Merchants Lane

Image of Merchants Lane, generated by Gemini AI
by xan_xen using Google Gemini
A quiet side lane on the southern side of the North Spice Market District, branching out from the main street. The area had already existed as far back as the 1500s as documents indicate, mainly as part of a larger quarter that held tailoring and handicrafts workshops. In the 1700s, admist some controversy about the market quarters' planning, Merchants Lane itself was sectioned off and became an area where many merchant families and some government officials established residences (some permanent, some temporary). The buildings in the area converted from workshops and stores to residential houses. Because many buildings were built around the same time, the style is remarkably consistent, majority being the traditional quandrangle courtyard manors (siheyuan).
  The area was part of the larger North Spice Market revitatilization project, and many of the houses were rented or sold out as business buildings, the original owners either being hard to locate (because of lack of historical documentation), or due to the original owners moving out. It is now a quiet business street, and unlike the other areas of the market district, majority of the shops are located inside the courtyards of the quandrangle manorhouses. Due to the size of the former residences, it hosts some of the more expensive stores in the district. While not the best place to grab a bowl of ramen or a cup of bubble tea, if one needs to find a star-rated restaurant, a shop for rare tea leaves, or an antique bookstore, this is the place.
  Due to the costs of items, it was an area that did not see many tourists, even during the busier holiday weeks when the North Spice Market District is bustling with people. Then there is the building located at no.19, which some believed to be cursed as no one stayed there past five months. But this has changed recently, as no.19 Merchants Lane was bought and transformed into a cat cafe, Serendipity Cafe. With viral videos promoting the store, the cafe has attracted a large number of visitors. As the cafe itself is located towards the end of the winding lane, visitors usually stop by the stores along the way. Perhaps this is why many neighboring shops don't mind the sudden increase in stray cats roaming the streets (usually ending up in the cafe for adoption). Maybe the cats are the reason for the positive surge in business.
Map of Merchants Lane
by xan_xen using ANAmap RPG Map Editor

 

Notable Stores


Some of the more unique shops in the North Spice Market District can only be found here.

Fragrant Pavillion
by xan_xen using SEAart
A vegetarian restaurant which has been rated 2 stars for six years in a row in the Blimpy Reviews, an exclusive food guide that has existed since the 1910s. The restaurant's owner and chef hails from a family that has made food for governers and dignitaries since the early 1820s, and is the tenth head of a specific cooking school style. Before Serendipity's opening, it was one of the major attractions of Merchants Lane. Though due to the price of around $600 per person and an insistence on super fresh seasonal ingredients and the need to reserve at least 2 weeks in advance, it's no wonder there were no major upticks in tourists counts for the street as a whole.
Porcelain Workshop
by Generated using Google Gemini
A porcelain pottery store and hands-on workshop ran by a gruff young man, who is actually a second-gen rich kid and only working to "experience life." While the shop and training seminars only display more normal dining sets or vases, it is possible to request unique pieces from the owner himself. When out of ideas, the owner likes to crawl over to Serendipity and gain inspiration by playing with the cats. One of the pieces from such as session, which involved a full tea ceremony set inspired by Duchess and referencing paws and whiskers, won a competition. Some people just have it all-money and talent. Has considered adopting cats (or more specifically Duchess), but was rejected because is too busy, and furnaces no matter how enclosed are not safe for cats.
  Grandma's Tailorshop
by xan_xen, using Google Gemini
A tailoring store owned by Granny Mu and her daughters, the store specializes in handmade qipao and hanfu. Modest and reserved, most people would not know that Granny Mu was once a fashion consultant (and designer) for costumes in historical dramas and movies. Rather fond of the cats in Serendipity Cafe, she usually makes fancy festive clothing for them around Chinese New Year. Her second daughter helped her setup an e-shop, and orders increased ever since the store borrowed Van (human) to model for some Song style scholar robes. A new line of clothing for cats has become popular, with Cream and Duchess featuring prominently as models for the line.
  Bamboo Grove Bookstore
by xan_xen using Google Gemini
An antiques and second-hand bookstore, it is owned by old Uncle Du, a history buff who has lived in the area since the 1970s. True to the store's name, the small courtyard garden inside the quadrangle is filled with bamboos. Uncle Du is one of the few people who is knowledgeable about the history, and the stories behind each of the buildings in the street. In fact, he serves as an unofficial tour guide for those who know him and get on his good side. After knowing of Ian Jing's profession, the old man has been eager to meet him one day. Other than selling books, Uncle Du is also quite knowledgable about Feng Shui, Daoism and the like; unlike others, he never believed the Serendipity Cafe building to be cursed, just that it has worse energy than others and only waiting for the energy to be rebalanced.
  Rui Designs
by xan_xen generated using Google Gemini
The site was originally a handicraft souvenirs shop, the owner was the only on the street that did not take kindly to the increase of stray cats (or cats in general) since the opening of the cafe. After moving out, Rui Su, a friend of Ceci's moved in, changing the building to be his personal design studio office. Specializing in historical buildings, after word got out that he was responsible for the renovation design of Serendipity Cafe and several more storefronts on the street, the amount of work for him increased. A fan of cats, but not having much time to properly take care of one, he is a frequent visitor to Serendipity café, and often advises on small changes to the store décor. Favorite cat is Juice, and if not at the café, Juice can be also found at Rui's office, usually lazing around. Rui also knows about Ian Jing, Ceci's older cousin, and is slightly skeptical of Ian's penchants for Feng Shui.
Founding Date
1500 CE
Parent Location
Included Locations
Blimpy Reviews is a gourmet food review guide published by a foreign tire and rubber company, Blimpy Materials Inc, and has been in circulation since the 1910s. Each year, food critics writing for the reviews visit different restaurants in secret and rate the restaurant on food taste, service quality, décor. In the city as a whole, only three Blimpy two-star restaurants exist, including Fragrant Pavillion. In fact, Fragrant Pavillion was the first restaurant in the city to earn a Blimpy two-star rating.
  Merchants Lane has a total of 20 buildings. Other than the ones named, there are also a few shops that sell high quality tea leaves, a bakery that specializes in traditional sweets (such as mung bean cakes and mooncakes), and even a traditional music instruments shop. Currently only five buildings remain vacant.


Cover image: by AI Generated