Culture Tourism
Sichuan old town to open to the public
By Huang Zhiling and Zhang Ao (China Daily Sichuan Bureau)
Updated: 2010-04-28 17:40
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DAYI: Xinchang, a State-level ancient town in Dayi County, Sichuan Province, will open to the public on May 1.
Retaining residential houses in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and churches built during the Republican of China (1912-1949), the town was included on the list of Famous Chinese Towns of History and Culture approved by the State Bureau for Preservation of Cultural Relics and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in 2008.
The town has attracted over 286,000 visitors since last October, contributing more than 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) to its tourism sector.
According to Long Yuxiang, party secretary of Xinchang town, a three-day opening celebration would be held from May 1 to 3, when visitors could have free access to an exhibition of Xinchang’s history, as well as performances of Sichuan comedians and the State Art Troupe of the South Korea.
"Sichuan Opreas, traditional folk art such as bamboo weaving, snacks like tofu pudding and pickles will be available," he said.
Known as an "Abundant water town" and the "Last old place in the western Sichuan plain," Xinchang has a history dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220AD). Fifty-two kilometers away from Chengdu, Xinchang used to be a commercial center on the ancient tea-horse road which traversed through Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
