Kongcheng Old Street

Kongcheng Old Street

Kongcheng Old Street is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Kongcheng Old Street is located in Kongcheng Town, a historic and cultural town in Anhui Province, 12 kilometers from Tongcheng City. With a history of over 1,800 years, Kongcheng Old Street flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties as a key water transport hub connecting the Chaohu Lake area and the Yangtze River region. It suffered damage during the Taiping Rebellion but was soon restored, with the existing old street built after that period. The old street stretches for several miles and is divided into ten sections (jia). Each section is separated by a gate.

Running from south to north in an “S” shape, the terrain is lower in the south and higher in the north. There is one main street, two cross streets, plus three lanes and one alley. The total length is about 3 kilometers, with streets approximately 3 meters wide. The roads, lanes, and alleys are all paved with bluestone, covering a total area of 170,000 square meters. The shops and houses are built with gray bricks and tiles, many featuring upturned eaves, carved wooden windows, and are closely arranged in rows, displaying distinct characteristics of the southern water towns. Kongcheng Old Street is not only the best-preserved old street in northern Jiangnan but also the largest of its kind.

Kongcheng Town has a long history and a strategically important location. It was part of the Eastern Wu kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. Legend has it that Lü Meng once built fortifications here, hence the line in *Tong Old Collection ● Kongcheng*: “Settlements dot the land, said to be Lü Meng’s fortress.” The *History of the Song Dynasty ● Biography of Li Xianzhong* records that Song generals Zhang Jun and Li Xianzhong once defeated the Jin general Wuzhu here. The *Yu Feng Nine Regions Record* from the Song Dynasty states: “Among the nine towns of Tongcheng, Shuzhou, Huainan Road, Kongcheng is one of them.” The town is home to the renowned Tongxiang Academy from the Qing Dynasty, famous nationwide.

The famous *Four Proposals of Tongxiang Academy* were written by Dai Junheng here. They were revered by academies across the country and recorded in *Imperial Dynasty Policy Compilation*. To the east of the town lies the vast Dasaha River, with endless stretches of flat sand that glisten like snow under the sunset, hence the name “Kongcheng Evening Snow.” To the southwest of the town is the Dibu River, with shimmering blue waves, clouds touching the sky, fishermen singing at dusk, and sails returning home, celebrated as the “Dibu Returning Sails.” Both sites are listed among the “Eight Scenic Spots of Tongcheng.”

Kongcheng Town: Located in the eastern part of Tongcheng City, bordering Lujiang County and Zongyang County, it is a provincial-level central town. The town covers an area of 87.8 square kilometers, with a built-up area of 3.5 square kilometers and a planned urban area of 5 square kilometers. It administers 13 villages and 2 neighborhood committees, with a population of 52,000. It is an important eastern town and a strong economic hub of Tongcheng City.

Kongcheng has a long town history and rich cultural heritage. The *Yu Feng Nine Regions Record* from the Song Dynasty states: “Among the nine towns of Shuzhou, Huainan Road, Kongcheng is one of them.” Ancient relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties are found throughout the town. Two of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Tongcheng,” “Kongcheng Evening Snow” and “Huo Pu Returning…” More detailed information on Kongcheng Town ++