Xitang 
What would a street series be without visiting Xitang鈥檚 West Street. This cozy 3 or 4 meter path is the center of activity for inhabitants and merchants. On the weekends, throngs of people come from all over the world during the weekends to stroll. However, I chose another day to explore. Many shops are scattered on the two sides of the street, selling fabric, accessories, and snacks.
Whoa, what is this? Wow, so these are beans. They鈥檙e really shiny under the sunlight. They look like plastic jellybeans. It鈥檚 really chewy, sweet, and a little salty. Overall, excellent.
Besides broad beans, Xitang is also known for its glutinous rice dumplings. The ones here are filled with flavored pork and soy sauce, wrapped with plant leaves. The storeowners make and sell so many of these delicious rice dumplings so quickly that it looks like they could wrap them it in their sleep.
So these are called glutinous rice dumplings. Sometimes they鈥檙e sweet, sometimes they鈥檙e salty, and sometimes just plain delicious. So, try some yourself.
Walking on the street, you can find many shops selling the same snacks--glutinous rice dumplings, broad beans, smelly tofu. However, the local residents will tell you who makes the best ones. The ones I tried were so tasty I couldn鈥檛 resist buying a few for the road, so that I could share with my neighbors
Well hi, neighbor! These streets may be narrow, but one good thing is that you can pass things to the person across the street. Glutinous rice dumpling?
Besides snacks, what else could I take home from my trip? On the street I saw merchants selling toys, fans, purses, masks, so many souvenirs for the curious traveler. I had heard of a famous blue dyed fabric in Southern China, so I stepped into a fabric store to look around.
Whoa, this is gorgeous. It鈥檚 like a cloth of the ancient water town. I鈥檓 going to give it a try. Hmmm鈥 looks a little outdated, though. What do you think? I think I鈥檒l try something else.
I wonder what else they have.
I think I found it. It鈥檚 a shirt for my cell phone. Let鈥檚 give it a try. Fits perfectly. Look how cute I am. Look how cute I am!
Along West Street there are many shops that sell local handicrafts, such as coiled buttons, Chinese knots, and embroidery. The intricate needlework is all homemade, so you are guaranteed a unique piece. I don鈥檛 know what was better, taking home a piece of embroidery or watching them make it one stitch at a time.
So now that I鈥檝e satisfied my stomach and sense of style, I wish to quench my thirst for knowledge. I saw a particular museum on West Street.
What is this? There are a lot of round holes. Maybe someone can help us.
Okay, so now we have this round tablet. Maybe it鈥檚 a pill, or an earring? I鈥檓 still not sure. Now it鈥檚 been polished. Ouch, it鈥檚 really hot. It has a border now. I think I can guess what it is now, but I鈥檓 not going to tell you. Yes, I was right鈥 it鈥檚 a button.
Can you believe that? There鈥檚 actually a museum to showcase buttons! Xitang is famous for its button production as it has nearly 500 production companies, which account for 40% of the entire nation鈥檚 production exchange volume. Some of them are so delicate and colorful, you might mistake them for jewels.
