The road of history - Pit Street in Guizhou

A stone gate stands at the entrance of the curved street.[Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

Located in a small township in China's Guizhou province, Pit Street, or Pingqiao Street is named after a peculiar architectural feature - a road with a curved shape, where the center of the road is lower than the edges, where the bricks curve upward.

The street is known for its well preserved stores and family residences, most of which date back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

In its heyday, the township where Pit Street was located lured large numbers of businessmen from across the country for its immense quantities of timber. As the businessmen gradually settled down, they built large and lavishly decorated family residences as well as a number of fascinating stores which now have become the major attractions in the area.

The street is also the economical and cultural hub of the town. Villagers from nearby villages, who are mostly comprised of people from the Dong ethic minorities, would come to the many shops on Pit Street to do their daily shopping. On festive occasions, the street is where the traditional celebrations featuring Dong ethnic folk songs and dances take place.

Pit Street was listed as one of China's historical and cultural roads in 2011 for its rich historical heritage and the presence of the unique Dong ethnic culture.