How did Songjiang get a lane called 'Sock Lane'

On the west side of Songjiang No. 2 High School, a century-old famous school in Songjiang District, there is a road called Sock Lane. This small path, running along Tongbo Pond River and spanning just a few hundred meters, records little-known stories of the past. The name 'Sock Lane' is indeed related to socks, as recorded in 'Yunjian Jumu Chao' written by Fan Lian from Huating: 'In the past, there were no summer sock shops in Yunjian, and many people wore felt socks during the hot months. Since the Wanli era, light and beautiful summer socks made from Yudun cloth, a famous fabric from Songjiang, became popular, and people from afar came to buy them. Consequently, over a hundred summer sock shops opened in the western suburbs of the county seat, and all the men and women in the county made a living by making socks. 'Yunjian' is the old name for Songjiang, and 'county seat' refers to the location of the government office in ancient times, which later became the century-old educational institution known today as Songjiang No. 2 High School. At that time, Sock Lane had over a hundred specialized Songjiang summer sock shops. As the name suggests, 'summer socks' were socks worn during the summer. In ancient times, there was only one type of felt sock for all seasons, but summer socks were made from the famous Songjiang fabric Yudun cloth, which was light, thin, and elegant. They were not only popular among the people of Yunjian but also attracted merchants from various places to come and purchase, forming a sizable sock street. The prosperity of Sock Lane was also a microcosm of the flourishing development of the Songjiang textile industry promoted by Huang Daopo. There is also an anecdote related to Sock Lane. There was once a wooden bridge crossing Tongbo Pond from Sock Lane, and on the other side, there was a Zen temple. The young Zhang Daqian, pining for his deceased beloved, became a monk here for a hundred days. Today's Sock Lane, with its towering ancient trees and the scenic walkway built along Tongbo Pond, is lush with flowers and plants. The numerous specialized sock shops, having undergone the vicissitudes of time, have now evolved into a new cultural and creative park called 'Sock Lane', which brings together dining, sports and fitness, leisure and vacation, and other functions to create a recreational and entertainment venue. 📍Detailed address: Songjiang District, Sock Lane 🚉Travel tips: Drive, parking available in the Sock Lane Cultural and Creative Park