Cangqiao Straight Street

仓桥直街

A waterside old-town street that won a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award, with bluestone-slab paths, riverside landing steps and old taimen mansions, the most authentic street of everyday life in Shaoxing.

Cangqiao Straight Street lies in the heart of Shaoxing's old town, on the eastern foot of Fushan Hill. It runs about 1.5 km along the Huanshan River, from Shengli Road in the north to Luxun Road in the south. Lining both sides are taimen houses from the late Qing and Republican eras, which are Shaoxing's distinctive multi-courtyard homes. Stone arch bridges span the river, and the riverside landing steps, eaves and wupeng boats remain intact. The street won a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award in 2003. Unlike most ancient towns, people still live here, and scenes of laundry drying, fish being dried and vegetables being washed by the river are everywhere. Sights on the street include the ruins of the Yue Kingdom city and Fushan Park, where a climb offers views over the old town and the Flying Wing Tower; Shaoxing yellow wine taverns; Yue kiln celadon shops; time-honoured restaurants such as Xunbaoji and Zhuangyuan Lou; and the street food of Baozhu Bridge and Fuheng Street, including yellow wine milk tea, soy-braised duck and wine-marinated chicken. At the south end of the street, you can connect to Lu Xun's Former Residence, Shusheng Guli and the Bazi Bridge Historic District. How to enjoy it: in the evening, enter from the Shengli Road end in the north and walk south along the river. Eat Shaoxing dishes at riverside restaurants while watching the lights, then take a wupeng boat on the Huanshan River at night, about RMB 40–60, to see the reflections of the old houses on both banks. The street is free to visit. Getting there: about a 10-minute walk from City Square station on Metro Line 1, or take a bus to the Fuheng Street or Cangqiao Straight Street stop. Notes: the old houses are private residences, so please do not trespass or photograph inside them; dinner queues are long on public holidays; Fushan Park is free but has many steps.

Cangqiao Straight Street

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