With the gentle unfolding of autumn, embark on your first village excursion of the season to Shangliang Old Street, nestled in Qicha village of Fengling township, Longde county, Guyuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, discovering the hidden gems of rural tourism in the region.

The old street still retains the supply and marketing cooperative, post office, old-fashioned stores, stone mills and old agricultural tools. In 2022, Qicha village was included in the sixth batch of traditional Chinese villages. Nowadays, the old street has been restored to its original state, but has not lost its charm.

An old-style convenience store on the street. [Photo/WeChat account: nxtour]

A free intangible cultural heritage carnival is being held on the street and will run until the end of this month.

During the day, the old street is slow-paced. You can brew tea and take slow sips of it while listening to storytelling and Shaanxi Opera. Woodcut New Year pictures, paper cuttings and clay sculptures can also be seen displayed on the stalls.

When you're hungry, you can eat roasted chicken in a clay oven, which is given a long, gentle roast over wood and charcoal. The outer layer is crispy and fragrant, while the inner layer is firm, fresh, and tender. Other local flavors include buckwheat noodles, snacks made of potatoes and flour and Jiangshui noodles.

At night, the performance of "the fairy maiden spreads flowers" and the bonfire party will bring the excitement of the street to its peak.

In addition, more than 30 boutique homestays in the street are quiet and comfortable, built along the mountain with excellent scenery.

People enjoy leisure time in a local homestay. [Photo/WeChat account: nxtour]