Zhuoshui ancient town

Zhuoshui ancient town, located in the southeast corner of Qianjiang District, Chongqing, is on the Bank of Tangyan River (Apeng River), the main tributary of Wujiang River, surrounded by mountains on all sides. It is a rare Tujia water town in Wuling mountain area. It is a millennium old town integrating Tujia stilted building community, water transportation wharf and trade market town.

History has left many cultural relics and local cultural heritage for Zhuoshui ancient town. The interweaving of Bachu culture, Tujia culture, Daxi Culture and Chinese civilization here has formed the unique folk culture and customs of Zhuoshui ancient town. Due to its important commercial location, Zhuoshui has become an important post station and commercial port since ancient times. Since the late Qing Dynasty, Zhuoshui has become the only way for the post road, commercial road and Salt Road in Southeast Sichuan.

Zhuoshui ancient town

Zhuoshui ancient town is located in Zhuoshui town in the southeast corner of Qianjiang District, Chongqing City, on the Bank of the main tributary of Wujiang River, 26 kilometers away from the main city of Qianjiang River. Chongqing Huaihua railway, Chongqing Hunan Expressway and national highway 319 pass through the town, 26 kilometers away from zhoubai airport. With convenient transportation, Zhuoshui ancient town is a national AAAA scenic spot and a national historical and cultural town. It is a millennium old town integrating Tujia stilted building community, water transportation wharf and trade market town.

Zhuoshui ancient town rose in the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, and gradually declined after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is one of the most famous ancient towns in Southeast Chongqing. As a typical example of Chongqing's old streets, Zhuoshui ancient town retains a relatively complete street pattern, with a strong pattern of Southeast Chongqing ancient town. It not only reflects the differences with other urban historical blocks, but also carries the integration, inheritance and innovation of Ba culture, Tujia culture and Han culture. At the same time, wharf culture, merchant culture and town culture are intertwined.

Development history

Zhuoshui was called "baiheba" at the beginning, and it was under the jurisdiction of Youyang chieftain during the yuan and Ming Dynasties. Due to its important commercial location, Zhuoshui has become an important post station and commercial port since ancient times. Since the late Qing Dynasty, Zhuoshui has become the only way for the post road, commercial road and Salt Road in Southeast Sichuan. In the 24th year of the Republic of China, Zhuoshui was called "zhuoheba". At this time, merchants gathered here, shops row upon row. The increasing development of Commerce and trade has rapidly promoted the exchange of materials between the local and the outside world, and created the most prosperous history. It has even been on the top of Qianjiang County in the same period. Together with Longtan ancient town and gongtan ancient town of Youyang, it is known as the "three famous towns of Youyang".

The existence of "maoshengyuan", "yibinzhan", "guangshunhao", "tongshunzhi" and a number of dyeing houses, brewing houses, embroidery workshops and other handicraft workshops has attracted customers from Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan and other places. They brought foreign products such as organ, harmonica, self chime clock, steam lamp and hand gramophone to Zhuoshui, and then sold Zhuoshui's silk, tung oil, tea, lacquer and other products far away. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, some Japanese even came here to do business, and sold the raw lacquer of "Guangshun" and the medicinal materials of "tongshunzhi" to Japan, demonstrating the legend of Sino Japanese folk trade.

After 1956, due to various reasons, the business of the ancient town gradually shrank.

The clear water of the waves can wash my tassels, and the turbid water of the waves can wash my feet Zhuoshui ancient town is located in the southeast of Chongqing City, 26 kilometers away from Qianjiang City. Chongqing Huaihua railway, Chongqing Hunan Expressway and national highway 319 cross here, so the traffic is very convenient. As early as 10000 years ago, there were human activities in the Apeng river basin where Zhuoshui is located. The Apeng River, which flows through the ancient town of Zhuoshui, originated in Lichuan, Hubei Province. It is the only inland river flowing from east to West in China. It has become an important channel connecting the three Gorges area and Jianghan Plain together with Wujiang River and Youshui River since ancient times.

The street pattern of Zhuoshui ancient town remains relatively complete. The ancient town has rich cultural heritage, which is intertwined with wharf culture, merchant culture, town culture and rich and colorful cultural and artistic relics. The intangible cultural heritage of Houhe ancient opera and Xilankapu, sculpture and other folk crafts complement each other, forming a unique local culture of Zhuoshui.

"Tour the old streets of the ancient town, taste Tujia food, watch the ancient opera of Houhe, listen to the water sound of Pengjiang", Zhuoshui ancient town contains the splendid culture of history. With the transformation of the ancient town, an ancient town which has accumulated rich cultural connotation in the long river of more than 4000 years has regained its former style and ushered in a glorious era.

In 2014, it won the title of national famous historical and cultural town.

geographical position

Zhuoshui ancient town is located in the southeast corner of Qianjiang River, on the Bank of Tangyan River (Apeng River), the main tributary of Wujiang River. The main residents are Tujia and Miao. Zhuoshui ancient town is 26 kilometers away from the main city of Qianjiang River. Chongqing Huaihua railway, Chongqing Hunan Expressway and 319 National Highway all cross here, so the traffic is very convenient.

Surrounded by mountains, Zhuoshui ancient town is a rare Tujia water town in Wuling mountain area. It is a millennium old town integrating Tujia stilted building community, water transportation wharf and trade market town. History has left many cultural relics and local cultural heritage for Zhuoshui ancient town. The interweaving of Bachu culture, Tujia culture, Daxi Culture and Chinese civilization here has formed the unique folk culture and customs of Zhuoshui ancient town.

Along with Wujiang River and Youshui River, the Apeng River, which flows through the ancient town of Zhuoshui, has become an important channel connecting the Three Gorges area and Jianghan Plain since ancient times. Zhuoshui ancient town witnessed the rise and fall of Ba people and the golden age and iron horse of Qin people. As a typical example of old streets in Chongqing, Zhuoshui ancient town not only has many historical sites and related historical allusions, but also has accumulated rich cultural connotations in the long history of 4000 years. The pattern of streets and alleys is relatively complete, with a strong pattern of ancient towns in Southeast Chongqing. It not only reflects the differences with other cities, especially the historical blocks of plain cities, but also carries the fusion, inheritance and innovation of Ba culture, Tujia culture and other cultures. At the same time, wharf culture, merchant culture, town culture and rich and colorful cultural and artistic remains are intertwined.

Zhuoshui ancient town is not only an important part of Puhua River scenic spot, but also the gateway of Puhua River scenic spot. Together with Tiansheng Sanqiao, underground river, funnel group and agricultural comprehensive development demonstration zone, Zhuoshui ancient town is a tourist attraction integrating geological wonders, agricultural ecology and ancient town tourism.

Characteristic architecture

Old street of ancient town

The old street of Zhuoshui ancient town is paved with bluestone slabs, about 1000 meters long and 2-3.5 meters wide. On both sides of the street, the business houses, folk houses, guild halls and schools are all of wooden structure, some of which are stilted buildings, some of which are quadrangles, some of which are cuojikou. There are fire sealing walls with exquisite murals among the dwellings, exquisite wood carvings on the window pattern, and exquisite stone carvings on the pier. Walking on the street, it's like being in a palace of multi-ethnic culture. The architecture of Zhuoshui ancient town has realized the perfect combination of Tujia stilted building and Hui style architecture. There is softness in rigidity, softness in rigidity, and the combination of hardness and softness creates a unique architectural style, simple and full of philosophy.

The tourist reception center at the entrance of the ancient town is an ancient stage with a history of more than 300 years. The figures carved on the eaves are lifelike. Due to the underdeveloped economy, these rare carvings have been preserved in Chongqing.

Tujia Diaojiaolou group

The most complete existing buildings are the folk houses built along the river in the ancient town, that is, the huge Tujia stilted buildings on the street of the ancient town. These stilted buildings are built on the river banks of the Apeng river. The four or five meter high river banks are built with stones. After more than 200 years of river erosion, the stone river banks are not inclined at all.

Ancient town moral monument

In the middle of the street of Zhuoshui ancient town stands a stone tablet more than 1 meter high and about 50 cm wide. The stone tablet was erected in 1888 A.D. and has a history of 121 years. The stone tablet is engraved with four characters of "Heaven's reason and conscience". According to reports, this stele is a rare "moral stele" in Wuling mountain area. To warn the merchants of ancient town that the way of doing business, being a person and dealing with the world lies in "natural reason and conscience".

Fengyu bridge in ancient town

The Fengyu bridge in Zhuoshui ancient town of Qianjiang River, 303 meters long and 5 meters wide, is said to be the longest corridor bridge in Asia. It is divided into three parts: bridge, tower and pavilion. The Fengyu bridge in Zhuoshui ancient town is a pure wooden structure. The tenon and mortise are interpenetrated and connected with each other between the building materials, and the structure is firm and precise. There are about 100 carved wooden windows on both sides of the bridge, and red painted benches are placed in the bridge. On the evening of November 27, 2013, a fire broke out on the wind rain corridor bridge of Zhuoshui ancient town in Qianjiang, Chongqing, which is known as the No.1 in Asia. The fire department is investigating the cause of the fire; the storm bridge was rebuilt in May 2014 and reopened in February 2015. After reconstruction, the wind and rain covered bridges are still charming.

Folk activities

Houhe opera in Zhuoshui ancient town

Zhuoshui town Houhe opera was born in Baisan township of Youyang Prefecture in Wuling Mountain Area in the mid-19th century. Houhe opera was born and spread in this rich land.

The Houhe opera in Zhuoshui town can be regarded as half a set of gongs and drums. The gongs and drums are slow in weight, sad and happy in steel and soft in style. They play duets, recite and play. Their body movements and facial expressions are unified. Although they are divided into South, North and upper singing, they still belong to the category of pihuang opera. There is a complete drama program. The stage performance space is huge and the time span is unlimited. The unique singing style, gongs and drums, and Jinghu Qupai are not possessed by ordinary local operas.

Singing is divided into three categories: South Road, North Road and upper road. The South Road contains "inverted slab" and

Chinese PinYin : Zhuo Shui Gu Zhen