As early as in Yuan Dynasty, Wuxi had become the centralized area for the close counties to hand in tribute grain. There were some granaries built along the canal bank, such as Yifeng granary and Fengji granary at that time. In Ming Dynasty, rice of Wuxi could be comparable to silks of Suzhou and Hangzhou, salt of Huaiyang region, porcelain of Fuliang and lacqer of Wenzhou. In early Qing Dynasty, quantity of rice trades in Wuxi ranked the first place among counties in Jiangsu, and Wuxi became the main procurement area for tribute grain as well as the market for exchange of food. Since the 14th year of Emperor Guangxu (1888), Qing Government transferred tribute grain of Zhejiang to Shanghai and Wuxi for procurement, and specified that tribute grain of all counties in Jiangsu should be transferred in Wuxi. Annual trade volume of rice in Wuxi reached 6,000,000-7,500,000 dan, making Wuxi a big rice market which supply food to the south and deliver tribute rice to the north. As formation of the rice market, cotton in northern areas was transported to Wuxi by ships coming to purchase rice, which promoted development of the cotton textile industry in rural areas. During period of Emperor Hongzhi in Ming Dynasty, the cloth market became prosperous to the south of Lianrong Bridge outside the North Gate. By middle Qing Dynasty, the cloth market spread from Beizhakou to Beitang, which was a long way. During the period of Emperor Qianlong, annual sales volume of cotton cloth reached 700-1000 pieces, and Wuxi was considered as “Cloth Dock”.