Hangzhou Spring Festival One-Day Tour (China Academy of Art Xiangshan Campus)

The most beautiful campus, comparable to the likes of Xiamen University and Tsinghua University. After the pandemic, it has finally reopened. Take advantage of the Spring Festival period when it’s less crowded. This place is a convergence of history and culture, a blend of nature and time, and a harmonious fusion of traditional Chinese and modern Western styles.

Here is a carefully curated one-day tour route:
Transportation:
Take Metro Line 6 to the China Academy of Art Xiangshan Campus. Upon exiting the station, you will see the red-brick China International Design Museum.

Parking:
Search “Zhuantang Zhijie Community – Parking Lot(转塘直街小区-停车场)” on Baidu Maps for free parking all day.

China International Design Museum:
Entry requires a separate reservation via the official WeChat account or tickets can be purchased on-site for 20 RMB per person. The museum houses numerous Bauhaus artworks and modernist pieces by Pierre Jeanneret. Exhibits include interior decorations, everyday appliances, and over 30,000 pieces of Italian menswear and 700 movie posters. The main building, designed by Álvaro Siza, features a picturesque old camphor tree against a red-brick backdrop.

School of Design and Art (Building 19):
Home to the Art Design Research Center for the Hangzhou Asian Games. The exterior, designed by Pritzker Prize winner Wang Shu, features a distinctive tile wall typical of Eastern Zhejiang. The window designs create framed views, complemented by orange bamboo decorations. The sloping roofs and scenic corridors make it a photogenic spot, though students inside often find it cold in winter.

China Academy of Art Folk Art Museum:
Another masterpiece by renowned designer Kengo Kuma. The diamond-shaped building is constructed with steel frames and mesh, displaying traditional crafts like dyeing, shadow puppetry, woodworking, lacquer art, ceramics, and weaving. It reflects the cultural heritage and lifestyle of ancient China.

Waterfront Residence:
This wooden mortise-and-tenon structure, located near the academy’s green locomotive and main dining hall, is Wang Shu’s crowning achievement at the Xiangshan campus. Known as an experimental building, it houses a high-end restaurant with dishes priced in the hundreds. Seating is limited, and private rooms may require reservations.