Changzhou Qingguo Alley, a must-visit for Changzhou tourism and travel guides
A single Qingguo Alley encapsulates half the history of the Dragon City.
Every city has an old street that has witnessed the passage of time and the vicissitudes of prosperity. Qingguo Alley carries the memories and sentiments of generations of locals. After a century of accumulation and four years of renovation, it has been rejuvenated.
The opening day of Qingguo Alley was initially marked by continuous heavy rain, but fortunately, the rain lessened in the afternoon. Arriving at Qingguo Alley at three o'clock, the lingering drizzle actually added a hazy charm to this quaint long street.
On the first day of its opening, and also a weekday, I thought there wouldn't be too many people. Unexpectedly, the enthusiasm of the city's residents was undeterred by the rain, especially the older generation of visitors. Many were reminiscing: 'Oh, this is the bluestone road we walked on when we were young... Oh, before...'
The Qingguo Alley district is located to the south of the Grand Canal, with houses along the water, white walls, and black tiles, mainly featuring architecture from the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. The ancient street houses the former residences of Changzhou literati such as Zhou Youguang, Liu Guojun, and Tang Jingchuan, as well as temples, opera towers, and more. I believe it is their presence that underpins the profound cultural heritage of Qingguo Alley.
Before visiting, I was worried that Qingguo Alley might be overly commercialized like many other old streets and ancient towns. Although there must be some shops to boost tourism and add a warm touch of life, fortunately, these shops seem to tell different stories, with extremely elegant names: Qinglian Tavern, Hejiu, Hanyue Residence, Xuan'an Residence, Flavor of Mountains and Seas, Jiangshan Tea House, Academy, Restaurants, Taverns, and more. There are also many old Changzhou brands and cultural and creative brands. Each shop has a proper signboard, and both the interior and exterior decorations are uniquely elegant and simple, without the noise and clamor or even the glitz and glamour often found in other ancient towns. It seems that no matter how crowded it gets, it remains peaceful and leisurely, just like the image of a Jiangnan water town in my mind.
Perhaps the renovation project of Qingguo Alley was carried out with such dedication, and the shop owners also operate with emotion, creating an authentic ancient street atmosphere without much flashy modern commercial decoration.
I hope it remains as elegant and peaceful as it is now, yet full of life and human warmth. May all visitors cherish the environment here.
On the opening day, many shops were not yet open for business, and there was not enough time to explore. I will find another time to savor it in detail and to experience the warmth and depth of the night scene.
Regarding photography, the scene that comes to mind should involve wearing a cheongsam, holding an oil-paper umbrella, accompanied by the silky drizzle... It would be great to take pictures with a DSLR when there are fewer tourists, but it's quite inconvenient when it's crowded and rainy. Unfortunately, on the opening day, it was only about ten degrees, and the cheongsam was not warm enough. The only thing I found in the closet that had a cheongsam collar was a top with a light blue-gray plaid skirt, paired with a pair of retro-style nude pointed heels, which wasn't too out of place.
Hurry and have an encounter with Qingguo Alley~ Stroll through the courtyards to watch fish and admire flowers, to search for colorful times, to reminisce about the flavors of memory... In the 400-meter-long tunnel of time, there will always be a moment that fills you with joy, a scene that evokes the poetry and distance in your heart. Changzhou finally has a new face of beauty, a new tourist check-in spot. I hope more friends will not miss our Qingguo Alley when they visit Changzhou, and may it always remain as beautiful as when we first saw it...
There is a plaque with three large characters in Qingguo Lane. After passing through, you will see the theme post office. There are various postcards, which can be covered with souvenir stamps, and you can also customize postcards with your own photos. There is a post box at the door. It can be sent after writing. It is great. The whole Qingguo Lane is not big. There are more than a dozen square buildings. The corner of the building is written with capital Chinese number numbers. Most of them are restaurants and some old houses. The integration of modern and ancient times is very distinctive. The most beautiful is the canal. Walking by the river, taking pictures, very comfortable. It took me two hours to walk around.
There are not many people, relax, run, bask in the sun, you can. Cruises or something, there are not many amazing places, very few people, 60 people. The local consumption level is not high
The location of Qingguo Alley is a very historical and cultural alley in the center of Changzhou, where there is a rich cultural scene. The main characters are Yuan Qiubai, Tang Jingchuan, and Zhou Youguang, the promoter of Chinese pinyin. After the government's transformation, there are still quite a lot of tourists here at night.
Qingguo Lane is about 400 meters long, about 200 meters long from north to south, covering an area of about 8.7 hectares. There are famous houses such as Lihetang, Zhenhetang, Baguitang, Panzhai, Shenzhai and other buildings; It is also the birthplace of celebrities such as Yuan Qiubai, Tang Jingchuan, Zhou Youguang, Liu Guoqiu, and is known as the "first lane of famous people in Jiangnan".
In Changzhou Qingguo Lane, known as the "First Lane of Jiangnan Mingshi", you can feel the Jiangnan flavor of the small bridge and flowing water, enjoy the historical old house buildings, and also appreciate the charm of modern and fashionable petty bourgeoisie. Whether it is day or night, Changzhou Qingguo Lane is worth visiting.
In Changzhou Qingguo Lane, there is a family order creation shop, small objects, quite emotional, petty bourgeoisie. Inside, sit down and have a small cockroach, in the strong artistic atmosphere, drink a cup of coffee drink, there is a sense of fatigue.