Old Fort Scenic Area

Old Fort Scenic Area

Old Fort Scenic Area

Old Fort Township was the former site of the Huaiyuan (now Sanjiang) County seat during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era. It is located at the confluence of the Xunjiang and Rongjiang rivers, 30 kilometers from the county seat of Sanjiang, with the Zhiliu Railway running through the entire area. In 1986, while workers were building a road from the county seat to Old Fort, they unearthed a batch of Eastern Han Dynasty relics near a village called Yangdong close to Old Fort. This discovery drew the attention of many history and culture enthusiasts. Today, this magical land is dotted with numerous modern village buildings, yet the timeless natural scenery along the river still shines with captivating beauty. The area features three majestic passes formed by the Sili Stone Gate on the Xunjiang River, the Chan Kou Stone Gate on the Rongjiang River, and the Ma Stone Gate on the Rongjiang River. These three natural stone gate wonders each boast unique grandeur and imposing presence, earning the nickname “Little Three Gorges.” Across the river from the town of Old Fort stand two peculiar mountains that twist and face each other like giant dragons meeting, with a small island in the middle leaning toward the north — forming a naturally spectacular sight known as “Two Dragons Fighting for the Pearl.” In addition, there are more than ten other scenic spots such as Flying Squirrel Rock and Laoba Misty Terraced Fields, each with its own distinctive charm. In the past, due to limitations in transportation and communication, many of these sites remained hidden “in the boudoir” and unknown to outsiders. In recent years, the township’s Party committee and government have leveraged local resource advantages and established the development strategy of “achieving new breakthroughs in tourism.” They have invited officials from relevant departments for multiple inspection visits, carried out scientific planning for the entire township’s tourist attractions, and promoted the area by releasing scenic photos. At the same time, taking advantage of the national policy of returning farmland to forest, they have increased greening efforts along the river scenic areas, gradually forming a 13-kilometer ecological tourism and sightseeing corridor stretching from “Sili Stone Gate” to “Ma Stone Gate,” laying the initial framework for tourism across the entire township.

The traditional Dragon Boat Festival held annually on the 13th day of the fifth lunar month is another highlight of tourism in Old Fort Township. The township’s dragon boat team enjoys a long-standing reputation in Liuzhou City and has won the championship in dragon boat races held by three northern Guangxi counties multiple times. The distinctive brand of “Old Fort Dragon Boats, Old Fort Tourism” is steadily gaining recognition beyond the mountains.