Dangkou Ancient Town

Dangkou Ancient Town

Dangkou Ancient Town is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Dangkou, anciently known as Dingshe or Dincun, got its name from its location near Goose Lake (Ehu) and Nanqingdang in the southeast of Wuxi. Along both banks of Yisheng River, well-preserved ancient architectural complexes can be found, including Beicanghe Old Street, the ancestral Hu Family Ancestral Hall, the Nanmu Hall, the former residence of Hua Hengfang, the San Gong Shrine, and precious historical relics such as Si Quan Pavilion, Bu Gong Carved Stone, and Zhifu Shrine Theater. In 2004, Dangkou Town merged with the neighboring Ganlu Town to form Ehu Town.

Dangkou Ancient Town is located in the southeast of Wuxi, bordering Xiangcheng District of Suzhou to the east and Changshu City to the north. The land here is flat, with picturesque scenery and pleasant views, making it a typical Jiangnan water town. The town covers a total area of 54.7 square kilometers, with 28,513 mu of arable land, and administers 3 community neighborhood committees and 12 administrative villages. Water, air, and land transportation are highly convenient. The high-grade Xi Gan Highway runs through the entire area. The Beijing–Shanghai Railway runs nearby, and the famous Wangyu Canal, a key water hub in the Taihu Lake basin, flows eastward along the town’s edge. It is just 15 kilometers from the Shanghai–Nanjing Expressway and Wuxi Shuofang Airport, and 40 kilometers from Zhangjiagang Deepwater Port.

Ehu Town has a long history. Ganlu within its jurisdiction was anciently called “Yuexi” and has a market history of over 3,000 years, known as the “Land of Eight Lakes’ Blessings” and “Golden Ganlu.” Dangkou was anciently called “Dincun” and formed a market town during the Jin Dynasty, earning the reputation of “Silver Dangkou.” The area is rich in cultural heritage. These include the Jiangnan ancient temple Ganlu Temple, formed by the merger of the Ganlu Chan Monastery built in the first year of the Tang Qianfu era (876 AD) and the Lie Di Temple built in the third year of the Song Xuanhe era (1121 AD), the 40,000-square-meter ancient architectural complex along both sides of Beicanghe … and many other historic sites such as the Cai Hongsheng Western-style House.

The Hua family was once the most prominent clan in Wuxi. From this family alone came 37 successful imperial examination candidates. Notable figures include Hua Sui of the Ming Dynasty, who pioneered copper movable-type printing, and the modern scientist Hua Hengfang. Hua Qiuping, a late Qing ethnic music performer who was the first to use gongche notation to record a large number of pipa scores, including composing the score for the classical pipa piece “Ambush from Ten Sides,” and Hua Tushan, a folk embroidery artist who pioneered the random-stitch embroidery technique. Other notable individuals include Hua Shijian, who introduced Morse telegraphy and laid China’s first undersea cable. Eminent scholars such as Qian Mu and Qian Weichang, uncle and nephew, received their early education in Ehu. Academicians like Qian Linzhao, famed musicians such as Liu Tianhua, and renowned educators like Gu Yuxiu once taught at Dangkou Primary School in the town.

The beautiful Ehu Lake nurtured this historic town. The local residents are predominantly from the Hua family, whose ancestor Hua Zhengu had an extensive knowledge of various schools of thought and authored the book “Lu De Ji,” which has been passed down through generations. As a result, the area has a strong tradition of filial piety and righteousness, abundant natural beauty, talented individuals, and rapid socioeconomic development, becoming the top grain-producing district in the Jiangnan region. The area features crisscrossing rivers, dense lakes, small bridges over flowing water, and an elegant environment. After years of protection and development, the historical and cultural district of Dangkou Ancient Town has been carefully crafted into a AAAA-level scenic destination that integrates tourism, leisure, sightseeing, and vacation, characteristic of a Jiangnan water town.

Address: Intersection of Hengfang Road (Xinhu Road) and Xi Gan Line (Xinyang Road), Ehu Town, Xishan District, Wuxi City

Type: Ancient Town & Village

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–4 hours

Phone: 0510-88525000

Official Website: http://www.dangkouguzhen.com/

Opening Hours:

Business Hours: 7:30–17:30. Ticket Sales: 7:30–17:00.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are required to enter the ancient town. Adult tickets cost 80 RMB and include access to the Hua Hengfang Life Exhibition Hall, Hua Junwu Cartoon Museum, Hu Family Ancestral Hall, Wang Xin’s Former Residence, Huitong Hall, and Qian Mu’s Former Residence (Hengdeli Clock Museum).