Dongguan Street

Dongguan Street

Dongguan Street is 1,122 meters long and about 5 meters wide, located in the northeast corner of the ancient city of Yangzhou. It got its name because the street runs straight from west to east, leading directly to the Dongguan City Gate—or to the Dongguan Ancient Ferry. The original road surface was paved with long flagstones. This street was not only a key hub for both land and water transportation in the historical ancient city of Yangzhou, but also a center for commerce, handicrafts, and religious culture.

During the Qing Dynasty, Yangzhou was known as having "the finest gardens under heaven," and many outstanding classical gardens still remain today. Dongguan Street is also home to a number of such gardens. Among them, Ge Garden is widely renowned as the oldest, best-preserved, and most artistically valuable garden in Yangzhou. Also on Dongguan Street are gardens such as Hu Garden and Yipu, which can be considered top-tier examples of garden design.

In the past, Dongguan Street bustled with markets and shops, offering a full range of trades and thriving businesses. There were nearly a hundred businesses in categories such as grain dealers, oil and rice mills, fresh fish sellers, assorted seafood vendors, fruit and melon sellers, and bamboo and timber merchants. The street was also home to many time-honored businesses, including Simei Sauce Workshop (established in 1817), Xiefuchun Perfume Shop (1830), Pan Guanghe Hardware Store (1862), Xia Guangsheng Tofu Shop (1901), Chen Tongxing Shoes Shop (1909), Qian Dachang Paper Shop (1912), Zhen Taichang Perfume Shop (1923), Zhang Hongxing Pawnshop (1936), Qingfeng Tea Snacks Shop (1938), Siliuchun Teahouse (1940), Xiefeng Grocery Store (1941), Ling Daxing Tea Snacks Shop (1945), Fuji Pawnshop (1946), as well as Zhou Guangxing Hat Shop, Hengmao Oil and Hemp Shop, Shuntai Grocery Store, Hengtaixiang Dyestuff Shop, and Zhudeji Flour Shop. The street was also a hub for the city’s handicraft industry, with many family-run workshops combining storefronts and production spaces, such as Fan Shunxing Umbrella Shop, Cao Shunxing Basket and Signboard Workshop, Sun Zhuchen Lacquerware Workshop, Yuantaixiang Candy Shop, Sunji Jade Workshop, and Dong Houhe Sock Factory.

Currently, the Changle Inn, reconstructed from historic residences such as the Li Changle Former Residence, Yipu, and the Hua Family Garden, has taken initial shape. This inn is a high-end cultural-themed hotel with distinctive Yangzhou-style residential architecture, covering an area of approximately 1.67 hectares. It has nearly 100 guest rooms and offers comprehensive supporting facilities such as a conference center, dining options, and a café. It is set to become a quintessential five-star garden-style hotel, highly representative of both Dongguan Street and all of Yangzhou.

Dongguan Street is home to various time-honored enterprises in Yangzhou. Examples include “the century-old brand Lüyangchun Tea,” Xiefuchun, known as “China’s first cosmetics brand,” the long-renowned traditional specialty product “Sanhe Simi” sauces, as well as the “Xiemao Pharmacy,” the earliest recorded pharmacy in Yangzhou, and “Daqing Salt Shop.”

In terms of arts and crafts, Dongguan Street will introduce modern businesses with cultural sophistication to enhance the project's depth and vitality. These include shops selling traditional Yangzhou cultural goods such as lacquerware, jade artifacts, paper-cuttings, carvings, guqin (a traditional Chinese zither), and zheng (another type of Chinese zither). A large collection of unique specialty items aims to allow visitors to experience the distinctive craftsmanship and dedication of Yangzhou artisans.

In the antique category, there are already a number of antique shops established on Dongguan Street, including over 10 dealing in calligraphy, paintings, jade, lacquerware, etc., such as Guyi Gallery. Additionally, more than 20 antique shops are currently under renovation. Dongguan Street has now become an influential antique trading market in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, with around 150 shops.

For specialty dining, the focus is on Yangzhou cuisine, promoting Huaiyang dishes. The food scene on Dongguan Street has become a new image of Yangzhou’s culinary offerings. Alongside this, leisure-oriented non-traditional dining options have been introduced to better suit the tastes of younger generations. Huaiyang cuisine itself represents the history and culture of Yangzhou, allowing visitors to also enjoy the city’s unique traditional culture while dining and relaxing.

Moreover, Dongguan Street will feature convenience stores, teahouses, and cafés to meet the needs of visitors.

The Shuangdong Historical Block is planned and constructed under the specific responsibility of Yangzhou Famous City Company. Thanks to the meticulous efforts of the company, Dongguan Street will regain its vibrant vitality.

During the Qing Dynasty, Yangzhou was known as having "the finest gardens under heaven," and many outstanding classical gardens still remain today. Dongguan Street is also home to a number of such gardens. Among them, Ge Garden is widely renowned as the oldest, best-preserved, and most artistically valuable garden in Yangzhou. Also on Dongguan Street are gardens such as Hu Garden and Yipu, which can be considered top-tier examples of garden design.