街巷 (jiē xiàng) is a compound noun meaning 'streets and lanes' collectively, referring to the network of public thoroughfares in urban or historic residential areas. While 街 (jiē) denotes wider, main streets—often lined with shops or traffic—and 巷 (xiàng) refers to narrower, quieter lanes or alleys typically found within neighborhoods or old districts, together they evoke the intimate, lived-in fabric of Chinese cities and towns.

This term carries a gentle, slightly literary or nostalgic tone, frequently appearing in descriptive writing about local life, tourism, or urban culture. It emphasizes the human-scale environment—where people walk, chat, shop, and gather—rather than modern infrastructure like highways or boulevards. You’ll often see it in phrases like 街巷文化 (jiē xiàng wénhuà, 'street-and-lane culture') or when describing the charm of ancient towns such as Pingyao or Shaoxing.