Song Dynasty Town

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Song Dynasty Town (Songcheng) is the largest theme park in Hangzhou, featuring the cultural characteristics of the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD), and also the first theme park built in Zhejiang. With Wuyun Mountain in the north, and West Lake to its northeast, Song Dynasty Town is on the northern bank of the Qiantang River. Its layout and architectural style are based on a precious ancient painting, 'Along the River during the Qingming Festival', which was made by famous painter Zhang Zeduan, displaying the urban landscape and people's living condition of that dynasty.

The theme park is divided into three fields, Performing Songcheng, High-tech Songcheng, and Cultural Songcheng. Performing Songcheng includes the Romance of the Song Dynasty and ten theme shows. High-tech Songcheng has many featured events, such as reproducing area of 'Along the River during the Qingming Festival', two distinguishing haunted houses, and a mysterious street. Using advanced technology, they are all very realistic and mysterious, giving visitors a totally different experience. Cultural Songcheng covers some folk activities, such as traditional workshops, custom shows and Buddhist temples.

 It is a large panoramic show, based on the historical stories and ancient myths of Hangzhou city, featuring dancing and acrobatics. The show has been performed over 17,000 times, and more than 50,000,000 people have enjoyed it. It is praised by overseas media as one of the world's three most famous shows, together with the O Show in Las Vegas and the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

There are five scenes in the whole show. The introductory scene dates back to ancient times, displaying the historical development of Hangzhou city. The first scene exhibits the prosperous living condition of the city during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279 AD), while the second scene tells audiences a story about a general named Yue Fei (1103 - 1142 AD), who was a hero fighting against the dynasty's enemy. The third scene presents the fairytales and beautiful love stories which happened around the West Lake (a famous spot in Hangzhou), and in the last scene audiences are exposed to the charm of modern Hangzhou city.

It is said by the audiences that if you miss this dancing show, then you have not been to Hangzhou. The show is not only a performance, but also a symbol of Hangzhou, representing the city's history and culture.
 In ancient China, daughters of the wealthy families usually chose their husbands by standing on a balcony and throwing an embroidered ball to the crowd. The man who caught the ball would become the girl's husband. You can have the chance to participate in this Chinese traditional event on Urban Street (Shijin Street). Councilor Wang's daughter will be standing upstairs choosing her husband. If you are lucky enough to be the son-in-law of Councilor Wang, you will wear a red traditional wedding coat, bowing to Heaven and Earth with a beautiful wife, which is an important part of the  ancient Chinese marriage custom.
 Using advanced technology, the famous painting 'Along the River during the Qingming Festival' is reproduced on a screen in the Lost City, which is in the northwest of the park. It is like a dynamic scroll. Thousands of different figures together with the dynamic environment represent the prosperous urban scenery during that period to the visitors.
 There are two major haunted houses. One is Startling by Each Step (Bu Bu Jing Xin), the other is The Nightmare of Liao Zhai. The first one is in the Lost City, taking the world's first medical jurisprudence work, Records for Washing Away of Wrong Cases (Xiyuan Lu), as its blueprint, bringing people back to the old time, cracking criminal cases. The Liao Zhai Haunted House, located on Urban Street, consists of ten scenes set up according to a story in The Strange Tales of Liao Zhai and a famous network fiction, which are both horror stories.
 Mysterious Street is on Urban Street. It is based on the dream of Emperor Gaozong of Song. Strange things happen in every room on the street. For example, in the Slanting Room, a wooden ball will roll from the lower position to the higher position; in the Reversing Room, everything is turning upside down; in another mysterious room, people will become invisible.
 The Water-splashing Festival was also called Yufo Festival in old times, and was a ceremony of washing figures of Buddha. It is a traditional custom of the Dai nationality in Yunnan, China, as well. Now it has become a carnival of the park and has been chosen as one of the ten highlights in Hangzhou. At the festival, more than 150 professional actors put on an incredible performance in the Yufo Main Hall.
 In Chinese culture, people are accustomed to attend temple fairs during the Chinese New Year. The Temple Fair here exhibits the traditional Chinese customs to the visitors, such as paper-cutting, couplets, and lantern shows.
 Fire facilitates the process of the human civilization. Therefore, the respect towards the fire is in human's blood. The Torch Festival gives people a platform to express this kind of feeling. There is an incredible performance celebrating this festival, making people return to the original passion.1. Take bus 4, 39, 121, 189, 190, 202, 287, 308, 314, 318, 354, 439 or 1400, and get off at Songcheng (Song Dynasty Town) Station
2. Take bus 121b to Songcheng Dong Station.
3.Take bus 103b, 292, or 334 to Ganyingqiao Nan Station.
4. Take bus 103, 103b, 121b, 121, or 324, and get off at Ganyingqiao Bei Station.
5. Take bus 1406 to Wupuqiao Station.
Hangzhou Bus / Metro Search

 Through free bus
1. Song Dynasty Town (Songcheng) to Recreational Business District (Xiuboyuan)
Monday to Friday: 15:30
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00, 15:30
2. Recreational Business District (Xiuboyuan) to Song Dynasty Town (Songcheng)
Monday to Friday: 16:30
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00, 16:30
 (including ticket for The Romance of the Song Dynasty)

CNY 300

VIP Seat: CNY 310

Luxury Ticket: CNY 480 (Better viewing positions to enjoy the Romance of the Song Dynasty)

CNY 240 for children from 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet).

Free of charge for children under 1.2 meters.

 9:00 – 40 minutes after the last Romance of the Song Dynasty ends
 (Reference only)

Performance	Time	Place
Romance of the Song Dynasty	14:00 – 15:00; 19:20 – 20:20	No.2 Theatre
Knife Throwing	10:40 – 10:50; 13:10 – 13:20; 15:20 – 15:30; 16:30 – 16:40; 18:45 – 18:55	Lijiang Square
Folk Acrobatic	11:00 – 11:15; 16:05 – 16:20; 17:25 – 17:40	Linshui Stage
Daughter of Councilor Wang Throwing Embroidered Ball	12:10 – 12:17; 13:40 – 13:47; 15:10 – 15:17; 16:45 – 16:52; 18:40 – 18:47	House of Councilor Wang
Fengyue Beauties	12:35 – 12:50; 15:25 – 15:40; 17:10 – 17:25	LiuYong Fengyue Pavilion on Songhe East Street
Guozhuang (Tibetan Bonfire Dance)	13:00 – 13:15; 18:55 – 19:10	Liujianfang Square
General Yue Fei &His Army	13:25 – 13:30	Linshui Stage
Ancient Characters Cruising	15:40 – 16:10; 18:00 – 18:30	Urban Street; the whole town
Flash Mob in Ancient Times	16:10 – 16:15; 18:30 – 18:35	Urban Street
Lord Bao Cruising	17:40 – 17:45	Urban Street
Case of Chen Shimei	17:45 – 17:55	Linshui Stage
Incense Taoism	13:00 – 13:15	Songcheng Yaji House
Tea Art Performance	13:30 – 13:40	Songcheng Yaji House

 

Performance	Time	Place
Amusement for Children	12:30 – 12:45	Happy Castle
Chinese Cross Talk	15:00 – 15:20	Songcheng Yaji House
Ikebana	15:30 – 15:40	Songcheng Yaji House
Ancient Imperial Examination	16:00 – 16:30	Songcheng Yaji House

 Meijiawu Tea Plantation

Further Reading: 12 Best Places to Visit in Hangzhou