An aerial photo of the Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block in Gongshu district, Hangzhou. [Photo/Yu Wenhua for Zhejiang Daily]

The national Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the second batch of lists of national-level tourism and leisure blocks on March 1, with three locations in Zhejiang province being selected. The Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block in Gongshu district was the only place in Hangzhou to make the list.

The block is located west of Gongchen Bridge on the Grand Canal. It allows visitors to experience the modern industrial culture, popular residential culture, and warehousing culture from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to the liberation period.

Visitors can also immerse themselves in intangible cultural heritage by visiting the Handicrafts Exhibition Hall.

Intangible cultural heritage items are exhibited. [Photo/Yu Wenhua for Zhejiang Daily]

During the 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the block welcomed more than 280,000 visitors. During this year's Spring Festival, passenger flow increased by 135.5 percent over the previous year, according to official statistics.

"Next, we will establish more museums, build a number of Grand Canal museums, and further enhance the Grand Canal's cultural identity, brand image, and reputation," said an official at Gongshu's bureau of tourism, culture, radio, television, and sports.