Mi Shi Street

Mi Shi Street is located to the east of the old town, south of Dongguan Street, and stretches less than 1 kilometer from south to north. However, this historical and cultural old street holds many memories for the old residents of Liaocheng. According to the second year of Xuantong's 'Liaocheng County Annals', since the prosperity of Liaocheng's canal transportation, Mi Shi Street has become the earliest grain distribution center in Liaocheng. From large grain stores and warehouses to small grain households and pavilions, there were dozens of them at its peak. Daily buying and selling made the street bustling with traffic and people. According to locals, Mi Shi Street was once the main road connecting the canal wharf and the city, serving as the main channel for goods distribution. From the Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China, the street housed the 'Grain Industry Office', where the seventy-two grain merchants of the city often gathered for meetings. Later, due to warlord disturbances, Japanese occupation, and economic depression, the grain industry gradually declined, leaving only the street name to bear the history of the past. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, enterprises and institutions such as the Powder Metallurgy Factory, Shoe Factory, Furniture Factory, County Yu Opera Troupe, and the Second Light Supply and Marketing Section settled here, bringing the old street back to life. As a national historical and cultural city, Liaocheng's second batch of historical buildings includes 15 sites on Mi Shi Street. In recent years, Liaocheng has focused on the protection of historical and cultural blocks and the enhancement of the city's image. On the basis of protecting the authenticity, integrity, and continuity of the living functions of the block, the value of historical buildings has been maximized. Six courtyards, including the Furniture Factory, Powder Metallurgy Factory, District Trade Union, Grain Store, Yu Opera Troupe, and Shoe Factory, have been revitalized and utilized. New businesses such as homestays, art restaurants, cultural and creative studios, intangible cultural heritage parks, tea houses, taverns, cafes, and design companies have been introduced, attracting more and more young people to visit and live nearby, adding a lively atmosphere to the block. The old street has been rejuvenated. Walking on the bluestone road, you can feel the echoes of history and the charm of culture through homestays, restaurants, flower shops, tea houses, taverns, escape rooms, and more. Mi Shi Street has become a landmark 'check-in spot' for tourism in Liaocheng and a leading area for fashionable cultural and tourism consumption.