Laitan Ancient Town in Hechuan District, Chongqing
Attractions Overview
Founded in the Song Dynasty, it is one of the first batch of famous historical and cultural towns in China and the first batch of "the most beautiful villages and towns in China".
On June 10, 2015, Laitan Ancient Town Scenic Area was officially approved as a national AAAA(4A) scenic area by the National Tourism Administration.
Chinese Name: 涞滩古镇
English Name: Laitan Ancient Town
Type: Cultural Scenic Area, Chongqing famous spots & Cultural attractions
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Hours: over 3 hours
Opening Hours:Open all day
Ticke: Free, some temples and other scenic spots in the town are charged separately.
Location: 28 km northeast of Hechuan District, Chongqing City
Why is Laitan Ancient Town so Special?
Established in the Song Dynasty, it is one of the first batch of famous historical and cultural towns in China, one of the top ten ancient towns in China and the first batch of “the most beautiful villages and towns in China”. The ancient village has three cliffs, with the dangerous trend of “and while one man guards it and ten thousand cannot force it”. The barbican added in the first year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty is the only one in Chongqing. Four Tibetan soldier caves are reserved in the city. The Wenchang Palace, a Qing Dynasty building, is well preserved. The woodcut relief sculpture on the outer column of the ancient drama building is amazing.
History of Ancient Town
More than 200 years ago, the ancient village was built in Xianfeng. It covers an area of 0.25 square kilometers. The four gates are cross-symmetrical. The walls of the village are all made of more than half a meter long stone. The wall is 7 meters high and 2.5 meters wide. In order to prevent Taiping rebels from entering Sichuan and the uprisings of Li and Lan, another massive reinforcement and maintenance was carried out during the Tongzhi period. Stone defense facilities surrounding the entire ancient village were built and are still strong today.
Laitan used to be a famous water wharf with many merchants and prosperous markets. Eyes through the tunnel of time, back to the Qing Xianfeng years, due to the side of the Qujiang River, relying on the benefits of boat bowing, Bedan was also a famous water wharf, where water could attract merchants. At that time, Laitan Village was crowded with merchants, its markets were prosperous and very prosperous, and Two Buddhas Temple built on the mountain was also filled with incense. It was a very prosperous geomantic treasure land.
Architectural style
The ancient temple building group in laitan ancient town was founded in Tang dynasty, flourished in song dynasty and rebuilt in Qing dynasty. legend has it that there were 9 palaces (temples) and 18 temples near the ancient town. it was a gathering place for Taoist Buddhists. when it flourished, there were thousands of Taoist monks. huilong temple and Zhang ye temple were already ruins. two towering ancient banyan trees and temple gates remained in the temple. Wenchang Shenggong, built in Qing Dynasty, was converted into a small school site after liberation. Its main building is still in existence. Among them, there are ancient stage buildings and woodcut reliefs on the platform outside the stage. Its artistic value is extremely high and amazing.
Characteristics of Ancient Town
The ancient town of Laitan has a long history. It was established as a town in the Song Dynasty. The ancient town is bordered by Qujiang River and has beautiful natural scenery. The residential buildings in the Ming and Qing dynasties are scattered in high and low places. The old streets and alleys are simple and elegant. The barbican built in the Qing Dynasty is now well preserved. Chongqing has only one.
The ancient town of Laitan is divided into two stages, one is on stage and the other is off stage. It is separated by a small distance and looks like a brother and sister. One is high, the other is low, the other is high, the other is low, the other is firm and the other is soft. They look after each other. Laitan Village covers an area of 0.25 square kilometers, and the four gates are in cross symmetry, which is in sharp contrast with modern architecture and has unique ancient flavor. The old castle features are still preserved in the ancient village, with narrow and curved stone streets and alleys with appropriate dimensions, and more than 400 Qing dynasty dwellings. The small green tile buildings with wooden structure, which are strewn at random, basically maintain the original style and features of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and are of primitive simplicity and elegance.
Main attraction
Wenchang Palace
The ancient town of Laitan has beautiful mountains and rivers, a long history, a gathering of people, and a strong folk culture and customs of Bayu. It still retains the traditional pattern and historical features formed in the Qing Dynasty.
Shuanglong Lake
Shuanglong Lake has 8 important natural and cultural landscapes. The reflection in the water is stunning and magnificent. Shuanglong Lake has fresh air and elegant environment.
Weng Town
The ancient town of Laitan is surrounded by cliffs on three sides and has the potential of “and while one man guards it and ten thousand cannot force it”. The Weng Town added in 1862 (the first year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty) is the only well-preserved ancient defense facility in East Sichuan.
How to get there
Chongqing Caiyuanba bus station has a daily bus to Hechuan (or take bus 508 to Hechuan at Chongqing railway station), a bus from Hechuan bus station to Longshi (around 10 yuan), get off at Laitan junction, and then take a motorcycle or minibus to Guzhai.
From Chongqing to Hechuan, drive to Hechuan and then go north to Longshi. Before reaching Longshi, there is a crossing to the right to Laitan. The whole cement road, about 90 kilometers, 1.5 hours.
