Jinli Street, Chengdu

Chengdu is a city brimming with a strong leisurely ambience. Jinli Street is particularly representative of this city.

It is recorded that as early as the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC), Jinli Street was the most famous place for baldachin - a rich, ornate cloth. And it was one of the busiest commercial streets during the Shu Kingdom (221-263). Hence, it is known as 'First Street of the Shu Kingdom'.

In order to reclaim the street's prosperity of former days, it was restored with contributions from the Wuhou Memorial Temple and was opened to public in October of 2004. Since then, visitors from all over China and abroad gather in this ancient street to relax, admire the traditional-style buildings, and taste some local snacks.

Copied from - http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/sichuan/chengdu/jinli-street.htm - more info on their site.

I really enjoyed visiting Jinli street with my chinese friend who lives in Chengdu, she said you haven't really been to Chengdu until you've visited Jinli Street.