Tangzha ancient town at night. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

The Tangjiaxiang historical and cultural block in Tangzha ancient town, Nantong was recently recognized by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism as a provincial experience base for intangible cultural heritage.

Tangzha ancient town is one of the cradles of the national industry in modern China. It was here that Zhang Jian, a well-known local business magnate and renowned academic, founded China's first large-scale cotton spinning business – the Dasheng Yarn Factory – in 1895.

Following the move, more than 20 businesses involved in oil extraction, flour milling, and iron and silk production were established in the town, forming an industrial cluster centered on the yarn factory. This made Tangzha a major industrial town with national clout.

In 2015, the Nantong government amassed 2 billion yuan ($289.8 million) in investment to protect and develop the area, with the aim of turning it into a scenic spot featuring national industry and culture.

The Tangjiaxiang historical and cultural block is among a number of blocks that have been developed with their own characteristics.

The block, located at a bend of the Nantong-Yangzhou Canal, dates back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was named after the Tangs, a wealthy and influential family. It is currently a center committed to the protection and innovative development of local intangible cultural heritage items.