TIANJIN,Feb.2(Xinhua)--Nestledamidamultitudeofancient-stylepavilionsandwindingalleyways,northChina'sTianjinAncientCultureStreet,housingmanyrenownedtime-honoredbrands,isimmersedinthelivelypreparationsfortheSpringFestivalaroundthecorner.AstheChineseLunarNewYearapproaches,thefestiveatmospheregraduallypermeatestheairofthestreet.ThehistoricalandculturalblockisadornedwithanarrayofChineseculturaltreasures,fromtraditionalpaintingstoexuberantredlanterns,withthearomasoftwisteddoughnuts,seasonedflourmushandpearcakeswaftingthroughtheair.Itsiconicancient-stylegateway,embellishedwiththeChinesedragonandphoenixmotifs,nowglowswithavibranthueof"Chinesered,"captivatingvisitorsfromalloverthecountry.Inthenewera,TianjinAncientCultureStreetisregainingitsformergloryaslocalgovernmentandpeoplerediscoverthehistoricalandculturalsignificanceoftheformerbusinesshub.Thecenturies-oldblock,locatedoutsidetheeasterngateofTianjin'soldcity,proudlycarriesthetitleofthebirthplaceofTianjinwei,agarrisontownandtheprecursortotheTianjinMunicipality.SincetheMingandQingdynasties(1368-1911),theblockhasplayedacrucialroleinthedevelopmentofthelocaleconomywhileshapingthelifestyleandmindsetofTianjinresidents.Theblock'srootscanbetracedbacktoitsassociationwiththeTianhouPalace,asignificanthistoricallandmarkconstructedundertheimperialdecreein1326.Thispalace,oneoftheworld'sthreemajorMazutemples,standsattheheartoftheblockandhasbeeninstrumentalinshapingthestreetintoTianjin'searliestcenterforfolktraditions,cultureandcommerce.Overtheyears,thisblockhasevolvedfromahuboftraditionalcustomstoamoderntouristandcommercialdistrict.Flankedbyfourquaintalleyways,itsmainstreetnowfunctionsasanopenpedestriancommercialthoroughfare,stretching687metersandcoveringanareaof13,000squaremeters.Notably,ithostsamyriadofwell-establishedChineseandlocalTianjinbrands,alongwithbusinessesrecognizedatthenationalandmunicipallevelsasintangibleculturalheritage.AmongthemisYangliuqingwoodblockpainting,oneofthemostpopularformsofNewYeardecorationsinChina,whichflourishedinTianjinandthesurroundingareasduringaperiodbetweenthelateMingDynastyandtheearlyQingDynasty."Inauniqueandinnovativeapproach,webroughtthewoodenblocksusedincreatingYangliuqingpaintingstothestreet,"saidSuLiyan,aninheritorofYangliuqingwoodblockpaintingskill.Sheaddedthatthiswasaimedatprovidingvisitorswithanimmersiveexperienceofthisintangibleculturalheritage,offeringanopportunitytolearntheintricateprocessofproducingYangliuqingwoodblockpaintings.Afterdecadesofprotectionefforts,morethan6,000ancientwoodblocksandover20,000NewYearpaintingshavebeencollectedtodate,accordingtoSu."TheblockisthecornerstoneofYangliuqingwoodblockpaintings,reflectingChina'srichhumangeography,folkcultureandmoralphilosophy,"shesaid.TheboomingblockbringsaninfluxofvisitorstotheYangliuqingwoodblockpaintingsstore.Peoplecometocreatetheirownwoodblockpaintings,takinghomeapieceofthatauspiciousmomenttheyhadjustexperienced.However,thethrivinghubandatreasuretroveoftraditionandChinesecultureonceexperienceditsdemiseasacommercecenterafterthe1930s.Thelocalgovernmenthasmadeenormouseffortstorevivethetraditionalbusinessblockandprotecttheculturalheritage.Apivotalmomentintheblock'shistorycameonNewYear'sDayin1986whenitunderwentrestorationandrepurposing,transformingintotheTianjinAncientCultureStreet.Asthe21stcenturydawned,thestreetsawfurtherdevelopment,evolvingintoatouristandcommercialdistrict.In2007,itachievedtheprestigious5Arating,thehighestlevelinthecountry'stouristsitesratingsystem.Witnesstothecontemporaryevolutionoftheblockis66-year-oldmerchantLiShuqin.Since1986,shehasventuredintovariousbusinesses,rangingfromfurnituretolampsandporcelainontheculturalstreet.In2020,ListartedsellingTianjin'sspecialtysnacks,includingtheportableandpreservableTanghulumadethroughinnovativefreeze-dryingtechnology.InMay2023,sheopenedanew-styleChineseteahouseinthesamelocale."Peoplecomeheretosavorthetraditionalculturalatmosphere,"shesaid,addingthatherbusinessisridingonthewaveandbenefitsderivedfromtheprosperityofthehistoricalstreet.Currently,TianjinAncientCultureStreethostsaround1,300stores,withmorethanhalfdedicatedtocultureandfolkcustoms,saidZhangHongpeng,directoroftheAncientCultureStreetadministrativecommittee."Weactivelyintroducenewbusinessformatstoassistmerchantsingeneratingcreativeideas."In2023,theculturalstreet'strafficreached12.76million,showingaremarkableincreaseof8percentgrowthcomparedtothepre-COVIDlevelin2019.Thesalesrevenuesurged37percentfrom2019.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.