Ling-Tan Street Innovation Base Introduction
Come to the market on weekends to enjoy coffee, listen to lectures, and learn to cook! Walking along Lingtan Street, next to Longtan Lake, colorful lanterns depicting the landscape of Longtan hang high, and the aroma of freshly baked cakes fills the air, accompanied by cheerful music. It’s hard to imagine that this was once the abandoned old Longtan First Market food street for 14 years! In 2016, several local young people from the 70s and 80s, aiming to promote local culture in Longtan, held the "Yingqing Market," combining cultural and creative stalls with artistic performances, sparking considerable discussion and leading to the establishment of the Innovation Base. In 2017, the Innovation Base was set up in the most bustling area of Longtan - the First Market, named after its old name, Lingtan, gathering 20 local cultural and creative brands, injecting unprecedented creative energy into Longtan. Currently, the number of shops has nearly reached 50, featuring a rich variety of artistic studios, dried flowers, local farm products, picture book storyhouses, desserts, and light meals, making culture and creativity not just an abstract design but a way to bring life closer to beauty. The short stretch of Lingtan Street presents a wonderful combination of the new and the old; from salty fish cakes to apple salmon gua bao, the flavors are both familiar and surprising; there’s also an erhu class where people of all ages can easily enjoy traditional music! Interested in learning how to prepare traditional Hakka cuisine? Cooking classes are open for registration here! The lively scenes of the past market are captured on hand-painted postcards. Step through the vintage wooden door and taste a cup of hand-brewed coffee. The Peach River Fortress Storyhouse is a fantastic interactive area for families, where you can learn about the past and present of the old town through picture books and hands-on experiences. Embark on your exploration journey and discover the surprises of Lingtan Street’s transformation.
