Tushan Ancient Town Scenic Area

Tushan Ancient Town Scenic Area

Tushan Ancient Town Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

Tushan Ancient Town Scenic Area

Tushan Town is a millennium-old town that once served as the seat of a commandery, prefecture, and county in ancient times. The over 500-year-old Guan Di Temple within the town is the best-preserved Guan Di Temple. Other Ming and Qing dynasty buildings and cultural relics are scattered throughout the town, which is unique compared to other towns. To ensure high-standard protection and development of the ancient town, Tushan Town invited experts from universities to scientifically develop a restoration plan. With an investment of over 7 million yuan, the comprehensive restoration of Guan Di Temple was completed, making it a unique Three Kingdoms-themed tourist destination in the city.

Guan Di Temple was first built in the third year of the Tian Shun era of the Ming Dynasty (1460), and underwent restorations during the Chongzhen, Yongzheng, Daoguang eras, and the Republican period, with the fifth major renovation starting in 2005. It is the largest and best-preserved Guan Di Temple in Jiangsu Province. In 2005, it was approved as a Jiangsu Provincial Historical and Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The temple covers an area of 22 mu, with over 100 halls and rooms, forming a layout of three routes and four courtyards. The first courtyard is the Brotherhood Garden, also known as the sightseeing area; the second courtyard is the Guan Di worship area; the third courtyard is the bedroom palace area; and the fourth courtyard is the sightseeing area. The main structures in each area, such as the main gate, opera tower, Guan Di Hall, bedroom palace, and Horse Hoof Pavilion, are all aligned along a central axis, with symmetrical and harmonious buildings on both sides. The statues in the eight halls of the three courtyards fully showcase the virtues of Guan Yu—benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and bravery—especially the three pure bronze statues in the Guan Di Hall. Indoor bronze statues of such height are rare nationwide. The statues in the other halls are vivid and lifelike. At the top of the hill stands the 18-meter-high, three-story Horse Hoof Pavilion, a brick-and-wood structure with protruding beams and painted pillars, majestic and beautiful. From the top, you can enjoy the scenery of Tushan and its surroundings for miles. The surrounding rocks of the pavilion feature recreations of historical sites such as Guan Yu’s whetstone, horse tethering post, horse hoof prints, and Zhang Liao’s kneeling imprint.

Due to the account in Chapter 25 of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," “Guan Yu Makes Three Vows at Tushan,” the town has gained fame both in China and abroad. In 1938, Li Peiyuan, the director of the Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Committee, established the Pizhou County Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Volunteer Corps in Guan Di Temple. In 1948, General Su Yu set up the forward command post for the Nianzhuangwei Battle of the Huaihai Campaign in the temple. In 1964, General Xu Shiyou and in 1965, General – visited here. In the 1960s, when Chairman Mao Zedong visited Xuzhou, he even inquired about the current state of Tushan, where Guan Yu once stationed his troops. Thus, Tushan Guan Di Temple is not only a significant Three Kingdoms culture-themed tourist destination but also an important patriotic education base.

The town also leverages its long and rich history and culture, focusing on protecting precious cultural heritage and historical continuity. It has restored Ming and Qing attractions such as the Shen Family Courtyard, Wang Family Mansion, Wei Family Cloth Shop, and Yude Pool. The Guan Yu Commercial Street and Ming-Qing Small Street have been renovated, emphasizing Three Kingdoms elements in style while adhering to the architectural patterns, shapes, materials, and colors of ancient buildings. Traditional folk arts, handicrafts, culinary culture, and other cultural elements have been integrated into the design of the ancient town, creating a strong cultural atmosphere and ambiance for Tushan Ancient Town.