Yangliuqing Ancient Town

Yangliuqing Ancient Town

Yangliuqing Town is situated at a strategic point near the capital, serving as the seat of the Xiqing District government and functioning as the political, economic, and cultural center of the district. The area lies in the western part of Tianjin, bordered by Zhongbei Town and Yangliuqing Farm to the east, Zhangjiawo Town to the west, Xinkou Town to the southwest, Wuqing District to the northwest, and Beichen District to the north. The jurisdiction covers an area of 64 square kilometers, with the built-up area of the town spanning 13 square kilometers. The town government administers 25 administrative villages and streets, along with 29 neighborhood committees, and has a total population of 110,000, making it the largest township in Tianjin and the Bohai Economic Rim. Yangliuqing Town boasts a long historical heritage and profound cultural roots. It is rich in folk arts, as well as abundant cultural and natural landscapes, and has seen rapid development in leisure tourism.

Yangliuqing Town is 16 kilometers from downtown Tianjin, 30 kilometers from Tianjin Binhai International Airport, and 50 kilometers from Tianjin Port. It is directly connected to the urban area and the outer ring road via Xiqing Avenue and Jinyang Highway. Major transportation routes such as the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, Jintong Highway, Jinjing Highway, Jinbao Expressway, and Jingfu Expressway run through the area. Additionally, the town is surrounded by the convergence of the South Canal, Ziya River, and Daqing River, which flow past the town and lead to Tianjin and the sea. It is well-integrated into Tianjin’s comprehensive transportation network of highways, railways, sea routes, and air travel.

On September 4, 2007, Yangliuqing Town was designated as a National Hygienic Town by the National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee.

Yangliuqing Town is a historically renowned town in northern China. Originally named “Liukou,” it was later renamed “Liukou” again. In the second year of the Zhenyou era during the Jin Dynasty (1214), it was established as “Liukou Town,” marking the beginning of its administrative status. The town acquired its current name during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties.

Before the Qing Dynasty, Yangliuqing Town was successively under the jurisdiction of Zhangwu, Pingshu, Lucheng, Wuqing, Jinghai, and Tianjin counties. During the Republican era, it was under Tianjin County. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it was successively governed by Hebei Province, Tianjin Prefecture of Hebei Province, Jinghai County, Nankai District of Tianjin, and Xijiao District of Tianjin (now renamed Xiqing District).

This place was once a pivotal hub for north-south canal transport and a commercial distribution center. Since its establishment as a town during the Jin Dynasty, it has endured for over a thousand years through the Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republican eras, up to the present day.

Yangliuqing Town has a long historical legacy and profound cultural foundation. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it served as a crucial hub for canal transport and became a center for commerce, trade, and cultural exchange in northern China, enjoying prosperity in business and earning the titles “Little Jiangnan of the North” and “Little Yangzhou of Gushang.” The town is home to numerous historical and cultural relics, including the Wenchang Pavilion—built in 1576 during the Ming Dynasty and the best-preserved pavilion-style wooden structure in China. The Anjia Courtyard, constructed 130 years ago by An Wenzhong, the first Yangliuqing native to venture into the business of military supply transport, is also widely renowned.

Yangliuqing Town boasts a rich tradition of folk art. Yangliuqing New Year woodblock prints, which originated in the Song Dynasty, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, and reached their peak during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, once thrived with the scene of “every household skilled in painting and dyeing,” and were hailed as the foremost among Chinese woodblock New Year paintings. These prints have profoundly influenced nearly a hundred types of New Year paintings across the country, making the custom of posting New Year paintings during the holidays a tradition in northern regions. Yangliuqing also excels in paper-cutting, kite-making, brick carving, stone engraving, and folk flower performances, all of which are treasured gems of Chinese folk art.

The folk culture of Yangliuqing Town is richly infused. The town once had an old opera tower, memorial archways, and the Wenchang Pavilion, known as the Three Treasures of Yangliuqing. During the Qing Dynasty, it was home to the prestigious Chongwen Academy of Tianjin and over 40 ancient temples, some of which still remain today, such as the Puliang Pagoda, Baonen Temple, and the ruins of Bai Tan Temple. The Shi Family Courtyard, built in 1875 and located in the center of the town, is famed across North China for its grand scale and exquisite architecture, earning the title “Number One Civilian Residence in North China.” These cultural sites, along with the quaint streets of the Qing Dynasty, traditional courtyard homes, and the scenic views of the ancient canal, together form the beautiful and rustic tapestry of Yangliuqing’s customs.

Time Needed

Half a day or 1 day

Transportation

By car, take the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway and then transfer to the Rongwu Expressway. Alternatively, take bus 824 or minibus 9 from Tianjin Railway Station, or bus 175, Jinxi Line 1, or Jinxi Line 2 from other areas within the city.

Ticket Price

Free Admission

Opening Hours

All Day

Location

Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, Tianjin