Zhangqiu Canal Ancient Town

Zhangqiu Canal Ancient Town

Zhangqiu Canal Ancient Town is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaocheng City.

Zhangqiu Canal Ancient Town is located 20 kilometers east of Yanggu County and is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Liaocheng City.

Zhangqiu Canal Ancient Town was called Zhangqiu Kou during the Five Dynasties period and was once renamed Jingdezhen during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. In the Yuan Dynasty, the Huitong River was dug through the town, and the Du Shui Fen Jian yamen (Canal Water Management Office) was established there, making Zhangqiu an important hub along the canal. During the Ming Dynasty, Liu Daxia managed the riverworks in Zhangqiu, and the town was once renamed Anping Town. During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Gu Yanwu referred to Zhangqiu Town alongside Yanshen Town (now Boshan) and Jingzhi Town as the "Three Towns of Shandong."

The town of Zhangqiu was constructed and expanded several times, reaching a considerable size. With the canal running through it, the town was divided into eastern and western sections, surrounded by city walls and a moat. By the Qing Dynasty, the town had nine gates, seventy-two streets, and eighty-two alleys within its walls. Many streets were named after the goods traded there, such as Rice Market Street and Firewood Market Street, while others were named after local landmarks, such as the City God Temple Street and the Confucius Temple Street. These names reflect the prosperity Zhangqiu once enjoyed.

The town hosts a Confucian temple, academies, publishing houses, and dozens of temples, monasteries, and shrines. It also features scenic and historic sites such as Wuji Mountain, Guajian Platform, Black Dragon Pool, and the Tomb of Ren Fengzi. Zhangqiu boasts abundant tourism resources, and when it comes to the scenery along the canal, there is a saying: “In the south there are Suzhou and Hangzhou; in the north there are Linqing and Zhangqiu.” It is also known as the “Little Suzhou.”

Zhangqiu Town: Zhangqiu Town is located in the eastern part of the county. The name “Zhangqiu” first appeared during the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, and the town was officially established during the Northern Song Dynasty. In 1940, the Zhangqiu County Anti-Japanese Democratic Government was formed. In 1964, the county was abolished and the town was re-established, going through phases as the Zhangqiu District and Zhangqiu People’s Commune. Since 1984, it has been known as Zhangqiu Town.　

Zhangqiu Town is located 20 kilometers east of Yanggu County, bordering Taiqian County of Henan Province to the south and adjacent to A’cheng Town to the north. The town covers a total area of 53 square kilometers, with a population of 50,000, including 1,780 members of the Hui ethnic group. The world-famous site of Wu Song Fighting the Tiger at Jingyang Ridge is located within its jurisdiction, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs through the town... Detailed information about Zhangqiu Town++