Ximen Old Street carries the nostalgia of generations of Yiwu people

Yiwu, Zhejiang, is neither on the sea nor on the side. Since the opening of the small commodity market in 1982, Yiwu has "made things out of nothing" and created new things out of nothing. It has continued to grow and become a veritable "supermarket of the world". As urbanization accelerates, modern high-rise buildings have risen from the ground, replacing the old and low-rise bungalows. Looking back, there is not much history left in the city. Now only the Chunqiu Ancient Well in front of the city hall, Da'an Temple Pagoda, Huang Dazong Temple and Ximen Street near Xiuhu Park remain. Although Xiu Lake is still there, it is obviously not the original holy lake. Every city needs an old street to carry memories. Yiwu, which has a history of more than 2,000 years as a county, is an ancient historical city, but the "old foundation" in the city is too thin and pale. For this reason, it has become a top priority for urban construction to renovate and restore Ximen Street and retain Yiwu people’s thoughts about the ancient city. At the end of December 2024, the first phase of the renovated Ximen Street will be officially opened to the public. After hearing the news, Yiwu citizens swarmed in and crowded the small Ximen Street, forcing the management department to take measures to restrict the flow of people. "I've never seen so many people crowded together," someone said. Ximen Street is the only Ming and Qing Dynasty street in Yiwu. According to the "Yiwu County Chronicle" of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty, there are many buildings in Ximen Street such as Tongda Ancestral Hall, Jingjie Archway, Chongsi Square, Tongzhongyi Temple, Dafudi, and Yingenmen. Among the memories of the elderly and existing buildings on Ximen Street, there are Huikudi, Shengwu Hall, Huanjin Hall, Liuheng Hall, Qi Zhaili, Chenghuang Temple, Tong Bihui’s former residence, etc. These ancient buildings and monuments involve politics, imperial examinations, economy, military, commerce, civil affairs, beliefs, folk customs, etc. They are a microcosm of Yiwu's society at that time. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Ximen Street was gradually declining. But as a residential complex, it has always maintained a certain popularity. At the end of the 20th century, there were still a few residential buildings from the Ming Dynasty and many from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China on Ximen Street. Before the old city reconstruction in 2000, Ximen Street was 823 meters long and 3-9 meters wide. After the reconstruction of the old city, only more than 600 meters of Ximen Street remain. Lanes extend to the north and south on both sides of the main street, and there are some scattered courtyards inside. This old street, which carries the nostalgic memories of generations of Yiwu people, has gradually faded out of everyone’s sight after undergoing urban reconstruction and urban renewal. Now, through the "Ximen Old Street Historical and Cultural Development Project", Yiwu Transportation and Tourism Group will resurrect the Ximen Old Street that has almost lost its breath by repairing the old and building the new. Buildings that are either real or antique appear in front of everyone. Although only a small area has been opened so far, and most of the buildings are not open to the public, it has already caused quite a shock in the hearts of Yiwu citizens. On the occasion of the New Year, "going to Xiuhu to enjoy the lantern show and going to Ximen to stroll through the ancient streets" has become the first choice for many citizens during the New Year. Starting from December 31, 2024, Ximen Old Street will highlight the lantern show, immersive garden tours and market tours, creating a unique New Year event. The Ximen intangible cultural heritage dragon head lamp installation becomes the visual focus at the entrance of the ancient street. Giant floor lamps, large illuminated characters "西门", persimmon lantern trees and other elements create a cheerful festive atmosphere. The five themed markets of tea, wine, books, sugar, and art allow visitors to experience local special activities such as Song Yun tea ordering, wine tasting, and calligraphy creation. 🚉Traffic guide: Navigate to "Intersection of Danxi Road and Chengzhong Middle Road" 📍Detailed address: Ximen Street, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province [MapleLeaf]Ticket price: Free ⏳Time reference: 1 hour