Qiantong Ancient Town | The Little Lijiang of the South

Qiantong Ancient Town may not be as famous as Wuzhen or Xitang, but it is very well-preserved and is known as the Little Lijiang of the South. The scenic area is not very commercialized, and the few restaurants there are similarly priced and not expensive. The 'Three Treasures of Qiantong' refer to three ways of eating tofu (stinky tofu, hollow tofu, and dried tofu), which are the local specialty foods. ☑️ Located in Ninghai County, it takes half an hour to 40 minutes to get there by taxi from the main urban area. Qiantong Ancient Town has a complete set of Ming and Qing architectural complexes and is the largest settlement of the Tong surname in the south of the Yangtze River. It is a town with the ancient charm of Confucian culture. In 2007, it was awarded the title of China's Historical and Cultural Famous Town. ☑️ tips: The ticket is 50 yuan per person, and after 5 pm, you can enter without a ticket 🎫. However, many shops close in the evening, which might make it a bit quiet. But the night view with the lights is still nice. Do not wander into the alleys, as it is easy to get lost. ☑️ Here, 'every family has carved beams, and every household has running water'. It's like an ancient rural painting with a strong charm, a beautiful and moving piece of Jiangnan silk music. Ancient relics such as Xiaonv Lake, Miao Lake, Zhisi Hall, Scholar's Bridge, and Nangong Temple still exist today. The Tong family ancestral hall designed by Fang Xiaoru at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty is still largely intact. At night, you can hear the elderly singing and playing the piano 🎹, a lively talent show that brings the ancient town to life. ☑️ The old street of the ancient town is flanked by shops with long plank doors. Adjacent to the old street is a group of ancient buildings that are still intact to this day, with exquisitely carved beams, doors, and windows. The leaping fish and horse head walls, as well as the ridge-sculpted wall flowers, have a unique local style. The horse head wall is a symbol of the power of the ancient wealthy families and officials in the south of the Yangtze River; it is said that the more tiers, the higher the position. There are also many homestays here, where you can stay for a day to experience the local customs.