Dongguan Ming-Qing Street

Dongguan Ming-Qing Street

Dongguan Ming-Qing Street. This quaint Ming-Qing street in the eastern part of the city showcases the endless charm of this historic and cultural hub; it refers to Dongguan Street in the county town. Originally built in the mid-Ming Dynasty, it flourished greatly by the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, becoming one of the most important commodity distribution centers in eastern Henan. It once attracted merchants from hundreds of miles around to trade here. In addition, merchants from Shanxi, Anhui, and Fujian settled and conducted business here, with Shanxi merchants even establishing the “Shanxi Native-Place Association Hall in Sui County.” The street stretches 1,000 meters from east to west and is 7 meters wide, paved with blue bricks. Shops line the street, their architectural styles largely similar but varying in luxury and simplicity. Typically, they feature a front porch supported by red-painted wooden pillars, with movable door panels, wooden lattice windows, and vermilion wooden counters inside. Shelves behind the counters display a variety of goods. For a long time, Dongguan Street in Sui County served as the commercial center of the entire county, giving rise to sayings such as “Go to Dongguan for business” and “Dongguan Market is always bustling.”