Wulin Square, a symbol of Hangzhou's bustling commercial district

Every city has a square that is well-known to locals. In Shanghai, it's People's Square; in Chengdu, it's Tianfu Square; in Nanjing, it's Xinjiekou Square; in Ningbo, it's Tianyi Square; in Nanchang, it's Bayi Square... For Hangzhou locals, the most familiar square is Wulin Square. According to historical records, since the Qin Dynasty, the area around Lingyin and Tianzhu was known for tigers, hence the name "Hulin" (Tiger Forest). However, in the Hangzhou dialect, "Hu" (Tiger) and "Wu" (Martial) sound similar, and over time, it evolved into "Wulin" (Martial Forest), which was established during the Tang Dynasty. Wulin Square is located on the north side of West Lake in Gongshu District, Hangzhou. It is a symbol of Hangzhou's bustling commercial district, surrounded by Zhejiang Exhibition Hall, Telecom Building, Hangzhou Tower, Hangzhou Theater, Hangzhou International Building, Hangzhou Department Store, and more. The Eight Maidens Musical Fountain in the center of the square is its most prominent landmark. In the past, the area around Wulin Square was farmland and ponds owned by suburban farmers, known as "Xiaobeimen" (Little North Gate), and was relatively desolate. In 1969, it was called "Red Sun Square." In 1978, it was renamed Wulin Square because it was near Wulin Gate. In the new century, with the emergence of Qianjiang New City, Hangzhou transitioned from the "West Lake Era" to the "Qiantang River Era." A new CBD emerged, and countless commercial complexes sprang up like mushrooms after rain, diverting the former prosperity of the Wulin commercial district. At the end of 2015, with the return of the "New Eight Maidens" Musical Fountain, the Wulin commercial district was revitalized, showcasing what is known as the "Center of the Universe." The "Ginkgo Elevator," considered the most romantic by Hangzhou locals, is located at the escalator of the sky bridge at Hangzhou Tower C in Wulin Square (Figure 5). In mid-December, the ginkgo trees turn golden, and riding the escalator through a sea of yellow makes it hard to distinguish between reality and dreams. 📍Detailed address: North side of West Lake, Gongshu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang ⏳Recommended time: 1 hour