Shaoxing Cangqiao Straight Street | An ancient street filled with the charm of Jiangnan

Shaoxing Cangqiao Straight Street is located on the east side of Fushan, with a total length of 1.5 kilometers, consisting of rivers, residential buildings, and stone-paved roads. The residences are mostly built at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, representing the typical 'one river with five streets' pattern in Shaoxing city, as well as many well-preserved local characteristic Tai Men, embodying the rich Jiangnan water town style. In 2003, it received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The old street starts from Shengli West Road in the north and reaches Lu Xun West Road in the south, successively lined with traditional ancient stone bridges such as Cang Bridge, Longmen Bridge, Baozhu Bridge, Fu Bridge, and Shimen Bridge. There are 43 various Tai Men, collectively reflecting the traditional architectural features and folk customs of Shaoxing. Blue bricks, black tiles, old streets, Tai Men, black-awning boats, and stone path alleys create the unique charm of Cangqiao Straight Street. In Shaoxing, any house that looks a bit decent can be called a Tai Men. Tai Men is often the place where clans live together, and it was originally an honorific term for the residences of people with certain status and social position. Cangqiao Straight Street is very accessible. You can walk from the F exit of the subway City Square Station, or drive to the straight street parking lot. The main entrance is the starting point of the street, flanked by small shops offering a dazzling array of items, including stinky tofu, pickled goods, pastries, fermented rice wine, and innovative yellow wine coffee, among others. At some popular spots, you even need to queue up! The straight street is for strolling and eating, while the opposite side of the river is for living, with guesthouses generally located there. Among them is the well-situated Dongyue Li residence, with its advantageous location; the cover photo is taken from the viewing platform of this hotel, with several other guesthouses nearby. Along both sides of the river is a loop that brings you back to the starting point. After exploring the straight street, you can visit the nearby Fushan Park and Shaoxing Museum, where nature and culture blend perfectly.