Gaochun Old Street

"First Ancient Street of Jinling" (900 m of Ming-Qing commercial street); Gaochun Folk Museum / Qianlong Ancient Well; the neighboring Yaxi International Slow City (China's first International Slow City, 48 km²). Begun in the Ming dynasty and taking shape in the Qing, the 900-meter bluestone street is lined on both sides with late-Qing-style shops and residences; rows of horse-head walls and wooden counters preserve the complete fabric of an old market town, earning it the name "First Ancient Street of Jinling." The Gaochun Folk Museum, the Qianlong Ancient Well and the former Gaochun office of the New Fourth Army are scattered along the street; during Gucheng Lake crab season (October-November) crab restaurants perfume the street — the reason Nanjing locals make a special trip here in autumn. East of the old street, Yaxi Town is China's first "International Slow City," with 48 km² of hilly countryside known for slow travel, slow food and slow living.

Getting there: Metro Line S9, Gaochun Station, then transfer to bus