Cangshu Town is located in the hilly area in the western suburbs of Suzhou, with mountains and rich vegetation, and a unique natural ecological environment suitable for raising sheep. Mutton was originally used as a tonic food or a farmhouse dish for family and friends after the autumn harvest in goat base. Because of its excellent taste, it won the favor of the city people, so it gradually changed to open a shop in the city to do business.

As early as the Ming and Qing Dynasties, farmers at the foot of the dome had a sideline in killing sheep, burning mutton and selling mutton. Generally speaking, they sold it on a consignment basis or on a stall basis. Only in the late Qing Dynasty did they start to set up shops and workshops in Suzhou (commonly known as "sheep farming"). In the twenty-second year of Guangxu, Zhou Xiaoquan, Zhoujiachang, a collection town, opened the first "Shengmeizhai" mutton shop in Suzhou vinegar workshop bridge, and after the announcement, they respectively set up shops and workshops in Duting Bridge and Suzhou vinegar workshop. During the period of the Republic of China, sheep farming in cities gradually increased, and many famous shops such as "Laoyuanxing" and "Xindehe" were opened in Daoqian Street, Duck Egg Bridge and Loumentang. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the first mutton shop in the town, Shengli Mutton Shop, was also opened in Shanrenqiao. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was still operated by individuals. After the commune, it was organized by a brigade, and more than 10 collective mutton shops were opened in Suzhou Shilu, Gaoqiao, Eunuch Lane, Dongzhong City and Gongxiang. At the turn of autumn and winter, mutton shops inside and outside the ancient city have opened one after another. Shops are generally set up along the street, without ostentation and extravagance. Pots and stoves stand in the storefront, and the aroma is scattered to the neighborhood, attracting many diners. "Don't want fresh mutton soup, don't want copper cymbals" has become the praise of everyone, and it has gained a good reputation and enjoys a high reputation so far.

After the reform and opening-up, the mutton collection business has been developing continuously. The number of operators has increased dramatically, and the regional scope has been continuously expanded, covering Suzhou (including six counties and one city), Wuxi, Changzhou, Shanghai, Jiaxing, Zhejiang and other large and medium-sized cities and township fairs. All the original 18 administrative villages in the town have people running this industry in other places, among which the villages in the southwest, such as Excited, Prosperous, Agriculture and Forestry, Sheguang, Hefeng, Jianfeng and Shengjian, are the most prosperous. The number of people who went out to open mutton shops in the town was 1500 in the 1980s, and increased to about 2000-3000 in the 1990s.