged, and the county government relocated to the Pailing Peninsula, which corresponded to the underwater ancient city. Within a year, the people of Chun'an used the only 4 million yuan in construction funds to carve out the embryonic form of a county town on the barren mountains, and in November 1965, Pailing Town was officially established. It was renamed Qiandao Lake Town in 1991. Qi Long Alley, the popular small street, was born after the completion of the Xin'an River Reservoir. A skyward bluestone staircase, flanked by closely arranged buildings, forms Qi Long Alley, filled with the childhood memories of the people of Chun'an. At the upper end is a road, and at the lower entrance is also a road. Stepping into it is like being in Chongqing, which is why many people like to describe this alley as 'Little Chongqing of Qiandao'. There are two explanations for the name 'Qi Long Alley'. One is that the terrain of Pailing Peninsula resembles a dragon emerging from the water, and the alley is situated right on the dragon's spine; the other is that the winding and rugged terrain of the alley resembles a dragon coiling around the town. The 122 steps of Qi Long Alley record the various facets of life of the old people of Chun'an. On the side of the steps is written a line of small characters - 'Step on the steps of the alley, find yourself again.' In 2019, Qi Long Alley underwent a complete 'makeover', with street stalls on the side of the alley replaced by modern shops, and the alley's sense of layering changed from single to rich. What faded was the old decay, but what remained unchanged were the memories that settled. The reborn alley, in the name of a slow life leisure district, has returned and become a new landmark for tourism in Qiandao Lake. On both sides of the alley, memories are still preserved in the form of ancient books, old toys, daily necessities, and special snacks, reflecting the warmth of the city. The arrival of artistic shops such as art galleries, cafes, tea houses, bars, reading rooms, creative trendy toys, and intangible cultural heritage experience halls injects new vitality into the alley. The everyday life of the market and the modern prosperity blend seamlessly. Why not take a few good friends and stroll through Qi Long Alley, casually wander the night market, feel the old street stories at will, taste the Qiandao Lake in a cup, and savor the Qiandao Lake in a pastry... 📍Detailed address: Qi Long Alley, Qiandao Lake Town, Chun'an County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province Ticket price: Free ⏳Time reference: 1 hour