Famous Ancient Towns
Of more than forty thousand towns and villages all over China, legions of them are hundred-year-old ancient towns, and quite a few of them are even listed as World Cultural Heritage. Preserving the history, carrying on folk customs, these famous ancient towns have a collection of unparalleled art gems and brilliant civilization. On the basis of their cultural background and historical region, they can be broadly divided into eight categories: towns of traditional Hui style, of exquisite watertown style, of simple northwest features, of distinctive south features, of romantic atmosphere, of ethnic minority atmosphere, of magnificent north characteristics, of delicate Hunan and Guizhou characteristics.
Wuzhen
Wuzhen is an ancient town located in Zhejiang Province, China, and is renowned as one of the historical and cultural towns of China. Situated at the junction of the Wuzhou River and the Baihe River, Wuzhen is famous for its picturesque water scenery and traditional architecture.
Divided into East and West sections, Wuzhen comprises six islands and nine rivers. Its architectural style combines elements of the Jiangnan water towns and traditional Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings. In Wuzhen, you can find ancient residences, bridges, wharfs, and canals, all showcasing the unique charm of Wuzhen as a water town.
Lijiang Ancient Town
Old Town of Lijiang is also called Dayan Old Town. It is the only old town without a city wall among all famous historical and cultural cities of China. Some people explain that the ruler of ancient Lijiang is surnamed ''木'' (Mu) , if the city is enclosed by city wall, it turns to ''困'' which means the Mu family will get into trouble. Residential houses of the town adopt the essential architecture arts of Naxi, Bai, Tibet, and Han nationalities. Most of them are wood-tile structures without the usage of nails each with a courtyard that is planted with trees and flowers.
Scientific usage of water is a great feat of the local people. When the flowing water of Yuquan River encounters the Yudai Bridge (Jade Belt Bridge) of the town, it is divided into three streams to form a special water system which not only meets the demand of dwellers but also add natural beauty to the town. Because of the water system, the old town is crisscrossed by canals and bridges. Lots of pools and wells are still in use now. And most of dwelling houses stand in front of or against a stream with willow trees caressing flowing water.
Pingyao Old Town
The Old Town of Pingyao is a small town in Pingyao County, in central Shanxi Province. With a history of 2,700 years, it is the best preserved ancient city in China. It sets an example of what a Chinese city was like in Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. It entered the lists of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 1997. It is chosen as one of the world’s 41 most visit-worthy places by New York Times because it integrally keeps ''old traditions''. The town keeps much the same look as it was in Ming and Qing dynasties. A bird’s eye view reveals that the city looks like a turtle with six city gates, four turrets, and 72 defense towers along the six-kilometer-long city wall. The layout of streets is in the shape of a Chinese character ''土'' with four main streets and eight smaller streets and 72 alleys, showing the concept of city planning and city structure in Ming and Qing dynasties. More than 4000 quadrangle residential houses of Ming and Qing Dynasties are unified black-bricked walls and gray tiles. The streets and even shops show the old appearance in the past. Hence the city was dubbed as a living sample of Chinese old city.
Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, located in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, is one of the most famous water towns in the country. Zhouzhuang is renowned for its ancient architecture, enchanting canals, and beautiful scenery.
With a history of nearly a thousand years, Zhouzhuang preserves many buildings and traditional features from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It boasts exquisite stone bridges, narrow lanes, courtyard houses, and covered corridors, showcasing the unique charm of the water towns in southern China. Taking a stroll here, you can enjoy the serene water views and the beauty of ancient buildings, immersing yourself in a rich historical atmosphere.
Canals flow through the entire town, providing both water transportation and unique scenery in Zhouzhuang. You can take a boat ride along the canals to explore every corner of the town. Especially at night, the town is illuminated, creating a magical ambiance.
Kashgar Old Town
Just located opposite the famous Idgar Mosque, the Old Town of Kashgar, a district of Uygur Islam, is a lively scroll painting of Uygur folk custom. Covering 4.25 square kilometers and inhabited by 126000 people, the Old Town District is the soul of the Kashgar, reflecting both the city's ancient past and the peaceful present. Streets in the district are criss-cross, dwellings are flexibly distributed; most houses are soil-timber or masonry-timber structures, and some have been standing for over 100 years. It is the only labyrinth urban block featuring Islamic culture in China.
Earth Buildings of Yongding/Fujian Tulou
Yongding Tulou, located in Longyan city, Fujian province, is unique rural dwellings of the Hakka and Minnan people in mountainous areas around the world. It is a gem in architecture of ancient China because of its long history, distinct styles, magnificent scale and exquisite structure. In terms of history, aesthetics, and science, Yongding Tulou is highly commended as the ancient castle of the orient. Generally speaking, Tulou is divided into two sorts, the rectangular and the circular. Nowadays, there are about 360 well-reputed circular Tulou and more than 4000 circular ones.
