Gaochun Old Street (高淳老街) in Gaochun district, about 60 kilometres south of Nanjing, is one of the best-preserved Ming and Qing commercial streets in the Yangtze Delta region. The main street runs about 400 metres and is lined with original timber-framed merchant buildings. Gaochun is designated a "slow city" (Cittaslow) — the first in China — and has deliberately avoided the rapid commercialisation that has overtaken similar heritage streets elsewhere.
The street is quieter than comparable old town areas in more famous cities, which is the point. The surrounding Gaochun district has wetlands (Gucheng Lake) worth visiting for birdwatching. A full day trip from Nanjing by high-speed rail and bus, or car.