Bachangjiujie Street lights up at night. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

As night falls, the 500-meter Shangwen Road in downtown Nantong, Jiangsu province, lights up, attracting numerous foodies each day with its eateries.

The popular road has now been renamed Bachangjiujie Street.

"The street is lined with delicious restaurants, from stewed seafood in pottery pots in the noon to barbecue and hot pot in the evening, steaming with bustling vibes all day long," said Jin Jing, a local resident who is very familiar with the road.

Natives enjoy barbecue on Bachangjiujie Street. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

She added that there are also a variety of other shops for drinks, beauty, clothes, and groceries.

Bachang Street, or the Eighth Factory Street, which was home to the eighth branch of Dasheng Cotton Mills established by renowned industrial magnate Zhang Jian (1853-1926) in 1921, was renamed as Shangwen Road in 1998.

In those earlier years, locals would immediately think of Bachang Street for the shopping needs, as it carried the beautiful memories of the factory's employees and their families. On weekends and holidays, the street became the liveliest street market in the city.

Today, Bachangjiujie Street carries on that tradition of commercial and social hustle and bustle. A number of improvements have even been made to the street, including artwork on pillars under pedestrian bridges and more orderly parking.