After thousands of years of accumulation, Dongguan Street in Yangzhou has left behind rich historical relics and cultural relics, making it the best preserved commercial ancient street among cities along the Grand Canal in China.
In the Tang Dynasty, Yangzhou won the reputation of being the "number one commercial port in Southeast China" and was known as the "Yang Yi Er" in the world; And Lijin Ancient Ferry (now known as Dongguan Ancient Ferry) was the busiest transportation hub in Yangzhou at that time. With the dock, there is a street market. The convenience of boats and the busyness of water transportation have catalyzed a bustling ancient street with dense commerce and thriving popularity - Dongguan Street.

Dongguan Street has a relatively complete Ming and Qing architectural complex and a "fishbone shaped" street and alley system, maintaining and inheriting the traditional style and characteristics of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is 1122 meters long and has more than 50 famous people's former residences, salt merchant mansions, temple gardens, ancient trees and wells, and other important historical relics within the street. This diverse and vibrant spatial pattern of "river (canal), city (gate), and street (Dongguan Street)" reflects the unique charm of Jiangnan Canal City.

Dongguan Street is still a commercial hub in Yangzhou, with a concentration of traditional handicrafts, specialty snacks, and old commercial brands.

The streets and alleys of Yangzhou are ancient, appearing deep and profound

Watching this street is not only lively in history, but also so lively now. There are time-honored brands and century old shops in commerce, various gardens and temples in historical sites, and various academies and schools in culture. The old house has the former residences of various celebrities.

'Leather wrapped water' refers to morning tea; 'Water foreskin' refers to taking a bath in a public bathroom.

The custom of "wrapping oneself in water in the morning and wrapping oneself in water in the afternoon" has been passed down among the people in Yangzhou. 'Leather wrapped water' refers to morning tea. When the body lacks water in the morning, Yangzhou people like to go to tea houses together to drink a pot of tea, which is to wrap the 'skin' with 'water'.

Eating morning tea is a highly ceremonial activity. It is necessary to choose a favorite teahouse, a private seat near the window, make a cup of tea, order a basket of Dim sum, steamed stuffed buns, Shaomai, and Qianceng Cake, which will soften your heart.

'Water foreskin' refers to soaking a person in water while bathing in a public bathroom, with the water covering the skin. This is a vivid description of taking a shower, which not only allows for bathing, but also for rubbing the back, trimming the feet, chatting, and nourishing the mind. Relax in the steaming mist and negotiate with old friends. Get rid of the fatigue on your body and go back relaxed.

The streets and alleys of Yangzhou are narrow, appearing small and quiet in the narrowness

There are many private residences on Dongguan Street, and the famous individual garden is located here. Within the towering courtyard walls, there are Lan Zhu Shan Shi, Shui Xie Ge Tai, and winding paths leading to secluded places.

In fact, as a tourist attraction, the residential buildings on Dongguan Street are also worth a visit. They have not changed their original pace of life due to the development of tourism. We can feel the historical atmosphere of the ancient city of Yangzhou from them. Walking slowly on Dongguan Street, there are occasional passersby rushing, either walking or cycling. We can see the real clothing, food, and housing of Yangzhou people, and listen to what they are saying and doing. The residents of Yangzhou are simple and hospitable. They often take the initiative to greet you and even warmly guide you.

There are three significant characteristics of the streets and alleys in Yangzhou: firstly, they are numerous and peculiar. According to research, there are 108 crisscrossing, interconnected, and diverse streets and alleys in less than one square kilometer of the area; Secondly, it is short and narrow, with a typical street width of around three meters and a roadway width of only one to two meters. The length is roughly between one to two hundred meters and fifty to sixty meters, with the shortest being only twenty to thirty meters. The narrow alley with a width of less than one meter is vividly referred to as the "one person alley". Therefore, the folk saying goes: 'One person in the alley, one person in the alley, one person walking and one person yielding'; The third one is winding and secluded, with varying lengths of streets and alleys, big and small. The streets and alleys are winding and connected, and the inside and outside are interconnected. Therefore, there is a folk song in Yangzhou City: "In Yangzhou City, the alleys are deep, households to households, doors to doors, and families inside and outside the door. When you open the door in the morning and ask for help, although the alleys are narrow, they do not hinder people. Pedestrians passing by are three tenths polite

Walking on this road paved with long slabs of stone feels like crossing over. The shops on the road are also authentic.

The famous ancient alley Dongguan Street has allowed me to witness the rich cultural scenery of ancient Yangzhou City, understand the long history and culture of Yangzhou, and feel the tranquil charm of Yangzhou City for thousands of years. On the scattered stone walls in the streets and alleys, every antique stone brick is filled with the mottled traces of thousands of years of changes, making me intoxicated. Here, I truly understand what it means to have "ancient traditional culture and modern civilization complement each other".