The most beautiful ancient towns in China

For thousands of years, people of various nationalities have lived in the vast land of China with different customs and living habits, and have preserved their own distinctive architectural communities with long history and profound culture, such as the water towns in Zhejiang and Jiangsu, the Hui-style villages in Anhui and Jiangxi, the ethnic minority villages in Hunan and Guizhou, the western Sichuan towns in Sichuan and Chongqing, the ancient village dwellings in Yunnan...

Source: China Discovery, Wikipedia

The old towns and villages in China, as an important part of Chinese cultural heritage, highlight the unique architectural characteristics of different regions and ethnic groups. Even today, most of towns and villages in China still retain the old architectural style and traditional folk customs and wait for you to experience the old way of Chinese life.

Các thị trấn và làng cổ ở Trung Quốc, là một phần quan trọng của người Trung Quốc di sản văn hóa, làm nổi bật nét đặc trưng kiến ​​trúc độc đáo của các vùng, các dân tộc. Thậm chí ngày nay, hầu hết các thị trấn và làng mạc ở Trung Quốc vẫn giữ phong cách kiến ​​trúc cũ và phong tục dân gian truyền thống và tất cả chờ đợi du khách trải nghiệm, hoài niệm không gian xưa.

Cùng Thiên Xuân Travel tham quan các khu phố cổ, những ngôi làng nghìn tuổi ở Trung Quốc để trải nghiệm dấu thời gian, nét quyến rũ cổ xưa in hằn trên từng viên đá lót đường, mái ngói rêu phong, dòng kênh quanh năm xanh mát. Những kiến ​​trúc rất cổ mang đậm phong cách của từng địa phương, cùng nét văn hóa dân gian đặc trưng của cư dân sinh sống bao đời. Những khung cảnh đẹp nao lòng mang trong lòng những câu chuyện lịch sử thú vị qua nhiều thế kỷ thăng trầm, mang lại dư vị khó phai và vô cùng truyền cảm hứng cho mọi du khách.

Fenghuang Ancient Town

Fenghuang Ancient Town (凤凰古镇) or called Phoenix Ancient Town is a particular old town of ethnic culture of Miao and Tujia minority groups in the western Hunan province. With the special wooden tilted-houses standing on the two banks of Tuojiang River floating through, Fenghuang is a charming ethnic lady for your discovery. For the fascination of Fenghuang, an Irish writer praised Fenghuang as “ the most beautiful town in China” after his visit. It is said time slows down in Fenghuang, so when you visit there, you could shower in the sunshine along the hundreds-year old streets, appreciate the look of this town on the old pavilion of the bridge, walk across the stones on the river, take a boat to see the vivid scenes onshore, immerse into the romantic night splendors of the old but vigorous old town in China. Furthermore, a series of interesting ancient sites still tell about the stories and legend of famous writer Shen Congwen and others, and the relation and development of the ethnic groups for your enjoyment.

Zhouzhuang Water Town

The well-known Zhouzhuang Water Town (周庄古镇) is praised as the “No.1 Water Town in China”. Keeping over 60% residential buildings of Ming and Qing styles and 14 distinctly featured ancient bridges and the idyllic structure of water winding across the houses, Zhouzhuang Water Town shows perfectly of the scenes of small bridges, floating water and households in people’s dreams. As a historic and typical water town near Suzhou, the black tiles and white walls, red lanterns hung on eaves, drifting boats along the narrow water way, calling of local products from the wooden shops, and the real life of local residents, you would have a true experience of a water town of tender Jiangnan style. Also, as the hometown of the famous businessman Shen Wansan and the world influential painter Shen Yifei, you could visit their old places to know their stories and savour their ancient buildings. During every minute in Zhouzhuang, all the worries and troubles would disappear, what left there is the interest of getting lost in the maze and enjoy the pure life style in old China.

Lijiang Old Town

Lijiang Old Town 丽江古镇 is a famous ancient city with beautiful scenery, old history and splendid culture, as well as an important transit station on the Tea Horse Road, which was known as the "Southern Silk Road". Lijiang Old Town was listed as UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site in 1997 and it is also known as one of the four best-preserved ancient cities, along with Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi, Huizhou Ancient City in Anhui, and Langzhong Ancient City in Sichuan, which are all famous for their history and culture. Until now, the architectural style in Lijiang Old Town is still consistent with the Ming and Qing dynasties, in terms of its outline, shape and structure, with the characteristics of the ancient Central Plains architecture, but also integrates the architectural style of the Bai ethnic group, and forms a unique Naxi architectural complex. Here you can fully experience the colorful local ethnic customs and recreational activities, such as Naxi ancient music, Dongba ceremony, divination culture, bars in the town as well as the Naxi Torch Festival and so on.

Xitang Water Town

Xitang Water Town (西塘古镇) is described as living ancient town. This old water town of more than 10 centuries old still maintains its simple and ancient characteristics with a featured leisurable and cozy life style. The well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasties buildings in the ancient town well-retained the Jiangnan style of the water town. The countless specially shaped ancient bridges and lanes is one of the unique features of Xitang Water Town.

And after the shooting of the world famous Hollywood movie Mission Impossible 3, this mysterious old place has been listed in the traveling lists of more visitors in and to China. Therefore, even you take a simple walk along the old streets, lanes or take a ramble boat to enjoy the antique houses and their reflections on the glittering water, happiness and interesting time you could easy enjoy. During day time, you could savor the real life style of locals by watching the old men playing chess, women doing daily routines at the river, however, at night hours, you could sip a glass of wine to feel the modern vigor of this old town.

Tongli Water Town

Tongli Water Town in Suzhou is one of the top six ancient towns in the regions south of Yangtze River in China, which is world reputed as the “Oriental Venice” with its more than 1000-year-old history, authentic features of old buildings, rich old rivers, simple folk culture of locals.

Tongli (同里), also called Tongli Water Town, in the southwest of Suzhou, is one of the “Top Six Ancient Towns in Jiangnan (Regions South of Yangtze River)” in China with a long history of over 1,000 years. Enjoying the advantageous location of being surrounded by water and linked by old stone bridges, Tongli is the symbol of water town in southern China. Therefore, it is regarded as the “Oriental Venice” as well as a “Natural Photo Studio” by people from the whole world and is titled the “National AAAAA Tourist Attraction”.

Moreover, since it still well keeps a series of ancient structures from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, like the “Retreat & Reflection Garden (退思园)” which is a World Cultural Heritage Site praised by many poets, Tongli is a perfect place to savor the authentic flavor of old water town in China and the real leisure life of the charming Jiangnan (江南) region.

Hongcun Ancient Village

Hongcun, the ancient village in Chinese paintings, is a best example of typical Anhui-style architecture. Together with Xidi, Hongcun was listed as World Heritage Site in 2000. The famous Oscar film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon framed several scenes in this 900 years old village.

Hongcun is the China you think of when you think of ancient China. Many of the buildings in Hongcun can date back to the Song Dynasty (A.D. 960 - 1279) and is regarded as the best example of typical Hui-style architecture. Called “the ancient village in Chinese paintings”, Hongcun is so quiet, peaceful and beautiful which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, together with Xidi.

After Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed in Hongcun, more and more people get to know this ancient village. Many travelers choose to visit this beautiful village before or after the Mt. Huangshan trip.

Dunhuang Silk Roads

The city of Dunhuang, in north-west China, is situated at a point of vital strategic and logistical importance, on a crossroads of two major trade routes within the Silk Road network. Lying in an oasis at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang was one of the first trading cities encountered by merchants arriving in China from the west. It was also an ancient site of Buddhist religious activity, and was a popular destination for pilgrims, as well as acting as a garrison town protecting the region.

The remarkable Mogao Caves, a collection of nearly 500 caves in the cliffs to the south of the city, contain the largest depositary of historic documents along the Silk Roads and bear witness to the cultural, religious, social and commercial activity that took place in Dunhuang across the first millennium. The city changed hands many times over its long history, but remained a vibrant hub of exchange until the 11th century, after which its role in Silk Road trade began to decline.

Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao Ancient City (平遥古城), with a history of more than 2,700 years, is one of the best-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasties ancient cities in China. With rich historical and cultural heritage, it preserves many ancient buildings and relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is known as the "Museum of Chinese Ancient City" and the "Treasure of Chinese Ancient Architecture".

Until today, it has preserved the features of the county town from the Ming and Qing dynasties, making it the existing most complete ancient city in Chinese Han nationality region, and enjoys the reputation of "Little Beijing". Pingyao Ancient City is also one of the most important representatives of traditional Chinese culture, presenting an extraordinary picture of cultural, social, economic and religious development.

The city walls here are full of traces of history, interpreting the vicissitudes of time, and it is only a small part of the architecture legacy of Pingyao Ancient City. Its overall settlement, design, architecture style, construction skills, materials, decorations of the ancient residences are the historical and cultural heritage that will really shock you when seeing. 

Ô Trấn

Ô Trấn 乌镇镇 Cổ trấn nghìn năm chưa một lần thay tên ở Trung Quốc, thuộc Đồng Hương, Chiết Giang. Ô Trấn được xây dựng và chịu ảnh hưởng từ triết lý Nho giáo cũng như tính thẩm mỹ của Trung Hoa cổ đại, với tiểu kiều, lưu thủy, nhân gia. Hàm ý là cổ trấn với những câu cầu nhỏ, phía dưới là dòng nước chảy tượng trưng cho sự hanh thông cũng những ngôi nhà được xây sát mé nước, từ gian chính trong nhà có thể nhìn ra dòng sông nước chảy hiền hòa và quanh cảnh bốn mùa thay đổi trước mắt. Đã hơn ngàn năm qua nhưng Ô Trấn vẫn duy trì cách phân chia các phường như thời trước, bao gồm sáu phường nhỏ là làng nghề truyền thống, làng cổ, làng văn hóa, làng ẩm thực, làng bán đò uống và chợ ven sông.

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