Yuanpu Ferry Terminal
The Yuanpu Ferry is one of the remaining key livelihood routes on the Qiantang River, connecting Yuanpu in Shuangpu Town, Xihu District with Wenyan Subdistrict in Xiaoshan District. On the opposite bank stands Wenyan Wharf, and together they form one of the few ferry crossings in Hangzhou’s main urban section that still operate on a regular basis.
Although the Fifth and Seventh Qiantang River Bridges are now open to traffic, the ferry continues to serve both banks as a public-benefit route. Residents can cross the river in just 15 minutes, without taking a detour over the bridges, greatly reducing commuting time. Vegetable farmers from Shuangpu often board the ferry before dawn, carrying fresh produce to sell at the Wenyan Old Street Market, while traders from Xiaoshan bring daily goods across the river in return. For decades, this exchange has maintained the flow of goods and livelihoods between the two banks.
Yuanpu Ferry Schedule
(Route: Yuanpu Ferry Terminal ↔ Wenyan Wharf)
From the early hand-rowed and wooden boats to the current iron ferries that can carry 60–80 passengers, the vessels have been continually upgraded, yet the ferrymen’s steadfast duty of “seeing passengers off and welcoming them back” has remained unchanged. Today, the ferry terminal has also been incorporated into the “Beautiful Ferry” revitalization project, harmonizing with Wenyan Old Street’s riverfront scenery and river-fresh cuisine, preserving both the convenience of daily life and the vivid human warmth along the Qiantang River.
