Anshun's old town commercial district, centred on the pedestrianised streets near the Confucian Temple, is the part of the city that retains the character that larger Guizhou cities have lost. The street market here deals in batik cloth, silver jewellery from the Buyi and Miao minorities, and the dried medicinal herbs that Guizhou has traded since the Tang dynasty. The covered section is particularly good in the morning when vendors set up stalls selling fresh produce alongside the craft goods.
The Confucian Temple (Wen Miao) at the heart of the old district is a Ming dynasty foundation that survived the twentieth century in better condition than most. The current buildings date to Qing dynasty reconstructions, but the layout and the large ceremonial courtyard are intact. Entry is a few yuan, and the temple offers a quiet contrast to the market bustle outside. The combination of market, temple, and the batik workshops on the surrounding streets makes this area worth two hours of exploration even if you are mainly in Anshun for Huangguoshu and the cave systems.