Sanlv Temple Ancient Street

Sanlv Temple Ancient Street

Sanlv Temple Ancient Street is a cultural tourism attraction.

At the entrance of the ancient street stands an arched gate made of kiln bricks, with a bluestone plaque hanging above inscribed with the characters “Sanlv Ancient Gate,” carved in June of the 34th year of the Guangxu reign. The gate is a unique architectural feature of Jingdezhen. In ancient times, Jingdezhen was under the jurisdiction of Fuliang County and served merely as an industrial area for porcelain production, so no city walls were built for defense—only gates were erected. Immediately to the left of the gate stands the “Zhongjie Marquis Temple,” which is said to have been built in memory of Qu Yuan, the Chu statesman and poet known as the “Three-Valley Lord.” Historical records indicate that in the sixth year of the Yuanyou era during the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Shenzong of Song posthumously honored Qu Yuan as the Zhongjie Marquis. Since then, temples commemorating Qu Yuan have often been named after the Zhongjie Marquis.

Just outside the temple gate lies the ancient Changjiang Wharf. As Qu Yuan was revered as the God of Rivers, the God of Water, and the Water Immortal King, merchants who came to trade in Jingdezhen hundreds of years ago would offer incense and sacrificial items at the temple upon disembarking from or boarding their ships—either to fulfill vows or to pray for safe journeys and the protection of both people and goods. Stepping through the “Sanlv Ancient Gate” leads you into Qing Street, where a roughly three-meter-wide bluestone path is lined with numerous well-preserved Qing Dynasty brick-and-wood structures. Residents can be seen washing clothes, rinsing rice, cooking over stoves, feeding grandchildren, or enjoying family time.

Sanlv Temple Ancient Street is located on the northwestern side of Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, across from People’s Park, at the confluence of the Changjiang River and the Xi River, on the riverbanks’ mountain spurs, and faces the town’s “Lishidu” ferry across the water. The entire Sanlv Temple Ancient Street is divided into three parts: Ming Street, Qing Street, and the ancient wharf, making it a renowned historical and cultural district.

Sanlv Temple Ancient Street was once a bustling riverside hub teeming with merchant ships and lively crowds. At the entrance of the ancient street stands an arched gate made of kiln bricks, with the bold characters “Sanlv Ancient Gate” engraved on the bluestone lintel. The ancient street is distinctly divided into Ming and Qing sections. Ming Street is over 80 meters long and features a group of mid-to-late Ming Dynasty buildings clustered in nine structures; Qing Street stretches over 230 meters and consists of Qing Dynasty shops and various workshops. Hundreds of two-meter-long bluestone steps lead directly from the riverbank to the street entrance. As one of the most important freight docks in Jingdezhen during the Ming and Qing dynasties, porcelain from the region was loaded onto ships here, traveling via Poyang Lake into the Yangtze River, and then setting sail to destinations around the world.

As early as the Ming Dynasty, Sanlv Temple Street had already taken shape. Sanlv Temple Wharf was the main riverside dock on the western bank of the Changjiang River. Scholars, wealthy merchants, and common folk gathered here, mainly from regions such as Boyang, Huizhou, Yixian, Qimen, Tunxi, and Dongzhi. Blessed with superior geographical conditions, the dock was nestled between mountains and water. On the eastern bank lay one of China’s Four Great Ancient Towns: Jingdezhen. At the time, timber rafts floated downstream while fishing boats navigated upstream, with cargo vessels docking on both shores and a bustling market thriving. Commercial prosperity also spurred urban development—workshops opened, roads were paved, docks were constructed, temples and shops were established, creating a vibrant and prosperous ancient street. Notably, the street was paved with fired bluish bricks arranged in a turtle-shell pattern, resembling a living turtle stretching from the village entrance all the way to the river dock, winding like a dragon. The riverside dock was built with mountain granite slabs. The ancient street is approximately 90 meters long and about three meters wide. Although the historic buildings along the street have suffered damage over time and through societal changes, many remain well-preserved. These Ming-era architectural complexes hold significant historical value and have been designated as cultural heritage sites by the municipal government.

By the mid-Qing Dynasty, Sanlv Temple had developed into a prominent and bustling commercial port. The original Ming-era street could no longer meet the growing demands. Thus, a new commercial thoroughfare was established near the foot of Xishan Mountain, leading straight to the river, and the old dock was renovated. Large granite slabs were laid from the shore all the way underwater, making it larger, wider, and straighter than the previous one. The Qing-era ancient street is 231 meters long and up to four meters wide. Lined with wooden-panel houses, the buildings stand shoulder to shoulder. The street surface is entirely paved with granite slabs, each featuring distinct grooves in the middle—wear marks left by traditional single-wheeled carts. ?? Countless years of rolling over these hard granite slabs have created the historical imprints and captivating sights we see today.

Sanlv Temple Ancient Street was once home to four prominent families: Liu, Chen, Wang, and Wang. Some of them even served as officials while engaging in commerce, greatly contributing to the street’s flourishing prosperity and ushering it into its historical golden age. The street housed rice shops, cotton shops, fresh produce markets, bamboo and wood vendors, restaurants, pharmacies, tofu shops, butcher shops, and more—offering a complete range of goods. Residents on the western bank of the river didn’t even need to cross over to shop, while households and merchants on the eastern bank of the river had to come to Sanlv Temple Ancient Street to purchase supplies. This shows that Sanlv Temple Ancient Street had long become a vital commercial and trade hub in Jingdezhen.

Suggested Duration

30 minutes

Transportation

Take bus routes 2 (inner loop), 2 (outer loop), 4, 5, 5 (branch), 5 (branch interval), 9, 15, 108, or K35, and get off at West Bus Station

Admission Fee

Free

Opening Hours

Open all day

Location

No. 226, Changjiang Avenue, Changjiang District, Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province