Around noon, the historic Diantou Street is filled with the laughter of primary school children on their way home for lunch, and delicious smells waft from the kitchens surrounding residential homes. 

Students from a primary school on Diantou Street come home for lunch. [Photo by Hu Meidong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Walking along the narrow streets paved with blue-stone slabs, one can easily see the prosperity of the ancient commercial block, which has a string of red lanterns and stream of shop signs raised highly, as well as a continuous row of stores and shops flanking the streets.

Located in the bustling urban area of Changting county, Diantou Street boasts a long history that can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).