Hengdong Wuji Old Street, Hunan

Wuji Old Street, now called "North Street," was built during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. The ancient town is nestled at the foot of Yangshan Mountain in Hengdong County. The old street runs north-south, stretching nearly 500 meters, and consists of 360 neatly arranged shops. The center of the street is paved with 3,670 standardized granite slabs, resembling a giant centipede. Some original residents still live here, mostly elderly, as younger generations have moved away to seek opportunities elsewhere. The narrow, winding ancient stone-paved street, lined with well-preserved Ming and Qing architecture, along with aged doors, windows, stone thresholds, pedestals, and mills, exudes the town's unique charm. Wuji hosts a bustling market on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th days of the lunar month, serving as a major hub for grain, tea oil, livestock, bamboo, timber, and other agricultural products, attracting merchants and ensuring smooth trade. The old street boasts numerous cultural relics, including 24 former temples—only three remain today: the provincial-level protected Yangshan Temple, Tianfu Temple, and Xuandi Temple. The foundations of demolished temples are still visible. Additionally, the site of Qin Xiaoyi's former residence, a provincial-level cultural heritage site, is located here. Wuji Old Street was designated as a key cultural protection unit of Hengdong County in 1992.