Ancient Town of Jingzhuanguan

Ancient Town of Jingzhuanguan

• The ancient town preserves a large number of well-maintained Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. Stroll through the old streets and historic architecture to soak in the history.

• Located at the junction of three provinces, you can literally set foot in all three here.

Introduction to the Attraction

The Ancient Town of Jingzhuanguan is situated on the right bank of the Danjiang River in Xichuan County, Nanyang City. Owing to its location at the convergence of Henan, Hubei, and Shaanxi provinces, the town is known as the “Town Where One Step Crosses Three Provinces” and “Jingzhuanguan Where a Rooster’s Crow Echoes Across Three Provinces.” With a history of over 2,000 years, the town was established during the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing periods, earning its status as a famous historical and cultural town in China. Major surviving Ming and Qing structures include: the Ancient Street of Jingzhuanguan, the Town Gate, the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, the Yuwang Palace, the Pinglang Palace, the Wanshou Palace, Fahai Temple, the Mosque, and the One-Step-Three-Provinces Stele Pavilion. Visitors can explore the old streets, admire the historic architecture, and experience the fun of “stepping into three provinces in one step.”

At the southernmost end of the town, you’ll find an ancient “Town Gate,” built from brick and stone with an arched entrance. The lintel above the gate, supported by brackets, features the three characters “荆紫关” (Jingzhuanguan). Passing through the gate leads you to South Street in the ancient town. Upon entering the town, visitors can start with the Ancient Street of Jingzhuanguan, as many attractions are located along or near this street. The longest street in the town runs north to south, stretching approximately 2.5 kilometers, paved with bluestone slabs. Hundreds of traditional “wooden-board-door” shops line both sides, their doors fitted with wooden panels, while symmetrical wing rooms are separated by two-meter-high fireproof gable walls.

On the east side of South Street in the ancient town lies the Pinglang Palace, originally built during the Qing Dynasty. At the peak of the town’s dock activity, ship merchants formed guilds and, inspired by the idea of “calm seas and peaceful waves,” established the Pinglang Palace as a recreational venue for dock workers. The site still preserves structures such as the Bell and Drum Tower, the Middle Hall, and the Rear Hall. Visitors may want to pay special attention to the Bell and Drum Tower, whose rooftop is adorned with a precious bead and spire inscribed with the four characters “风调雨顺” (favorable weather and good harvests), while the beams feature delicate wood carvings of flowers and finely crafted roof trusses.

On the east side of the ancient street, visitors can also explore the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall and the Yuwang Palace (also called the Jade Emperor Palace) to the east. Established during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall is the largest complex of ancient buildings in the town. It still retains structures such as the main gate tower, the opera stage, the corridor tower, the Bell Tower, and the Chunqiu Pavilion (Middle Hall). Among them, the uniquely shaped stone lions, the exquisite stone and wood carvings—especially the vivid openwork carvings such as “The Qilin Gazing at the North Star,” “The Red Phoenix Facing the Rising Sun,” and “Martial Arts Scene”—are truly remarkable. The Yuwang Palace, also known as the Jade Emperor Palace, was built during the Qing Dynasty in honor of Yu the Great, who was renowned for his achievements in flood control.

In addition, the ancient town also features other Ming and Qing-era historic buildings such as the Mosque and the Wanshou Palace that are worth visiting. On the outskirts of the town, visitors can head to Fahai Chan Temple located in the hills of Hou Mountain in the northeast. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, the ancient temple underwent multiple renovations during the Qing Dynasty. Given the town’s location at the junction of three provinces, there is also the small yet exquisite Three-Sided Marble Pagoda Stele known as the “One-Step-Three-Provinces Stele,” situated in the center of Bailang Street in the western part of the town. Here, visitors can literally place one foot in Henan, one in Hubei, and one in Shaanxi.

Address: Jingzhuanguan Town, Xichuan County, Nanyang City, Henan Province

Type: Ancient Town / Ancient Village

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 day