In Rongchang District in western Chongqing, the Laixi River meanders, nourishing Wanling Ancient Town, a millennium-old town founded in the Southern Song Dynasty. Once known as “Lukong Ancient Town”, this secret place has a history of more than a thousand years and completely inherits the immigrant Culture of “Huguang filling Sichuan”. Known as the “living fossil of Hakka culture” and “immigrant water town”, it is also an important carrier of Rongchang’s “Haitang Fragrant Country” cultural heritage. Different from the noisy commercialized ancient towns, Wanling’s beauty lies in the blue waves of the Laixi River, carved in the lines of the bluestone roads, and integrated into the ingenuity of intangible cultural heritage. It has both the gentleness of a Jiangnan water town and the profoundness of the Bayu land, making it an ideal place to escape the city and find slow time. As a national AAAA-level scenic spot, it is open for free, with traces of history around every corner and the warmth of fireworks everywhere.
The soul of Wanling Ancient Town lies in its landscape pattern of mountains and rivers and the well-preserved cultural relics. The ancient town is built along the Laixi River, with a wide and quiet river surface. Boating on it, you can see the scattered ancient buildings and lying ancient bridges on both banks, which is quite like the charm of a Jiangnan water town, but also has more vigor of a Bayu ancient town. In the core scenic area, ancient streets, ancient bridges, ancient ancestral halls and ancient temples are dotted, forming a three-dimensional picture of thousand-year-old humanistic Culture. Among them, the Darong Bridge spanning the Laixi River is particularly unique. Half of it is a high arch bridge, and the other half is a large stone slab close to the water surface, which can not only pass boats but also get close to the water. Walking on the bridge, listening to the gurgling river water and watching the fishing boats sway gently, you can almost hear the echo of thousands of years of time. This ancient bridge is not only a traffic artery but also a witness to the history of the ancient town, carrying the footprints and expectations of the immigrant ancestors.
Going deep into the Ancient Town, you can touch the profound heritage of immigrant Culture. Huguang Guild Hall and Zhao Clan Ancestral Hall are must-visit places. Here is the best window to understand the history of “Huguang filling Sichuan”. Between the blue bricks and gray tiles, the life traces and clan culture of the immigrant ancestors are preserved. Inside the Huguang Guild Hall, the carved beams and painted pillars are lifelike, and every detail shows the integration and collision of immigrant cultures; the Zhao Clan Ancestral Hall is simple and solemn, displaying clan genealogies and historical cultural relics, telling the migration and inheritance of the family. In addition, there is a 12-meter-high golden Buddha sitting by the river in the ancient town, shining brightly, which is a landmark of the ancient town. It complements the landscape of the Laixi River and becomes a popular spot for tourists to take photos.
As an important display place of Rongchang’s intangible cultural heritage, Wanling Ancient Town allows every visitor to immerse themselves in the charm of traditional crafts. Rongchang Xiabu cloth, known as “the soft gold that does not rot for a thousand years”, is one of the four major Xiabu producing areas in China. There are Xiabu cultural and creative stores everywhere in the ancient town. From Xiabu clothing to Xiabu ornaments, each work embodies the ingenuity of the craftsmen. Tourists can also experience Xiabu making by hand and feel the unique charm of this intangible cultural heritage skill with a history of more than 2,600 years. In addition, there are many teahouses in the ancient town. Order a cup of green tea, sit quietly for a while, watch the passing pedestrians and listen to the old people chatting, and feel the comfort of the slow life in Sichuan and Chongqing. If you happen to be there during a festival, intangible cultural heritage programs such as dragon and lion dances, Chansi Boxing and Xiabu fashion shows will be staged in turn, with gongs and drums roaring, which fully shows the vitality of Bayu folk customs.
After wandering around the ancient streets, you may wish to unlock the characteristic food of Wanling Ancient Town, each bite is an authentic Rongchang flavor. When it comes to Rongchang food, the first recommendation is Rongchang braised goose, which is known as “Braised goose, braised goose, you can’t walk away with a glance”. traditional Chinese medicine is added during the braising process, making the goose meat firm, the braised fragrance mellow and the color attractive. It is a favorite delicacy of every household in the ancient town. Stores such as Xiaoluo Braised Goose and Caibawa Braised Goose are the favorites of local people. In addition to braised goose, Wanling Twice-Cooked Pork is also not to be missed. It uses local Erdao pork from Rongchang, paired with Sichuan-style seasonings and sweet noodle sauce, with a spicy and sweet taste, fragrant but not greasy. There are also characteristic snacks such as Lard Baba and Zhu’er Baba. Lard Baba is soft and smooth, and Zhu’er Baba is glutinous, with both salty and sweet options. Each bite hides the ancient flavor, making people linger and forget to return.
The convenience of transportation and accommodation makes this ancient town trip more relaxed. Starting from downtown Chongqing, it takes only 22 minutes by high-speed rail to reach Rongchang North Station, then transfer to Bus No. 602 to reach the ancient town directly. You can also choose the scenic area through train. The ticket from Xiabu Town to Wanling Ancient Town is only 3 yuan, with one shift per hour, making travel very convenient. Driving to “Wanling Ancient Town Tourist Center”, it takes about 1.5 hours, and Parking in the scenic area is convenient. There are various accommodation options, including folk inns close to the fireworks of the ancient town, with warm decoration, and you can see the ancient streets and Laixi River when pushing the window, with high cost performance; there are also high-end homestays integrating Rongchang elements such as Xiabu and pottery, with complete supporting facilities, allowing tourists to feel the charm of the ancient town in tranquility and meeting the needs of different tourists.
Wanling’s beauty is the gentleness of mountains and rivers, the profoundness of thousand-year-old immigrants, the ingenuity of intangible cultural heritage, and the warmth of urban life. There is no noise of excessive commercialization here, only the tranquility of bluestone roads, the tenderness of Laixi River, the aroma of food and the charm of intangible cultural heritage. Whether you are boating on the Laixi River, wandering around the ancient streets, experiencing intangible cultural heritage, or tasting delicious food, you can find your own slow time in this ancient town. Come to Wanling Ancient Town, touch the context of immigrant culture, feel the temperature of intangible cultural heritage, taste the authentic Rongchang flavor, and embark on a water town date spanning a thousand years.
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