Leyu Old Street in Zhangjiagang boasts the most well-preserved architectural complex featuring Jiangnan style, south of Yangtze River.

Leyu Old Street was built in 1933 with single row layout. It is 260 meters long and 3.5 meters wide, and has a signboard at both ends.

At that time, Leyu was still a shoal area with a population of less than 10,000. There weren't any decent shops in the area. The street gradually started flourishing as people from different places started to settle down.

Local business tycoon, Zhang Jianlu saw business opportunities and spent more than two years in building a commercial street in the central area of Leyu.

During April and May when swordfish, globefish and shad were on sale, the street was bustling with people.

Merchants from different places spoke different dialects to communicate with each other. Aquatic products from the Yangtze River were sold to Suzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou and other big cities.

From 2012 to 2013, local government invested 10 million yuan ($1.45 million) to restore the old street. New archways were built and inscriptions were added, which changed the appearance of the old street.

In the early 1990s, Leyu Old Street began to take on a new look. [Photo/zjgonline.com]

Leyu commercial street in 1982. [Photo/zjgonline.com]