The arcade street block

The arcade street block

The arcades in the old town of Rongcheng are mainly located along both sides of streets such as Zhongshan Road, Xima Road, Hanci Road, and DACopper Street. It is recorded that starting from the 1920s in the last century, these areas underwent road widening or renovation projects, during which the original buildings were transformed into the arcades that still stand today.

Zhongshan Road is situated in front of the old county yamen and runs from north to south, with a total length of 705 meters. In the 44th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1779 AD), it was called Xuanhua Street; in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888 AD), it was known as Dajie (Main Street); and in the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926 AD), it was renamed Zhongshan Road. Prior to 1926, Zhongshan Road was only 4 to 5 meters wide, with a stone-paved surface mixed with lime plaster, and flanked by single-story houses. In 1926, the road was expanded to ten meters and paved with asphalt. The residential buildings on both sides were rebuilt into two- to three-story structures featuring Western-style arcade architecture, resulting in a distinctive fusion of Chinese and Western styles. From the old yamen to the South Gate intersection, Zhongshan Road is not straight but slightly curved. It is said that this design was deliberately planned based on the feng shui of the old county yamen, and each section and bend incorporates principles of geomancy.

The arcade buildings on Zhongshan Road form a continuous line with those on DACopper Street and Xiguan Road, stretching approximately 2,000 meters in total. This concentrated area features an impressive scale. Though they have a history of just under a hundred years, these arcades serve as a significant reflection of Rongcheng’s developmental journey. They preserve the city’s ancient charm, reflect its multicultural heritage, and showcase the wisdom and architectural ingenuity of the people of Jieyang. The arcade architecture of Rongcheng rivals that of the Kaiping Diaolou, yet also possesses unique characteristics of its own, making it a rare cultural treasure and architectural gem. (Photo by Huang Yueping)

Source: People's Government of Rongcheng District