Picturesque West Lake

"If I'm not in a bar, I must be on my way to a bar."

Writer Peter Altenberg's famous remark on his attachment to such establishments reflects the influence of bars in urban life.

Helping create the local ambiance, bars are an important facet of a city that showcase a variety of urban culture. A night out can provide a glimpse into a city's character, especially for tourists, veteran travelers say.

Nanshan Street in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province is one such place on the can't-miss list. While it might not be as famous as Hengshan Road in neighboring Shanghai and Sanlitun Street in Beijing, the street boasts a proximity to picturesque West Lake, cultural heritage sites and a strong artistic atmosphere, giving it a quiet, exquisite charm.

One of the most frequently visited sites in the city by both locals and tourists, the street is lined by plane trees that help impart a poetic and romantic feel.

Its serene pleasures include walking in the shade amid a summer breeze, with occasional glimpses through the trees at glittering ripples on West Lake just a few steps away, or wandering along the autumnal passage covered by fallen leaves

Embracing nearly half the shore, the street and the leisure facilities on it have a closeness with the widely acclaimed lake, scenery no longer seen from afar, but as a part of the experience.

After a walk, visitors can sit in a Nanshan Street bar or caf sipping wine and continue to feast on visual beauty of the lake.

Unlike many bar streets that are deserted in daytime, Nanshan Street is equally appealing in the sun, in particular to art aficionados.

The China Academy of Arts, the first of its kind in the country, is situated on the street among other well-preserved cultural sites. The top art school and its nearby street galleries add a respectful artistic air.

Next door to the school is a bookstore surrounded by a trimmed lawn that inside offers a peaceful world. Between rows of shelves, book browsers are on another kind of journey - of knowledge and imagination.

A string of other cultural sites on or near the street include the city walls built in Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), hundreds of ancient stone inscriptions, the China National Silk Museum and former residences of renowned traditional Chinese painter Pan Tianshou and Soong Mei-ling, wife of late Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek.

In contrast with the historical heritage, Western-style restaurants and Ferrari and Porsche dealerships tell another side of the street's story.

When night falls, flickering lights signal busy hours for bars. From edgy to traditional design, from noisy rock-and-roll to gentle light music, Nanshan Street showcases a variety of enchantment.

As part of an urban renovation project initiated in 2002, the Hanghzou city government invested heavily in revamping public facilities near the street and incorporating scenic spots in a comprehensive development to build the Nanshan Street area into a premium local tourism site.