[citation needed] During the early Ming dynasty, Shangxinhe embarked on the creation of infrastructure to effectively move timber up the Yangtze River.
[citation needed] The Shangxinhe timber trade reached its economic peak during the Qing dynasty.
Markets for Qing Imperial wood had opened up in distant towns and cities along the Yangtze River, which were using it for myriad uses, e.g. construction and making furniture.
Shangxinhe wood suppliers had lucrative sales of Huizhou timber to Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and other places.
When the railroad was introduced, it became a more convenient means of transportation, leading to a gradual decline in the Shangxinhe economy.