Yuxi Ancient Town

Yuxi Ancient Town

Yuxi Ancient Town is a historic town with over 1,000 years of written records. Its ancient name was Yuting (also known as Qingyu), and because the layout of the town resembles the shape of a dragon, it is also called Dragon City (or Dragon Land). It originated in the late Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Northern Song Dynasty, and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Gradually developed through salt production by boiling seawater, it was the first salt port on the southeastern coast of ancient Tongzhou and is the birthplace of China’s indigo-blue printed cloth. The town boasts numerous historical sites and a rich cultural heritage, including many cultural relics such as Long Street, Jingjin Academy, and the Qian Family Memorial Archway, as well as many notable historical figures such as Cao Ding, Liu Jingting, Zhu Lizhi, and Cao Xiusheng.

Yuxi is a typical representative of a coastal town primarily focused on salt production and trade. While the winds of reform and opening-up have swept across China, transforming old towns with modern housing developments that often lack regional character, there remains one place in Tongzhou District, Nantong, that the “spring breeze” has yet to reach — Yuxi. The ancient town still preserves its original way of life; narrow streets carry the weight of a thousand years of profound culture, leisurely residents continue traditional farming lifestyles of the Jiangdong region, and this sealed-off ancient town has become a “living fossil” of history.

To this day, the town still retains its street layout from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Historical buildings and cultural facilities are well preserved, with ancient architecture covering an area of 16,927 square meters, a protected area of approximately 26 hectares, and a core protected zone of 7.4 hectares. The town features a harmonious blend of river and city, crisscrossing lanes, whitewashed walls and black tiles, staggered houses, numerous shops, and a wealth of historical relics. With deep cultural roots, it is known as the “First Town of Eastern Tongzhou.” The unique local culture, customs, and a wealth of folk tales and poetry reflect Yuxi’s thousand-year historical evolution, showcasing profound historical and cultural significance.

Yuxi Ancient Town serves as a spatial carrier for the culture and intangible heritage of Eastern Tongzhou. It combines functions such as residential living, commerce, tourism, leisure, and vacation, and is an ancient town with a pleasant living environment and strong local characteristics. It is hailed as the “Zhouzhuang of Northern Jiangsu.” However, the current situation is somewhat disheartening. Although the value of the ancient town has been recognized, it has not been deeply explored. Its culture remains like a low-budget art film — critically acclaimed but not widely popular, and it doesn’t even enjoy as much fame as the Rugao Shuihui Garden. The number of tourists specifically visiting Yuxi in Tongzhou has become very few. It is believed that in the future, Yuxi Ancient Town will surely shine with its own unique brilliance.