Ancient Town of Lichuan

Ancient Town of Lichuan

The Ancient Town of Lichuan is one of the few well-preserved ancient streets in Jiangxi Province and a typical representation of the ancient towns in southern China. It stretches 1.8 kilometers from Mashi Street at the eastern end in the county town to the South Gate of the ancient city wall in the west. Covering an area of 0.4 square kilometers, it is home to over 6,000 households and approximately 23,000 residents. Because its streets and lanes are dotted with over a hundred ancient houses built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the old street is also known as the “Ming-Qing Old Street.” The fame the ancient town has gained both within and beyond the province today is not only due to its picturesque water town charm of “small bridges over flowing streams by quaint houses” nestled by the river and against the mountains, nor solely because of its exquisitely crafted and elegant residential architecture, but more importantly, because of its profound historical legacy and rich cultural atmosphere. The successful designation of the Ancient Town of Lichuan Scenic Area as a national 4A-level tourist attraction signifies not just the attainment of this prestigious title, but also marks the emergence of all-for-one tourism in Lichuan and lays a solid foundation for the future development of its tourism industry.

The scenic area of the ancient town has successively introduced cultural venues such as Jeya Studio, the Ancient Bed Museum, and an oil painting experience center, and has established institutions including a Peking Opera Fans’ Center and the Lichuan Traditional Chinese Painting Gallery, greatly enriching the cultural content of the ancient town.