Rong'an Arcade Street

Rong'an Arcade Street

Rong'an Arcade Street

If you’re looking for evidence of Rong'an’s status as a historic town, the only place to go is the arcade street in the western part of the county town. The street isn’t very wide—just two or three zhang across—but the buildings on both sides are uniquely distinctive, all constructed with brick and wood. Upon closer inspection of the peeling and flaking walls, you can see buildings in various architectural styles—Gothic, French, and Ancient Greek—arranged neatly or in arcs. Due to the passage of time, some window sills have even sprouted green centipede grass and maidenhair ferns, as if flaunting the ancient town’s storied past. Judging from the bas-relief patterns on the exterior walls, the decorative colors back then must have been quite elegant and splendid. In those days, the “Four Kings” of the local “Wall Street”—namely Guanglong, Xingjilong, Yusheng, and Jiancheng—along with the “Four Dragons” such as Zhumaolong, and numerous shops and businesses were everywhere, making it an extremely bustling place.

The ancient arcade street in Chang'an Town is one of the largest and best-preserved arcade streets in Guangxi. Strolling through the market, the 1.5-kilometer-long arcade street is still well presented to visitors. The elaborately carved and painted arcades, having endured a century of changes, seem to recount the history of the ancient town to passersby. The clear Rong River flows from northwest to southeast through the town, its tranquil waves as smooth as a mirror, creating picturesque scenery. Like a spring river, it ushers the ancient town into a new era of glory.

The arcade corridors provide shelter from wind, rain, and sun. During the Spring Festival or traditional lunar festivals, families hang decorative lanterns on the arcades. At night, the colorful lights shine brightly, presenting a magnificent and dazzling sight. I remember that during the year of Hong Kong’s handover, residents hung festive lanterns under the arcades to celebrate the joyous occasion. Some lanterns even featured portraits waving, adding a touch of modern flair to the otherwise classic charm.

Singing folk songs or performing opera under the arcades has also become a beautiful sight in the county town.

The arcade street of Rong'an Ancient Town forever exudes an antique, nostalgic humanistic atmosphere.