Qingyun Road becomes cultural landmark

Qingyun Market attracts crowds of visitors in the evening. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Qingyun Road in Nanming district of Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, is transforming from a traditional night market into a cultural and tourism destination where street food, creative design, and traditional crafts come together.

By preserving its old-town character while introducing new cultural experiences, the road is attracting visitors from across China and offering local residents fresh ways to reconnect with their neighborhood.

The changes have reshaped how people spend time here. Tourists can browse traditional handicrafts, watch artisans at work, and join hands-on workshops, while longtime residents return to explore exhibitions and enjoy cultural activities with their families. What was once mainly a place for late-night snacks has become a destination worth exploring all day.

The transformation follows a "traditional Guiyang charm with a contemporary twist" approach. Rather than replacing the old neighborhood with conventional commercial developments, Qingyun Road has retained its lively street-food culture and preserved the red-brick walls and exposed pipes of the former Guiyang Knitting Factory. The industrial buildings now house creative shops, craft studios, and exhibition spaces, with public art adding a contemporary touch to the historic setting.

Niudali's Art becomes a popular cultural creative brand. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Local culture is central to the street's new identity. Qingyun Market, its main commercial hub, has attracted more than 130 businesses in the cultural creative sector, with original products accounting for nearly 70 percent of their offerings. The market prioritizes designs inspired by Guizhou's ethnic traditions and local life, while supporting independent creators and discouraging mass-produced souvenirs.

One example is Niudali's Art, a local brand that has grown from a four-square-meter illustration shop into a creative business producing original fabric accessories. Its designs draw on Guizhou's ethnic culture, including a hand-embroidered butterfly inspired by the Miao group's legend of the Butterfly Mother. The product became a popular seller during this year's summer holiday, with embroiderers working to meet demand.

Visitors can also experience traditional techniques firsthand, from batik dyeing to silver jewelry making. These workshops bring intangible cultural heritage into everyday settings, letting visitors experience and reinterpret traditional skills rather than simply view them.

Cultural activities have further broadened the road's appeal. More than 100 events were held over the past year, including intangible cultural heritage weeks, creative markets, exhibitions, and street performances. People born in the 1990s and 2000s now account for more than 70 percent of visitors, while the share of tourists from outside Guizhou has also increased.

For longtime Guiyang resident Zhou Lingling, Qingyun Road has taken on a new role in family life. Once a regular destination for late-night meals with friends and relatives, she now also brings her daughter there to see exhibitions and try handicrafts. The expanded cultural offerings have given local residents new reasons to return, while offering visitors a deeper introduction to the city beyond its food scene.

Looking ahead, Qingyun Market plans to expand support for local creative brands, establish regular intangible cultural heritage workshops, further explore the industrial history of the former knitting factory, and develop an online store to bring locally designed products to wider markets.

Visitors select cultural creative products on Qingyun Road. [Photo/Guiyang news network]