Hubu Alley

 

General Information of the Hubu Alley

Chinese Name: 户部巷 Pronunciation: hù bù xiàng

Recommended Time for Visit: 2 Hours

Best Visiting Season: All year round

Admission Ticket Fare: Free

Opening Hours: All year round

Length: About 150 meters

Building Time: In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Address: Ziyou Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

Popular Activities: Many time-honored Wuhan specialty snacks are served

Building Function: Commuters bought breakfast in the past. Now it develops into a gathering place offering a variety of Wuhan specialties and handicrafts.

 

Brief Introduction of the Hubu Alley

Located in Wuchang District, the Hubu Alley borders Shili Long Street to the east, the Yangtze River to the west, the Yellow Crane Tower to the south, and the scenic spot of Dufudi to the north. The Hubu Alley was originally 147 meters long and 3 meters wide in history. After years of construction, it has been transformed into an integrated street with the middle section of Ziyou Road, the west section of Minzhu Road, and the south section of Dufudi.
 

The Hubu Alley was clearly marked in an ancient map during the reign of Emperor Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1522-1566), implying its long history of at least 400 years. An official department in charge of finance and food (with similar function of the Ministry of Finance, Hubu) stood at the east end of this alley in the past. Then the name of this alley is developed into “Hubu” Alley.
 

From the 1980s to the 1990s, the Hubu Alley was close to the wharf and was served as the starting station and terminal of many buses. Many commuters took the ferry across the river to work before having breakfast here. With a large stream of people, the Hubu Alley gradually became a gathering place offering various specialties, including Wuhan Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste (热干面), Doupi (a pan-fired delicacy of glutinous rice and minced meat), etc. It is reputed as the “Wuhan Flavor Snacks Street”.

 

History of the Hubu Alley

In 2002, the government of Wuchang District, Wuhan City, decided to implement five people-friendly projects focusing on “breakfast, health, employment, anti-theft, and assistance”.
 

In 2003, as one of the pilots, the Hubu Alley was built into the first alley of Wuhan-flavored breakfast. Through renovation, the alley presented a style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After that, the government built a gate-tower of the Hubu Alley and a breakfast cultural wall with 19 meters in length and 3 meters in height. The number of proprietors increased from 12 to 43.
 

The second phase of renovation started in early 2004 and was basically completed after four months. The government renovated the middle section of Ziyou Road (the archway to the intersection of Dufudi Road) and incorporated it into the Hubu Alley. The number of proprietors increased to 123.
 

In 2006, the Hubu Alley was widened from three meters to about eight meters, with 187 businesses. Many famous snacks from various places in China were incorporated.
 

In 2009, the Wuchang District government incorporated the western section of Minzhu Road into the Hubu Alley. It also built some cultural facilities, such as the Cai Lin Ji Bronze Statue (a statute in honor of the founder of Wuhan Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste) and an opera stage. At the same time, it introduced more delicacy snacks, such as Wuhan Xinnong Beef and Cai Lin Ji (a brand of Wuhan Hot-Dry Noodles).
 

In 2011, the government carried out the fifth renovation of the Hubu Alley. It improved tourist facilities and planned to build a souvenir street. The total number of businesses was increased by more than 30.

 

Recommended Local Flavor to Try and the Highlights

Cai Lin Ji

Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste is a representative of Wuhan snacks. Wuhan Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste, together with Shanxi Sliced Noodles, Lanzhou Noodles with Beef, Beijing Noodles with Fried Sauce, Guangdong Yifu Noodles and Sichuan Dandan Noodles, are collectively referred to as “China’s Six Famous Noodles”.
 

Cai Lin Ji is a famous brand of Wuhan Hot-Dry Noodles in the Hubu Alley. To make Hot-Dry Noodles, the chef needs to cook the noodles first, then scoop them up and mix them with oil, and let it cool. Before it is served, sesame paste, dried shrimps, diced radish in sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, and other condiments are added. Cai Lin Ji’s special snacks also include sesame pan-fried buns, steamed dumplings with soup, and meat wontons, etc., which can be served with Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste.
 

In 1945, Cai Mingwei, the inventor of Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste founded Cai Lin Ji. This name was developed because there were two trees in front of his noodle restaurant at that time (indicating the business would flourish). The bronze statue at the gate of the restaurant now was erected to commemorate the founder of Cai Lin Ji.
 

In June 2011, Cai Lin Ji’s techniques for making Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste were added to the provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
 

The Cultural Street

The Cultural Street is located at the west end of Minzhu Road. It is 500 meters long, starting from the Simenkou Footbridge to the border of the Yangtze River. The buildings on the whole street present a style of the early Republic of China, with blue-grey bricks, wooden doors and windows, and old-fashioned streetlamps, reflecting a strong image of classical folk culture. Crossing the street, you can find many shops selling various handicrafts, antique jade wares, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings. There are also art performances of handcrafts such as paper-cutting and paintings with sugar.

 

Story of Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste

In the early 1930s, there was a vendor named Li Bao in Hankou. The usual noodle soup was characterized by light flavor and white noodles. However, Li Bao added sesame oil, vinegar, chili oil, and other seasonings to the noodle soup for innovation. But this was questioned by others.
 

On an extremely hot day, he was afraid that the noodles would become rotten, so he cooked and dried it again. But he accidentally knocked over the oil pot and poured sesame oil on the noodles. Seeing this, Li Bao had no choice but to mix the noodles with oil.
 

The next morning, Li Bao sold noodles as usual, but this time he used the oiled noodles. However, to his surprise, people rushed to buy it. When someone asked what noodles he was selling, he blurted out “Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste”. Cai Lin Ji Hot-Dry Noodles with Sesame Paste was developed from it.

 

Suggested Travel Route

Enter from the West Gate of the Hubu Alley → Wuhan Snacks Floor→ Cultural Corridor → Cultural Wall → Exit from the East Gate

 

How to Get to the Hubu Alley

By Bus

South Gate: Take bus 14, 15, 521, 572, 514, 717, 804, 530 outer ring, or 520 inner ring and get off at the Minzhu Road Simenkou Station.

North Gate: Take bus 14, 15, 515, 521, 572, or 916 and get off at the Zhonghua Road Station.

West Gate: Take bus 14, 15, 521, 572, 916, 539, 578, 607, 717, or 804 and get off at the Linjiang Avenue Hanyangmen Station.
 

By Subway

No subway within 500 meters.

By Ferry

Take a ferry and get off at Zhonghua Road Wharf and Ferry Station.

By Taxi   

Chinese: 请带我去户部巷。English: Please take me to the Hubu Alley.

If you go to the Hubu Alley from the center of Wuhan (Starway Hotel in Wuhan International Conference & Exhibition Center), it takes about 25 minutes (about 25 yuan).

If you go to the Hubu Alley from the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, it takes about 55 minutes (about 90 yuan).

If you go to the Hubu Alley from Wuhan Railway Station, it takes about 50 minutes (about 55 yuan).

If you go to the Hubu Alley from Hankou Railway Station, it takes about 50 minutes (about 50 yuan).

If you go to the Hubu Alley from Wuchang Railway Station, it takes about 15 minutes (about 15 yuan).