Shangqing Ancient Town at Longhu Mountain

Shangqing Ancient Town at Longhu Mountain

Admission

42 RMB per person (Shangqing Ancient Town + Suihan Tianshi Mansion)

Location

Shangqing Town, Guixi City, Yingtan, Jiangxi Province

Shangqing Ancient Town has a history of over a thousand years. As part of the Longhu Mountain Scenic Area, it lies 25 kilometers from downtown Yingtan. Built along the water and encircled by mountains, the town enjoys a beautiful natural setting. It features many scenic spots and historic sites. The approximately 2-kilometer-long Shangqing Ancient Street includes attractions such as Changqing Archway, Liuhou Family Temple, Tianshi Mansion, Liuhou Residence, Tianyuan De Medicine Shop, and a Catholic church. The riverside stilted houses and docks add to the town’s classic Jiangnan water town charm. To the east of the town lie Shangqing Palace and Dongyue Palace, while across the Luxi River is Guizhou Village, the hometown of Xia Yan, a Ming Dynasty prime minister, as well as the site where the Red Eleventh Army and the Central Red Army once joined forces. About 4 kilometers from the town is the Tianmen Mountain Ecotourism Area, which features pristine forests, waterfall clusters, and some ancient dwellings.

This millennia-old town is a highlight of Longhu Mountain tourism in Yingtan, Jiangxi. Without Shangqing Town and the Taoist culture nurtured here, it would be hard to imagine Longhu Mountain becoming the “No. 1 Taoist Mountain in China” and the birthplace of Taoism in the country.

Though this ancient street was not designed by experts, everything here feels naturally formed, exuding an innate natural beauty. Yet within this very natural setting, the street also cultivates a unique local folk culture.

Walking upstream along this street against the flow of the Luxi River, you’ll notice that the houses on the left side are built in a stepped fashion, each jutting out about one meter further than the one before—a local symbol believed to signify a thriving household. On the right, stilted houses stand with their wooden pillars resting empty over the water. Strolling through this area, you don’t have to dodge speeding cars and can leisurely observe the daily life of the townsfolk. Fishermen weave nets, children play, all in peaceful contentment. Whatever trade or craft you’re looking for, just turn a corner and you’ll find it... Introduction to Shangqing Ancient Town Scenic Area

Built along the water and embraced by mountains, Shangqing Ancient Town enjoys a beautiful natural environment and a strong Taoist atmosphere, with numerous historical and cultural sites. The roughly 2-kilometer-long ancient street connects attractions such as Changqing Archway, Liuhou Family Temple, Tianshi Mansion, and the Great Shangqing Palace. The riverside stilted houses and docks showcase the architectural charm of the Jiangnan water towns.

Shangqing Town was formerly known as Yiyang City. Historical records suggest that people began settling here during the Jin dynasties. In the eighth year of the Wude era of Emperor Gaozu of Tang (625 AD), Xiongshi Town was established and garrisoned. By the late Tang Dynasty, the imperial court appointed Ni Ya as the town’s military commander. Later, due to his success in suppressing bandits, he was titled King Ni Ya, and the town was renamed Niya City. In the fourth year of the Chongning era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1105 AD), Emperor Huizong ordered the relocation of Shangqing Guan from Longhu Mountain to Shangqing, and the town’s name was changed to Shangqing City. By the 30th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1748 AD), it became officially known as Shangqing Town.

Shangqing Town is world-renowned as the birthplace of Taoism in China. The Celestial Master Zhang has held sway here for 63 generations spanning over 1,900 years. Shangqing Town is one of the 29 blessed lands of Taoism in China. The classic Chinese novel “Outlaws of the Marsh” vividly describes the bizarre peaks and rocks of Longhu Mountain and the celestial realm of Shangqing Palace in its opening chapter. The story “Celestial Master Zhang Prays to End a Plague, Marshal Hong Accidentally Releases Demons” takes place here.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Shangqing Town had already taken on its present scale. By the late Ming period, the town had become quite prosperous. Xu Xiake’s Travel Diaries described Shangqing Street as “very long.” During the Xianfeng era of the late Qing Dynasty (1851–1861), fierce battles between the Taiping Army and Qing forces took place in Shangqing, causing serious damage to the town’s buildings. It was largely restored during the Republican era, maintaining its appearance until the 1980s.

Shangqing Town was also the meeting place of the Red Eleventh Army of the Fujian-Zhejiang-Jiangxi Soviet Area and the Central Red Army. In early 1931, the First Front Red Army, commanded by [name redacted], and the Red Tenth Army successfully joined forces on the riverbanks of Guizhou in Shangqing Town, later merging into the Red Eleventh Army. This laid the foundation for the strategic goal of “crushing the enemy’s major offensive and achieving the first victory in Jiangxi.”

Shangqing Town is not only famed for its Taoist culture but also for its broad acceptance of a multicultural coexistence, guided by the Taoist philosophy of “receiving all with humility and embracing all things.” The eminent Tang Dynasty Zen master Mazu Daoyi once preached in Shangqing, and the monk Yu Bao built Tiandong Temple on Tiandong Mountain northeast of town to teach disciples. The renowned Neo-Confucian scholar Lu Jiuyuan founded Xiangshan Academy (also known as Xiangshan School) on Yingtian Mountain north of town, which gained great fame for a time. Historical sites such as Changqing Archway and Dongyue Palace reflect folk worship. The Catholic church located at the eastern end of town, built in 1872 by a Dutch priest in Gothic style, serves as a local Catholic sanctuary. The activities of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity in Shangqing have greatly enriched the town’s cultural depth.

Shangqing Ancient Town is world-famous for its long-standing Taoist culture and magnificent natural landscape. At the heart of the town lies Tianshi Mansion, the residence and teaching site of generations of Celestial Masters Zhang. It is one of China’s 21 key Taoist temples open to the public and was designated a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1984. Since the restoration of Shangqing Town as an administrative town in 1984, efforts to develop and construct the small town have accelerated. In 1988, it was listed as a provincial model town for construction. In 1996, it became a provincial comprehensive reform pilot town. In 1999, it was included among the province’s 200 key towns. In 2003, it was named one of the province’s model towns for small-town development and also recognized as one of the first historical and cultural towns in the province. To ensure the reasonable development and protection of the ancient town, Shangqing Town underwent comprehensive planning and design in 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2002.