Laomendong Historic Quarter

Laomendong is a historic quarter in Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, located around the Jiankang Road area south of the Confucius Temple and near Zhonghua Gate. The name means Old Gate East and refers to the area east of the old south gate of the city. For centuries this was a dense residential and commercial neighbourhood, home to merchants, scholars and craftspeople during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and its street pattern and courtyard houses reflect that heritage. Restoration in the 2010s rebuilt the lanes in Ming-Qing style, with grey brick walls, black tiled roofs, carved wooden doors and narrow alleys. Today the quarter combines the restored architecture with cafes, teahouses, craft shops, small museums, bars and restaurants, and it is a popular place to sample Nanjing food, from salted duck and duck blood soup to pastries and street snacks. Some old residences open their courtyards to visitors, and the area includes the former homes of notable families as well as exhibitions on local history and craft traditions, including Nanjing cloud brocade and lantern making. A visit generally takes one and a half to two hours to stroll the lanes, browse the shops and eat. The streets are open at all hours, and shops and restaurants are typically open from about 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Late afternoon into evening is the most atmospheric time, when the lanterns are lit and the facades glow, and the quarter is noticeably quieter than the neighbouring Fuzimiao area on weekday mornings. It becomes crowded on weekends and public holidays. Entry to the streets is free, and food and shop prices vary from budget street snacks to mid-range restaurants. The quarter is a ten-minute walk from Fuzimiao Station on Metro Line 3 or Zhonghuamen Station on Line 1. It pairs naturally with Zhonghua Gate, Zhan Garden and the Confucius Temple as a single day around south Nanjing.