An artisan works on lacquer ware. CHINA DAILY

The street's main attractions include a charming teahouse, a host of time-honored stores selling products like pickles, makeup and lifestyle accessories, and cozy studios offering visitors a chance to see and buy folk arts listed as national intangible cultural heritage.

Some of the folk arts include flat-engraving typography, Yangzhou Tanci (storytelling accompanied by stringed instruments) and paper-cutting shows.

Don't forget to take a stroll along the street after a satisfying meal. With winding lanes stretching over a kilometer, the street itself is a window into the city's past.

Contact the writer at wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn