Bringing the history back to the homes

"Dining establishments are mostly located on the periphery of the area, and serve mainly light meals to protect the historical environment," Zhang says.

"People can read books and enjoy coffee in the cafes in the alleys with their strong cultural and leisurely atmosphere," she adds.

Developed on the premise of not disturbing residents in the neighborhood, themed cultural activities have been arranged for guests to better savor the cultural atmosphere of Sanfang Qixiang.

Chen Junfan, for one, takes his guests on a walk through history from time to time, with demonstrations of traditional rouyan preparation at his shop on Nanhou Street.

From pounding the meat and rolling the dough, to the wrapping and cooking techniques, everything Chen Junfan does is just like it was done back in 1876, when his family first set up a shop selling rouyan in the street.

As one of the most famous local dishes, the wonton-like specialty is made by hand using pork meat from the hind leg and sweet potato flour. The casing is as thin as paper, soft and elastic. The filling is made of minced fish, pork and shrimp, all seasoned based on a time-honored recipe, for a refreshing taste.

As well as tasting the specialty, tourists can also try their hand at making it, by signing up for learning tours arranged by Chen Junfan. He is a fourth-generation inheritor of the family rouyan tradition, which was named a provincial intangible cultural heritage by Fujian in 2007.

"We only had a few tables in an area of no more than 20 square meters in the 1980s, and people would only buy them for holidays and celebrations," Chen Junfan says.

Now his shop covers a much bigger area and visitors make their presence felt throughout the day.

The rising status of Sanfang Qixiang as a destination has injected a sense of pride in Chen Yongjian, leading him to volunteer as a tour guide for more than a decade.

"They have brought vitality to my home and I want to do my part to help it remain prosperous," Chen Yongjian says.

He has made a point of studying Sanfang Qixiang's history and keeps abreast of the exhibitions about historical figures that are held at their former residences.