Tucked away in Xiaoshan, on the southern bank of the mighty Qiantang River, Kanshan Old Street took shape in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, earning its place as the district’s most timeworn lane.
Kanshan sits just east of the North Sea Embankment, a historic barrier hugging the river’s edge. Long ago, when the Qiantang’s main current shifted toward the sea, it left behind vast sandy stretches north of Kanshan—known as Nansha, or "Southern Sands." Locals seized the opportunity, planting mulberry trees, raising silkworms, spinning silk, and weaving cloth, sparking a lively handicraft hub.
In its heyday, Kanshan’s Dongxiang Silk Factory produced "Handshake Brand" fine silk that wowed markets in Europe and America, etching its name into global fame.
Trade hummed just as fiercely. Kanshan Old Street brimmed with four pawnshops—Zhongfu, Yide, Tongtai, and Huaiqing—alongside goods hubs like Xianghesheng and Yuanfengshun, plus over 20 shops dishing out southern delicacies. Artisans thrived too, with bustling workshops for carpentry and masonry. Cotton ginning, fluffing, and milling kicked off early, and the street pulsed with no fewer than 20 butcher stalls.
The street unfurls in a bold "T" shape. Its east-west arm, called Tangshang or "Embankment Top," traces the river’s edge, while the south-to-north stretch splits into Upper Street, Middle Street, and Lower Street. Shops and homes line the route—mostly single-story wooden gems with weathered plank doors or low, windowed walls, their plain exteriors masking a rich past.
Today, Kanshan Old Street stands as a living relic, its layout and rustic charm untouched by time. A quintessential Qiantang River trading street, it offers a window into Xiaoshan’s late Ming and early Qing architecture and merchant life.