Shuidong Street & Hejiang Tower
水东街·合江楼
An arcade-lined old street at the confluence of the Dong and Xizhi Rivers, plus the rebuilt Hejiang Tower. Su Dongpo once lived here, and today it is Huizhou's liveliest night market and bar district.
Shuidong Street lies in Qiaodong, Huicheng District, right by the confluence of the Dong and Xizhi Rivers and facing West Lake across the water. Formed in the late Qing and early Republican era, it is an arcade street about 700 meters long, lined with three- to four-story buildings that blend Chinese and Western styles. After renovations in the 2010s, it became Huizhou's most popular historic district. During the day you can admire the arcade facades and time-honored shops. After dusk, bars, cafés, grill stalls and creative boutiques open, and there are markets and performances on weekends. At the west end stands Hejiang Tower, Huizhou's landmark. It was originally the northeast corner tower of Huizhou's city wall in the Song dynasty. When Su Dongpo was exiled to Huizhou, he first lived in Hejiang Tower and wrote: “Sea and mountains lush and green, what a fine air; where the two rivers meet, a vermilion tower opens.” The current tower was rebuilt in 2006 in Ming-Qing style. It is about 47 meters high with seven stories, and from the top you can overlook the confluence of the two rivers and the full view of West Lake (climbing ticket about 20 yuan). The Dong River bank below Hejiang Tower is the best spot for Huizhou's night views; across the river are the Dongpo Shrine and the old city wall. Recommended route: in the early evening, walk from the east gate of West Lake across Dongxin Bridge to Hejiang Tower, climb it and watch the sunset, then browse the Shuidong Street night market for salt-baked chicken, stuffed tofu and Dong River seafood, and finish with a stroll along the riverbank. Getting there: take a bus to the “Shuidong Street” or “Hejiang Tower” stop; it is about a 15-minute walk from West Lake. Notes: streets are crowded on weekend nights and motor vehicles struggle to enter. The second floors of the arcade buildings are mostly homes, so do not enter them without permission. Check on-site notices for the opening hours of the Hejiang Tower climb and the Dongpo Shrine.
Opening hours
Open all day (Hejiang Tower climb approx. 09:00–21:00)
Nearby sights
- Dongpo Memorial Temple at Baihefeng
- Huizhou West Lake
- Chaojing Gate & Huizhou City Wall
- Yuanmiao Taoist Temple
- Huizhou Museum
- Honghua Lake
- Gaobang Mountain & Guabang Pavilion
- Hallstatt (China)