Dongguan Historical and Cultural Tourism Area

Dongguan Historical and Cultural Tourism Area

Dongguan Historical and Cultural Tourism Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Dongguan Street is the most representative historic old street in Yangzhou. It stretches 1,122 meters from the ancient canal in the east to National Day Road in the west, with its original road surface paved with long flagstones. In the past, it was not only a key hub for both land and water transport in Yangzhou, but also a center for commerce, handicrafts, and religious culture. The street was bustling with activity, lined with numerous shops offering a full range of trades and thriving businesses. There were nearly a hundred businesses in categories such as grain and cereal merchants, oil and rice mills, fresh fish markets, fresh produce vendors, fruit and melon sellers, and bamboo and wood dealers.

The “time-honored brands” on Dongguan Street include Si Mei Sauce Shop, established in 1817; Xie Fu Chun Perfume Shop, founded in 1830; Pan Guang He Hardware Store, opened in 1862; Xia Guang Sheng Tofu Shop, established in 1901; Chen Tong Xing Shoe Store, founded in 1909; Qian Da Chang Paper Shop, opened in 1912; Zhen Tai Chang Perfume Shop, established in 1923; Zhang Hong Xing Pawnshop, founded in 1936; Qing Feng Tea Snacks Shop, established in 1938; Si Liu Chun Teahouse, founded in 1940; Xie Feng Grocery Store, founded in 1941; Ling Da Xing Tea Snacks Shop, founded in 1945; Fu Ji Pawnshop, established in 1946. In addition, there were other notable shops such as Zhou Guang Xing Hat Shop, Heng Mao Oil and Hemp Store, Shun Tai Grocery Store, Heng Tai Xiang Dye Shop, and Zhu De Ji Flour Shop. Dongguan Street was a hub for Yangzhou’s handicraft industry, with many family-run workshops combining storefronts and production spaces lining the entire street—such as Fan Shun Xing Umbrella Shop, Cao Shun Xing Basket and Signboard Shop, Sun Zhu Chen Lacquerware Workshop, Yuan Tai Xiang Candy Shop, Sun Ji Jade Workshop, and Dong Hou He Sock Factory.

Closely connected to Dongguan Street is the Dong Quan Men Ancient District. The two streets have now been integrated into a unified plan for development, preservation, and revitalization, further highlighting the exceptional cultural charm of Yangzhou as a historic city. In addition to time-honored shops, this area is also home to numerous historical relics and cultural sites, including Ge Garden, Yi Pu, and the Wang Family Villa. It also features some of Yangzhou’s earliest educational institutions, such as Guangling Academy, Anding Academy, and Yi Dong School, as well as the Wudang Palace from the Ming Dynasty, the Zhunti Temple from the Ming Dynasty, and the mosque in Ma Jian Alley built in the 53rd year of the Ming Kangxi reign (1714). At the western end of Dongguan Street stands a highly popular Temple of the God of Wealth, and at the entrance of Guang Chu Men Street is a brick archway inscribed with the four large characters “Sheng Shi Yan Guan” (Prosperous Times, Grand Pass).

The Dongguan Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall is located inside the Dongguan City Tower and was opened to the public in February 2013. Entering the exhibition hall from the south wing entrance of the tower, visitors first see a brick gatehouse with the inscription “Sheng Shi Yan Guan” on its lintel, set against the backdrop of Dongguan Street. The exhibition hall is divided into sections covering the Millennium History of Dongguan Street, the City Gate Ruins and Water System, Government Offices and Guildhalls, Temples and Ancestral Halls, Former Residences of Notable Figures, Time-Honored Brands and Crafts, Academies and Schools, and Legendary Stories. The “Government Offices and Guildhalls” section introduces the deep connections between the Lianghuai Salt Transport Administration and the prosperity of Dongguan Street, with a focus on historical facts about figures such as Lin Zexu, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and Zuo Zongtang, who oversaw Lianghuai salt administration. The “Temples and Ancestral Halls” section features a dark red backdrop typical of temple decor, showcasing sculptures representing different religions found within the Dongguan Street area, reflecting the architectural characteristics of Yangzhou during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The time-honored brand displays present historical materials on shops such as Si Mei Sauce Shop and Xie Fu Chun. The “Academies and Schools” section uses statues to depict teaching scenes at the Yi Dong School; the “Former Residences of Notable Figures” exhibit recreates, using phantom imaging technology, the scene of Zeng Guofan attending a theatrical performance at Hu Garden, with couplets by He Lian Fang on both sides of the stage wishing Zeng a happy 60th birthday: “Songs and dances before and after, thrice blessed in this land; rising from general to minister, peerless in our age.” A wedding procession featuring over 200 vividly colored figurines from the “Tian Xiu Ying’s Wedding” is a spectacular sight, remarkable for its large scale and exquisite craftsmanship. The final part of the exhibition uses a “peep-show” style on a map of the Dongguan area, allowing visitors to view scenic spots through small round holes. Additionally, there is a statue depicting Fang Di Shan, known as the “Sage of Couplet Writing,” who once composed couplets on Dongguan Street.