Dongguan Street is the commercial spine of Yangzhou's old town, a pedestrianised lane lined with late Qing and Republican-era shophouses that has been restored without losing its character entirely. The buildings are low, the lane is narrow enough to be shaded for most of the day, and the side alleys running off it lead to the courtyard entrances of private gardens and old residences.
The street is at its best in the early morning when the tea houses open and local residents come for their traditional breakfast — a meal in Yangzhou that involves small dishes of delicacies eaten slowly, a ritual distinct from the rushed breakfasts of busier cities. The lane leads directly to Ge Yuan garden at its northern end and is close to the Crane Mosque on the east side. The combination of street food, old architecture, and garden access makes this the city's best half-day itinerary.