Taiping Street (太平街) is one of the most well-preserved ancient streets in Changsha, retaining its original layout and historical charm. Stretching 375 meters long and just 7 meters wide, it serves as a microcosm of “Old Changsha.” The street runs from Wuyi Avenue in the north to Jiefang Road in the south, connecting with Weiguo Street to the west and Sanxing and Santai Streets to the east. As the heart of the ancient city since the Warring States period, Taiping Street has remained largely unchanged for over 2,000 years.
The architecture along Taiping Street is characterized by traditional features such as small green tiles, sloped roofs, white tile ridges, fire-sealed walls, and wooden doors and windows. Many old-style residences still showcase original elements like stone-framed doors, blue brick walls, courtyards with sky wells, and winding corridors.
Following a recent renovation, Taiping Street’s historical and cultural district has preserved significant sites, including the Changhuai Well, the remnants of the West Archway of Prince Mingji’s Mansion, the former site of the Gongjin Society from the 1911 Revolution, and the former site of the Sizheng Society. In addition, long-standing businesses such as Qianyisheng Grain Store, Lisheng Salt Shop, Dongting Spring Tea House, and Yichunyuan Tea House have been revitalized.
Taiping Street is also home to the former residence of Jia Yi, a renowned statesman and literary figure of the Western Han Dynasty. Located in Taifu Alley, the residence has been preserved as a tribute to Jia Yi’s legacy. Back then, all of Hunan was under the jurisdiction of the Changsha Kingdom, where Jia Yi served as the highest-ranking official sent by the central government. Since the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, Jia Yi’s residence has combined both a shrine and living quarters. The plaque in the shrine bears the last calligraphy work of the esteemed scholar Zhao Puchu, while the couplets on both sides were written by Hunan governors during the Qing Dynasty. Over the centuries, the people of Hunan have repaired and rebuilt Jia Yi’s residence more than 100 times, ensuring its preservation as one of Changsha’s oldest historical sites.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day |
Location and Transportation
Taiping Street is located in Tianxin District, Changsha, Hunan Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 11, 143, 202, 308, 901, or 908 and get off at the Former Residence of Jia Yi Stop (贾谊故居站).
Metro: The closest metro station to Taiping Street is Xiangjiang Middle Road (湘江中路) on line 2. After getting out of the station from Exit 2B, walk about 250 meters to the east to reach the attraction.
There are always many people on Taiping Street, and it seems like tourists from all over have gathered here, even the stone-paved road has become shiny from all the foot traffic.
Taiping Street in Changsha is definitely worth a visit. It’s very crowded, with people bustling about, and there are plenty of snacks to try.
Just like Pozi Street and Huangxing Square, this area is mainly filled with milk tea shops, specialty stores, and various snacks. The street isn’t very long, but wandering around, trying the snacks, and taking photos can easily fill an evening.
I must say, the neon signs are really beautiful.
To a certain extent, Changsha has not preserved many ancient buildings. After the Battle of Changsha during the Second Sino-Japanese War, many structures were damaged by the Japanese forces. The ancient architecture that can be seen today is mostly from the late Republic of China or has been restored or built anew after the founding of the People’s Republic. Taiping Old Street is located in a bustling area of Changsha, comparable to Jinan’s Furong Street, Chengdu’s Kuanzhai Alley, and Chongqing’s… Read more »