In the olden days, this place was adorned with the cloud-like headdresses of nobility, but today it's just an ordinary neighborhood

Qingguo Alley was actually originally called Qiangguo Alley, named for the myriad fruits sold here during the canal economy era—peaches, plums, apricots, oranges, a full array of fruits. However, due to the local Changzhou dialect not distinguishing between 'qian' and 'qing,' it became known as Qingguo Alley. Why would I recommend this alley? It seems that all over the country, cities are eager to build such streets and alleys, renovating ancient streets from the Qin and Han dynasties, or old alleys from the Tang and Song dynasties, and then fill them with coffee shops and bars. In the vicinity of Changzhou, Wuxi has Nanchang Street, Suzhou has Pingjiang Road, and Guantang Street, but Qingguo Alley is different. It has a scholarly atmosphere with less commercial development. Compared to the piles of trash from the restaurants on Nanchang Street and Guantang Street, Qingguo Alley is clean and not noisy. The alley retains many old residences, in this respect, it is somewhat similar to the ancestral hall street of Shanghetang in Wuxi. Changzhou is a city with a rich cultural heritage in the south of the Yangtze River, with a tradition of valuing literature and honoring Confucian scholars. There are many families in this alley who are dedicated to learning and serving the government. Walking around at noon, I only saw a noodle shop open, with few restaurants and no bars in sight, still retaining the scholarly, poetic, and courteous tone of the past. In an era of rapid and profit-driven development, the people of Changzhou have shown restraint and moderation in the development of this alley, so it is not crowded with people. This is good, as tourism is not about rushing around; it's not about forgetting to experience the scenery and just taking group photos of strangers with your phone. From the entrance of the alley opposite Xinfang Bridge on Heping South Road to Jinling Middle Road, it's a long and leisurely walk. Strolling through Qingguo Alley is a very pleasant memory.