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The northwestern province of Shaanxi province is known as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Thirteen feudal dynasties set their capitals in the province over a span of more than 1,200 years, from the Zhou Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty. With such a long and rich history, it is no wonder that the province is littered with well-preserved ancient towns. Here are some of the best:
Qingmuchuan Town
The town of Qingmuchuan lies in the southwestern part of Shaanxi province and dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). The town reached its peak during in Republic years. Now, it is famed for its natural scenery, historic buildings, old streets, and ancestral temples - the Wei Family's being one of the best preserved.
The town reached new heights after the TV drama Man of the Times was filmed there and continues to draw in curious crowds as a result. The story tells of a town celebrity, Wei Futang, from the China Republic period (1912–1949). The drama was adapted from the novel Qingmuchuan, written by Shaanxi writer Ye Guangling. Wei goes under the pseudonym He Futang during the drama and is depicted as a man who devotes himself to his hometown, under the guidance of new ideas from his study in the US.
The town of Liuhou
Nestled in the mountains North of Hangzhong city lays the unsuspecting town of Liuhou. The town’s proximity to surrounding forests means that it is often showed with mountain mist, lending it the nicknames “natural oxygen bar” and “green treasure house”. More than 90 percent of the town’s jurisdiction is covered by forest.
One of the town’s many scenic spots is Zhangliang Temple, which was built in honor of Zhang Liang, an advisor who helped establish the West Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24).
Other attractions include Zibo mount (which now includes a ski resort) and an ancient street which originally built in 1808 of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The street was rebuilt in 2012 and has since integrates functions of tourism, entertainment and shopping.
The town of Huayang
The town of Huayang is located in Yangxian county, Shaanxi province. It dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and saw its peak in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 20) as a major military spot along ancient roads.
The architecture built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) is well preserved in the town. Visitors can still see the ancient towers, government offices, teahouses, pawnshops and inns along its 600-meter long street. The Hongyangou virgin forest adjacent to the town is also a good place to get close to nature.
The town of Shuhe
Meander down the streets in the ancient town of Shuhe and you’ll likely be transported to a bygone era. The town dates back as early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
Over a thousand years after it came into being, it wasn’t until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that Shuhe really took off, due to its advantageous location adjacent to Hubei, Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces.
In ancient days, the town attracted businessmen from far and wide, who brought with them a hodgepodge of cultures.
The town’s Huangzhou Hall, an ancient guild hall built in 1874 of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and Yangsi Temple were once used by gangs as places to gather.
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| Huayang offers majestic views of the mountains beyond. [Photo/xinhuanet.com] |
