In ancient times, the land traffic was inconvenient, but the waterway traffic was very developed, and the areas near the docks and ports were relatively prosperous. Historically, Gaochun was a famous land of plenty.
Xichun Old Street is close to Guanxi River, the busiest waterway in Gaochun at that time. In the Song Dynasty, ships docked at Guanxi River Pier for several miles, which has always been one of the rice markets with the same reputation as Wuhu and Wuxi.
Guanxi River connects Wuhu and Anqing to Suzhou and Hangzhou, which is the closest and safest throat waterway from Suzhou and Hangzhou in Taihu Lake system to Anhui, Jiangxi and Hubei in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
There are many goods from north to south and merchants from east and west gather on the dock, which is a place with frequent commercial activities. Because of the prosperity of the old street business, other industries that provide services for commercial activities have also developed rapidly. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the old street has become a commercial street with the characteristics of Jiangnan water town, integrating commerce, food and customs.
Extended data:
Gaochun old street was founded in the Ming Dynasty. After more than 500 years of continuous building blocks in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it gradually formed a street more than 800 meters long, with a history of more than 900 years.
It is the best-preserved ancient street of Ming and Qing Dynasties in East China, with the reputation of the second Confucius Temple in Jinling and the first ancient street in Jinling. On both sides of the old street, there are pieces of Ming and Qing architecture. The total length of the old street is more than 800 meters. Because of its zigzag shape, it is also called a word street.
White walls and blue tiles, cornices upturned. Modeling has both Anhui Huizhou style and distinctive local traditional style, which is antique. What is more distinctive is that the middle of Laojie Road is paved with pink rouge stones.
Surrounded by blue stones vertically on both sides, the whole street is bright, neat, beautiful and harmonious in color. After 800 years of wind and rain, people are still strong and durable.
There are many shops on both sides of the old street, and there are more than 300 existing shops, showing a face-to-face style. The building is a brick-wood structure with two floors. As long as you manage local specialties, you can rarely see tourist souvenirs, and there is also a lack of impetuous business atmosphere.
Baidu Encyclopedia-gaochun old street