Birland is the latest construction to the Liangzhu Culture Village. Photo:Jin Yingying

The "Grand Barn" is one of the iconic attractions of the complex.

Places

The latest construction to the Liangzhu Culture Village, the Birland (玉鸟集), is opened to the public on May 19. Spanning approximately 21,000 sqm, this commercial complex carefully preserves the original essence and memories and is expected to become a new artistic landmark in Hangzhou.

The complex has introduced over 100 brands catering for the needs of social interaction, art experience, cultural consumption and daily lives, including the reopened Liangzhu Villager's Canteen and a newly opened pet-friendly Starbucks.

Designed by the renowned Chinese architect Liu Yichun, the "Grand Barn" stands as one of the iconic attractions with cultural significance. Most of the traditional barns are made of wood. The architect combines the modern clear water concrete architecture with the traditional Chinese double-pitched roof and beam-column structure, successfully incorporating the Zen spirit of the Chinese architecture into the simplicity of modern architecture.

Within the "barn", the OW Space has inaugurated its first bookstore in Yuhang district. As a comprehensive cultural and creative institution, the OW Space has been devoted to physical cultural spaces, original content publishing, cultural salons, and creative gifts. Unlike its first Hangzhou branch in the Grand Canal Place, this bookstore will feature architectural design, life aesthetics, and archaeological anthropology in addition to humanities and social sciences. The furniture within the store is highly flexible, with 90% of it being movable on wheels, enabling the space to transform into a café, an area for activities and exchanges, or even a book bar, so as to adapt to various needs.

Yang Liping Art Picture Image Exhibition has recently commenced at the museum located at the Birland which is named after the Spirit of Peacock, a masterpiece created by the Chinese legendary dancer Yang Liping. This exhibition showcases a collection of classic stills and audiovisual works, documenting the artistic journey of Yang over her 50-year career, providing a glimpse into the artist's captivating journey through the use of light and shadow. The displayed photos offer a retrospective review of Yang's stage career, capturing the beauty of her performances immortalized on films.

The Birland would be an ideal rendezvous for you as a hipster, and accompanying the Liangzhu Life and Birland Art Festival ongoing from May 19 to 31 there are also a diverse range of performance activities, including jazz, folk, improvised live theater, choirs, concerts, and theater tours.