Six niche ancient towns in Chongqing, the silent beauty hidden in the long years

Chinese people all have a nostalgia complex. Ancient towns are rare living fossils of traditional culture. They retain old streets, old buildings, traces of past life, and vivid folk customs. With its cultural heritage that continues to this day, it is a place that can best satisfy and release people’s nostalgia.

Chongqing not only has many Internet celebrity attractions, beautiful women, and delicious food, it is also a place with many ancient towns. There are as many as 23 ancient towns named national historical and cultural towns, and the number is among the best in the country. , the following 6 ancient towns belong to the niche level. Although they are far away from the bustling city, uncontested and peaceful in the stopped time, each of them is just like the richness of the mountains and rivers and the long years, representing Chongqing. The perseverance and boldness of this city.

1. Shuangjiang Ancient Town

Shuangjiang Ancient Town is located on the lower reaches of Fujiang River, a tributary of Jialing River. Even though this ancient town is not famous, it is the first in China. One of the top ten historical towns.

The ancient town was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and has a history of more than 400 years. Today, there are Zhong Street, East Street, Shang West Street, Xia West Street, South Street, North Street, Xinglong Street, There are 9 streets including Shuixiangzi and Laozhuxiang.

The ancient town is paved with bluestone slabs, with alternating shops, staggered balconies, deep courtyards, antique charm, and mottled antiquity, reflecting the vicissitudes of the ancient town.

Yang Shangkun’s former residence was built during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of 150 years. The former residence uses exquisite materials, exquisite carvings and unique conception. It can be called a model of ancient residential architecture.

Address: Tongnan County, Chongqing City

Tickets: No tickets

2. Stone Toad Ancient Town

One of the top ten historical and cultural towns in Chongqing, it was founded in the late Yuan Dynasty and has a history of more than 600 years. It is known as the "Pearl of Western Jinxi". Qingyuan Palace is the most important building in Shidao Ancient Town. It is also the most complete and largest Ming and Qing Dynasty building in southwest China. It was built to commemorate Li Bing, the hero of flood control during the Warring States Period. It has a history of more than 500 years.

Qingyuan Palace still retains the stage, Sichuan Lord Hall, Lingguan Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Sun Moon Pavilion, Qingfeng Pavilion and other buildings, surrounded by more than 20 century-old trees.

When Li Bing came to Sichuan, he was highly sought after by Taoists for his immeasurable merits in water control and was revered as the deity "Great Bodhisattva". A temple fair is held here every year, known as the "Sichuan Lord Fair". During the temple fair There are Sichuan opera singers, lion dance performances, pole climbing performances, couplet writing, etc., which have been passed down from the Ming Dynasty to the present day.

Address: Shigao Town, Jiangjin District, Chongqing

Tickets: No tickets

3. Dongxi Ancient Town

Dongxi Ancient Town has a long history. In the second year of Wude (619), Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty established Danxi County here. In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (644), Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty withdrew Danxi County. The town was the seat of the county administrative office in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It has a history of more than 1,300 years. The ancient town has rich cultural landscapes and beautiful natural scenery.

The ancient town is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and is well-proportioned. The stilted buildings with cross-bar structures in the Ming and Qing Dynasties are even more unique. The roofs are covered with small green tiles. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the layout is unique, organically integrating traditional architecture with the natural environment. Integrated into one, it forms a quiet artistic conception of small bridges, flowing water and houses with a strong Jiangnan style.

There are more than 3,000 ancient kudzu trees here, which is the largest group of kudzu trees in southwest China. It is a sketching place for teachers and students of the Academy of Fine Arts.

Address: Dongxi Town, Qijiang District, Chongqing

Tickets: No tickets

IV. West Tuo Ancient Town

Xituo Ancient Town is located in Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing City. It is named because it is located on the backwater Tuo on the south bank of the Yangtze River. It faces Shibaozhai, the Pearl of the Yangtze River, across the river. Historically, Xituo was one of the starting points for land transportation on the ancient Bayan Road. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Xituo was "a county with prosperous land and water trade and fireworks."

The most eye-catching attraction in Xituo Ancient Town is Yunti Street. The residential buildings are undulating according to the terrain, with a height difference of nearly 160 meters from the edge of the Yangtze River to the top of the ancient town. Yunti Street is perpendicular to the Yangtze River and upwards in the shape of a dragon. There are 113 steps and 1124 bluestone ladders. Looking up from the Yangtze River, it seems like a ladder reaching into the sky. Looking down from the top of the street, especially when there are clouds and fog. , as if you are in the clouds, known as "Yunti Street".

This kind of street with vertical river surface is extremely rare along the Yangtze River and has extremely important scientific research value in the history of Chinese and foreign architecture.

Address: Xituo Town, Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing City

Tickets: No tickets

5. Baisha Ancient Town

During the Anti-Japanese War, Baisha, Chongqing’s Shapingba, Beibei Xiaba and Chengdu’s Huaxiba were collectively known as Sichuan’s “Four Cultural Dams”. As the rear area accompanying the capital Chongqing, it also It is one of the three major cultural districts in Peidu. Many places are now dilapidated, and there is a sense of vicissitudes of life.

The architectural style of the ancient town's residential buildings reflects the compatibility of Bayu culture and Western culture. It also absorbs the characteristics of northern architecture and Huizhou architecture. Many traditional residences, temples and Western-style buildings in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. The buildings all have a sense of history, as if they are a reappearance of the old Chongqing mountain town half a century ago.

The ancient town is characterized by the Anti-Japanese War relics and the scenery of stilted buildings. There are more than 20 Anti-Japanese War cultural sites.

The historical neighborhood is unique in style, large in scale and well-preserved. It is a veritable residential complex in the Bayu Mountains. The unique architectural style is similar to the old Chaotianmen Pier in Chongqing, so it has also attracted many film and television crews to shoot here.

Address: Jiangjin District, Chongqing

Tickets: No tickets

6. Songgai Ancient Town

The founding time of Songgai Ancient Town cannot be verified. Historically, Songji was a distribution center for merchants from eight surrounding counties to and from Chongqing. There were three docks on the waterway: the upper, middle and lower piers. There was a constant flow of ships on the river. In terms of land transportation, there was an endless stream of caravans transporting goods from each county every day. , there were more than 20 stables when it was prosperous, and the last stable was not closed until 1978.

Although there is no commercial development in Songji Ancient Town and there are not many tourists, there are many attractions in the ancient town, especially the many old buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as Diaojiaolou, Siheyuan, Chuandowu, Diaolou, and Ancient County Yamen and the emperor approved ancestral halls such as the Luo Family Ancestral Hall and the Chen Family Ancestral Hall.

The town has an old street paved with bluestones with a length of 5 kilometers, ranking first among the ancient towns in Chongqing. It is winding and winding, and you can stroll along it. You can still feel the rich ancient charm.

The Luo family ancestral hall is now cared for by the grandsons of the Luo family. It is said that every year during the Qingming Festival, the Luo family will hold a Luo family gathering here to pay homage to their ancestors.

Address: Yongchuan District, Chongqing

Tickets: No tickets